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Neom receives wastewater PPP interest

13 February 2024

 

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Companies are understood to have expressed interest in a contract to develop and operate a wastewater treatment and recycling plant in Saudi Arabia's SR1.9tn ($500bn) Neom development.

Officially known as the Hidden Marina Wastewater Recycling Plant project, the planned facility will have the capacity to treat 64,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d) of wastewater, expandable to 80,000 cm/d, according to a source close to the project.

The project includes a sludge treatment facility with a capacity of 16,600 kilograms a day.

The project will utilise a build-own-operate-transfer model, with the concession period extending 25 years from the date of operation.

Neom's energy and water subsidiary, Enowa, received expressions of interest from companies in mid-January.  It is expected to issue the request for prequalification documents next.

The planned water treatment and recycling plant is expected to reach commercial operation in 2027.

The project's first phase is expected to cost approximately SR1.3bn ($347m).

According to regional projects tracker MEED Projects, an estimated $10.7bn-worth of utility projects are under construction in Neom. Close to $22bn-worth of projects are in the pre-execution phase, excluding the renewable energy projects still in the pre-development stages and for which locations have yet to be identified.

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Jennifer Aguinaldo

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      The second phase will increase the total to 1,735 hotel rooms, 641 residential units and 2,150 staff accommodation units.

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      We have several packages ready to be floated to the market by the end of this year. The most immediate of these is the development of site-wide infrastructure
      Daniel McBrearty, Soudah Peaks

      Companies engaged

      In March, SDC appointed US-based engineering firm Aecom as the lead design consultant for the Soudah Peaks development.

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      Last year, SDC appointed another US-based engineering firm, Parsons Corporation, as the project management consultant for the development.

      Parsons’ scope of work includes project management and site supervision services for the six development zones.

      Project background

      Soudah Peaks is a mountain tourism destination set 3,015 metres above sea level on the country’s highest peak in the Aseer region.

      The project masterplan was formally launched in September 2023 by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al-Saud.

      Speaking at the launch, he said: “Soudah Peaks will be a significant addition to the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia and place the kingdom on the global tourism map while highlighting and celebrating the country’s rich culture and heritage.” 

      Launched in 2021, SDC is wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth vehicle, the Public Investment Fund.

      An investment of SR11bn ($3bn) has been planned to develop tourism infrastructure and attractions in the Aseer region in the southwest of the kingdom.

      SDC intends to partner with the local community and private sector to develop hospitality, residential, commercial and entertainment offerings that will attract more than 2 million visitors a year, creating 8,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs by 2030.

      Aseer region seeks new investments for Saudi Arabia

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      Yasir Iqbal