France's Saur Group is the low bidder for contracts to manage drinking water and sanitation facilities in three of the country's largest cities. The contracts are part of Algiers' drive to stem water losses from the system running at 50 per cent.

Saur, via its Saur International subsidiary, quoted Eur 16.6 million ($22 million) for the contract to manage water networks in Constantine and Eur 15.6 million ($20.7 million) to manage those in Oran, sharply undercutting competition from Spain's Agbar Group, which priced the two jobs at Eur 42.3 million ($56.1 million) and Eur 41.6 million ($55.2 million) respectively.

The French company was also the lowest bidder for the contract in Annaba with a bid of Eur 11.9 million ($15.8 million). Agbar quoted Eur 44.5 million ($59.0 million), while Germany's Gelwasser priced the work at Eur 24 million ($31.8 million). Bids from Societe des Eaux de Marseille and Veolia Water, both of France, and Italy's Azienda Mediterranea Gas & Acqua were rejected on technical grounds.

It is not clear whether the contracts will be awarded to the low bidder, or whether technical evaluation will be taken into consideration. The awards are due in January (MEED 9:12:06).