Ras Al-Khaimah to award wastewater contract this year
16 January 2025
Ras Al-Khaimah's Public Services Department (PSD) and Investment & Development Office (IDO) are expected to award the contract to develop and operate the UAE northern emirate's first wastewater treatment plant project this year.
The Rakwa Wastewater Infrastructure Project entails the development of a wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 60,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d), which could be expanded to 150,000 cm/d.
The scope of the build, own, operate and transfer scheme will include extensive sewerage and distribution works in addition to the main treatment plant.
The project clients expect to receive bids for the contract on 25 January, MEED previously reported.
The intention is to award the contract before the end of the year, said a source familiar with the project.
It is understood that the Public Services Department will be the counterparty and offtaker that will sign the water-purchase agreement with the successful developer consortium.
Firms that have been prequalified to bid for the contract include:
- Acciona (Spain)
- Besix (Belgium)
- China Harbour Engineering Company (China) / BOWT
- Cobra (Tedagua, Spain)
- GS Inima (Spain/South Korea) / Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies (Saudi Arabia)
- Etihad Water & Electricity (EWE, UAE) / Saur (France)
- FCC Aqualia (Spain)
- MA Kharafi (Kuwait) / Passavant Energy & Environment (UAE, Germany)
- Metito
- Miahona Company (Saudi Arabia)
- Orascom Construction (Egypt)
- Sustainable Water Solutions (UAE)
- Veolia Middle East (France/local)
Two companies that previously provided utility services in the UAE, Abu Dhabi Sustainable Water Solutions – which has since rebranded as Taqa Water Solutions – and Sharjah-based Etihad Water & Electricity, are among those that have been prequalified to bid for the contract to develop the project.
This is the first sewage treatment plant public-private partnership (PPP) that is being developed by the Ras Al-Khaimah authorities.
There could be other potential PPP projects in the future depending on the outcome of the first tendering proceedings, the source told MEED.
On 15 January, Etihad Water & Electricity (Etihad WE), the UAE federal utility company, announced the allocation of AED465m ($126m) for the rehabilitation of the water network across the UAE’s Northern Emirates, including AED214m for Ras Al-Khaimah.
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