Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has signed agreements worth SAR8.5 billion ($2.3 billion) with a consortium of Saudi utility developers for the implementation of Jubail-Buraydah Independent Water Transmission Pipeline (IWTP) project in Al Qassim province.

The winning consortium, comprising Aljomaih Energy and Water Company Power, Nesma Company and Buhur for Investment Company, will develop the project on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model.

The project, with a transmission capacity of 650,000 cu m/day, is a significant boost to the water infrastructure in the Al Qassim and the Eastern provinces, said SWPC.

The Jubail-Buraydah IWTP project also comprises six strategic storage tanks at Al Shamasiyah and three strategic storage tanks at Jubail with a total storage capacity of 1,634,500 cu m, ensuring a reliable and efficient water supply in the two regions, it stated.

The 587-km-long pipeline will have the ability of reverse flow from Al Shamasiyah, passing through Al Qulayib, to Al Jubail with the full project capacity, said SWPC.

The agreements were signed under the patronage of Prince Dr Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Prince of Al Qassim province and Engineer Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SWPC.

CEO Khalid Bin Zwaid AlQureshi said a total of 32 companies, including 14 local companies, had bid for the project and after a competitive process, the consortium of Aljomaih Energy & Water Company emerged winners.

The scope of work includes development, financing, procurement, implementation, operation and maintenance of the project. Commercial operation is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2029, when the 35-year concession term will begin, stated AlQureshi.