SHARAKAT, a Saudi water-sector entity owned by the Ministry of Finance, has received five competitive bids for the development of the Riyadh East Independent Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP).

The bids were submitted by consortia comprising local and international companies, including Miahona, Marafiq and Bin Omairah Holding; GS Inima Environment and Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies; Metito Utilities, Etihad Water and Electricity and TamimCo; Suez, Civil Works Company and Al Awael Modern Contracting; and Lamar Holding and China Harbour Engineering Company.

SHARAKAT will now evaluate the proposals before selecting the preferred bidder.

Agreements are expected to follow, with construction scheduled to begin next year and commercial operations targeted for 2030.

The plant will initially have a treatment capacity of 200,000 cubic metres per day, with the potential to expand to 400,000 cubic metres per day.

The project will also include treated sewage effluent (TSE) reuse infrastructure and a transmission pipeline, supporting the reuse of treated water, particularly for agricultural irrigation.

The project follows SHARAKAT’s issuance of Request for Proposal documents in October 2025 and forms part of its programme to develop water infrastructure through public-private partnerships (PPP).

The 25-year project will operate under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model, supporting increased private-sector participation in Saudi Arabia’s water infrastructure.

SHARAKAT said the initiative supports the National Water Strategy and National Privatization Strategy, while contributing to Saudi Vision 2030 objectives focused on infrastructure development, investment and improved services. -TradeArabia News Service