Saudi Arabia's National Water Co (NWC) has awarded nine contracts worth SR1.255bn ($334m) for projects in the first phase of a strategic water plan in Riyadh, Saudi press agency has reported. The plan is aimed at making full use of the Ras Al-Zour Water Desalination Station of Saline Water Conversion, which is expected to pump nearly 800,000 cubic meters of water per day. Joint local and South Korean consortiums have won four contracts worth SR642m while other national companies won five contracts worth SR613m, NWC said.