Acciona-led consortium wins SAR 3 bln Saudi desalination project

State-owned Water and Electricity Company (WEC) awarded Acciona, along with its consortium partners Marubeni Corporation, Abdul Latif Jameel-CDC and Rawafid Alhadarah Holding Co., the contract to finance, design and build the new Shuqaiq 3 desalination plant.

The project will be implemented under a build, own and operate (BOO) contract, spanning 25 years, and amounting to some EUR 750 million (SAR 3.2 billion).

One of the Spanish group’s business units, Acciona Agua will be involved throughout the project structure as an investor, sole EPC (turnkey) contractor, and leading and majority partner in operation and maintenance, said a statement from the company.

As part of the project's social outreach measures, in the first few years, the consortium will offer academic and practical training to residents of the area in order to nurture the development of water industry professionals in the region.

Located on the shores of the Red Sea, and scheduled for completion in 2021, Shuqaiq 3 will be one of Saudi Arabia's biggest desalination plants, using inverse osmosis technology and with a capacity to process 450,000 cubic metres per day.