19 developer/developer consortiums have been prequalified for the Ras Mohaisen-Baha-Makkah Independent Water Transmission Pipeline Project (IWTP) in the Kingdom, according to the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC).

Once complete, the 300km pipeline project will boast a capacity of up to 400,000cu/m per day.

According to a statement, the pre-qualified bidders (lead and/or technical) for the project include global players such as: Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios; Marubeni Corporation; Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment; China Harbour Engineering Company and China Railway Construction Corporation. Regional firms Utico and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (UAE), as well as Kuwait’s Gulf Investment Corporation and Bahrain-based Lamar Holding have also been prequalified.

SWPC said in June last year that 37 companies had expressed interest in the project of which 25 were Saudi firms including: Abdul Aziz Al Ajlan Sons; Al Bawani; Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies; Al Sharif Group; Al Yamama; Mutlaq Al Ghowairi; Mowah; Sarh Attaqnia, Tamasuk and Vision International Invest Company.

The SWPC noted it will conduct a competitive process to select a developer/developer consortium for the pipeline project which will be set up on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis. The winning developer will provide the entire transmission capacity to SWPC under a water transmission agreement (WTA), which is likely to be up to 35 years.

SWPC’s obligations under the WTA will be supported by a credit support agreement entered into by the Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SWPC had appointed Synergy Consulting IFA as the lead and financial advisor, Amer Al Amr Law Firm as legal advisor and Fichtner GmbH & Co KG as technical advisors, the statement concluded.