Riyadh, September 13, 2023, Eng. Abdulrahman AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and Chairman of the Saudi Water Partnership Company's Board of Directors, have formally signed the Rayis-Rabigh Independent Water Transmission Pipeline Agreement. This large pipeline, which spans 150 kilometers, has a remarkable daily transmission capacity of up to 500,000 cubic meters. AlFadley stressed the vital importance of private sector participation in the development of the water sector throughout the Kingdom in line with Vision 2030 goals. He emphasized the need for improving service quality and maximizing expenditure efficiency by utilizing the knowledge of construction, operation, and administration in the private sector. AlFadley also emphasized how this deal supports the Ministry's strategic objectives, which include carrying out water transmission projects in partnership with investors across Saudi Arabia. Engineer Khaled AlQurayshi, CEO of the Saudi Water Partnerships Company, stressed that the Raysis-Rabigh Independent Water Transmission Pipelines project, which is being developed in partnership with the private sector, is a regional first for water transportation. According to AlQurayshi, this project will considerably increase the effectiveness of water transmission while lowering electricity usage and operating expenses. Additionally, by enhancing localization in terms of labor and resources, it will support local content. He stated that a build, own, operate, and transfer ("BOOT") architecture was used to present the proposal to investors. With 31 firms expressing interest in the project, 14 of which were from Saudi Arabia, it attracted a lot of attention. In the end, a partnership between the Spanish company Cobra and the Saudi company Al-Kharif for Water and Energy Technology won the project. The project's activities are expected to start in the second quarter of 2026, according to AlQurayshi.
To strengthen collaborations with the business sector, the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture is dedicated to supporting a cutting-edge and alluring investment environment. By creating and presenting investment strategies and activities that provide the best investment prospects, this goal is being fulfilled. It also entails giving investors the ability to choose from a variety of investment opportunities. These initiatives significantly aid the Ministry's strategic objectives in the areas of agriculture, water, and the environment.
