Jeddah is to host its first Forum for water and Power from Nov.12 to 14. The event, organized in response to the increasing concerns with the long term supply of potable water in the Kingdom, will be opened by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdulaziz and Abdullah Al-Hussein, the Minister of Water & Electricity. Both will make keynote speeches on specific areas of concern in the water industry, Jeddah-based 'Arab News' reported. Organized by the Uk-based company CWC Associated Ltd., the forum is set to be one of the year's most influential conferences in Saudi Arabia. Business leaders operating in the desalination and power generation transmission sectors around the world have been invited to participate in the forum. The forum will present in detail Saudi Arabia's 25-year water and electricity plan. As the water supply and distribution sector is destined for privatization, a main theme will be investment opportunities for the private sector. The electricity and water authorities have already announced plans to build 21 water and electricity projects to meet the anticipated demands from the country's rapidly increasing population and industry. The total cost is estimated to be in excess of SR48 billion //$13// much of which will be financed by the private sector. In 2005 alone the government spent SR17.2 billion on new water, sewage and desalination projects. Over the next 20 years, investment in water and waste disposal projects is estimated to be about SR100 billion //$26billion// -- SPA 1332 Local Time 1032 GMT
