Manila Water Co. Inc. led by the Ayala group of companies will now operate in Saudi Arabia together with French and Arab firms to operate Saudi Arabia’s National Water Co. (NWC).
According to their contract, Manila Water will be handling the northwestern cluster of Saudi Arabia to provide water for the cities of Madinah and Tabuk. Furthermore, services given by Manila Water in the area includes management of 15,000 kilometers of water pipeline networks, 50 drinking water production plants, 10 wastewater treatment plants and 622 boreholes.
Several Arab sites have reported that this contract is one of its first ones under Saudi Arabia’s plan to open their economy for foreign investors. The contract states a 7-year period which states that the first 3 years is for the company to achieve the standards set by the NWC. Once the standards are met they will move to the next phase where they transfer the whole management to the private sector.
With Additional Reports: philstar
Image Sources: philippinestar, mb and rappler
