Manila Water, a leading Philippines-based wastewater services company, says its consortium with French water distributor Saur Group and Saudi’s Miahona Company has secured a contract worth $59 million for the management, operations and maintenance of the water sector in the Eastern Cluster of Saudi Arabia.

The contract was awarded by Saudi Arabia’s state-run water agency National Water Company to cater to this key cluster with a population of 5.27 million and to fulfil the demand for about 1.8 billion litres of water per day.  The Eastern cluster includes the cities of Dammam, Al Hofuf, Al Jubail, Al Khobar, Al Qatif and Hafr Al Batin. The awarding of the water contract for the Eastern Cluster is part of the kingdom’s plans to drive its water infrastructure sector towards privatisation.

 This is Manila Water consortium’s second contract win. In December last year, it had clinched a seven-year contract covering the North West Cluster, one of six regional clusters created under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and National Water Strategy.

The consortium, in which Manila Water holds 30 per cent stake, was chosen because of its extensive experience in water services and environmental treatment management around the world, says its top official.

 “Winning the North West and Eastern clusters puts Manila Water and its partners in a strong competitive position when the same management contracts are converted into long-term concessions,” remarks President and CEO Jocot de Dios.

“Manila Water will bring in 24 years of experience and knowhow in the water space to provide innovative solutions to the water and wastewater requirements in a region whose population and demand are almost comparable to our existing concession area in eastern Metro Manila and Rizal Province,” he adds.