A consortium led by Metito has started construction of the first Independent Sewage Treatment Plant Project (ISTP) in Saudi Arabia, the Dubai-based developer of water and wastewater projects announced on Thursday.

The company said the Notice to Proceed (NTP) allowing the contractors to mobilise and start construction on site has been issued following the execution of project and finance documents by the banking group.

The consortium of Metito, Mowah and Orascom Construction was awarded the project under Build- Own- Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model by the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) in December last year.

The plant, which will serve the western region of Dammam, would have an initial capacity of 200,000 cubic meters per day (m3/day), which can be increased to 350,000 m3/day, the statement noted.

Dammam West ISTP is scheduled to start operations in 2022, according to information posted on SWPC website.

Welcoming the support lent by SWPC and the National Water Company (NWC) towards involving the private sector in mega infrastructural projects in the kingdom, Metito Managing Director Rami Ghandour, said the company will develop a working model for other similar projects in the Kingdom and further afield.

Sami Alrayes, Mowah Chairman and CEO said the start of construction works in the Dammam West ISTP marked "a milestone for the Saudi PPP sewage programme."

Osama Bishai, Chief Executive Officer of Orascom Construction, added that the company's experience, especially in the water sector, would facilitate the successful execution of Dammam West ISTP. The company is leading the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) activity for the project.

(Writing by Madhura Deulgaonkar; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@refinitiv.com)

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