Al-Yarmouk Water Company has received bids from three consortiums to provide water and wastewater management services in Jordan’s Northern Governorates.

The service area covers the four governorates of Ajloun, Irbid, Jerash and Mafraq with a population of around 1.5 million people.

Three bids have been submitted for the contract:

• Remondis (Germany)/ Engicon (local)
• Agbar (Spain)/Sigma (local)
• Veolia Water (France)/Aquatreat (local)

The bids are currently being assessed and a decision is expected before the end of the year with the chosen companies mobilised by April 2011.

The winning bidders will be awarded a five-year contract with Al-Yarmouk Water Company, which may be extended by a further two years on two occasions.

The Performance Management Unit (PMU) and the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) are running the tender. Al-Yarmouk Water Company was formed in August this year to oversee water and wastewater projects that were previously carried out by the Northern Governorates Water Administration.

Al-Yarmouk Water Company plans to finance the contracts through a partial subsidy from WAJ and a grant from German Development Bank.