Netherlands-based advisory firm KPMG has been awarded the contract to advise Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) on the part-privatisation of some of its wastewater assets.

The company will work with the US’ Aecom on the technical aspects of the deal, which will involve creating a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to own the wastewater assets and then selling part of that to the private sector.

Previously, the UK’s PricewaterhouseCooopers was expected to be awarded the contract by NWC. The Saudi water company is also expected to appoint an adviser for a similar privatisation scheme involving its assets in Jeddah, Mecca and Taif.