Saudi Arabia’s Water & Electricity Company (WEC) has invited developers to prequalify for the planned Shuqaiq 3 independent water project (IWP).

Developers have been invited to submit prequalification documents by 22 January. The planned Shuqaiq 3 IWP will have a capacity of 380,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d). The plant will use membrane reverse osmosis (RO) technology, and will be developed in the town of Shuqaiq, located on the Red Sea coast about 137km north of Jizan.

The Shuqaiq project will be developed under a build, own and operate model (BOO), with a project company to be formed and owned 100 per cent by the successful bidder.

WEC is planning to notify prequalified companies by 12 February and issue tender documents by 19 February. The client has set a target date for bids to be received on 16 July. The selection of the preferred bidder is scheduled to be completed by 30 September, with a target set for signing the water purchase agreement (WPA) with the successful bidder on 29 November.

MEED reported in November that WEC had received expressions of interest (EOI) from 51 companies for the projects to develop the planned Shuqaiq 3 and Yanbu 4 independent water plants (IWPs).