RIYADH – Saudi Minister of Water and Electricity Abdullah Al-Hussayen has signed 29 contracts worth SR519 million ($138 million) to implement water and sewage projects in various regions of the Kingdom. The contracts were part of the ministry's plan to develop the public utilities and improve the basic services so as to meet the increasing requirements of the fast-growing population in various cities and regions across the Kingdom. The major contracts, including their amount and period of implementation, involve the construction of main water tank in Al-Shaaf town in Asir region –SR51.28 million (24 months), main water pipeline from the purification plant to Al-Homda town in Tathleeth region in Asir – SR49.88 million (30 months), phase 2 of sewage networks in various localities in Buraida City in Al-Qassim region – SR40.1 million (40 months), sewage treatment plant in Al-Shannan City in Hail region – SR37 million (24 months), operation and maintenance of sewage pumping plants and treatment plant in Khamis Mushyat in Asir region – SR28.51 million (36 months), operation and maintenance of sewage pumping plants and treatment plant in Abha City in Asir region – SR28 million (36 months), and main pipeline from purification plant to Al-Subaiha town in Tathleeth region in Asir – SR24.82 million (30 months). The contracts also included setting up of drinking water networks in Buraida City – SR24.48 million (36 months), water plants for some northern towns in Riyadh region – SR22.81 million (18 months), water tanks in some regions and villages in Hail – SR22.68 million (30 months), fourth phase of sewage networks in Ahad Rufaida in Asir – SR18.17 million (30 months), sixth phase of water networks in Hafar Al-Batin in the Eastern Province – SR17.44 million (24 months), operation and maintenance of comprehensive water project in Hail – SR15 million (24 months), second phase of operation and maintenance of drinking water projects in the villages in Al-Jouf region – SR14.88 million (36 months), second phase of expansion of sewage treatment plant, east of Khamis Mushayt in Asir – SR14 million (13 months), drinking water project in some regions of Riyadh – SR13.82 million (36 months), and water distribution plant in Al-Shaaf town in Asir – SR11.55 million (24 months). Al-Hussayen also signed contracts for drinking water project in southern region of Riyadh – SR11.49 million (36 months), first phase of supervising completion of water projects in the villages in Al-Shamil in Hail –SR8.1 million (24 months), construction of dam in Katna valley in Makkah region – SR7.9 million (36 months), and completion of pipeline from main pipeline to Saqaf, Anbuwan and Al-Aradiya localities in Al-Shamil, Hail –SR7.7 million (24 months). Saudi Arabia spent $1.1 billion last year on 128 water and sanitation contracts just in the capital Riyadh. In January, Al- Hussayen said $6.4 billion had been allocated for water and sanitation projects in 2013. The ministry has listed 160 water projects around the Kingdom this year on its official website. — SG
