A new joint venture company, led by Aqualia — one of the world’s largest water services providers — has been established in the Sultanate to operate and manage the substantial water infrastructure that serves multibillion dollar industrial and logistics investments at the Port of Sohar.
Oman Sustainable Water Services SAOC is a partnership between Majis Industrial Services, a subsidiary of Oman Investment Fund (OIF) — a sovereign wealth fund of the Sultanate of Oman, and Spanish-based Aqualia FCC, billed as the third largest water utility in Europe.
Under an agreement signed by the two sides last week, Oman Sustainable Water Services will operate the industrial port’s sprawling water infrastructure – developed by Majis over the past 15 years – for the next 20 years.
Signing the JV agreement on behalf of Majis was its CEO, Ahmed al Mazrouy, as well as its Chairman (Independent) Nabil Abdullah al Ghassani. Aqualia was represented by its International Director, Luis de Lope. Also present at the event were José Antonio Bordallo, Ambassador of Spain to the Sultanate of Oman, and Remedios Romeo García, the Embassy’s Commercial Attaché.
Significantly, the new JV will assume operational authority over a large and diverse portfolio of water assets that includes installations for seawater intake, production and supply of drinking water and the processing, collection and system for cooling water, wastewater treatment, sewerage system, and management of recycled wastewater.
The handover of assets for operation and management to the new JV is envisioned in a phased manner. First to change hands will be the seawater intake system – a critical piece of infrastructure that provides cooling water to the major petrochemical plants operating at the port. The system delivers 700,000 cubic metres per hour of seawater that is circulated through the major industries at the port before it is channelled out through an outfall system.
Other assets that will pass into the hands of the new JV are: a desalination plant with a capacity of 20,000 m3/day, a purification plant of 10,000 m3/day, a seawater outfall of 600,000 m3/hour, a pumping and processing system, as well as drinking water and sewerage systems of a total capacity of over 50,000 m3/day.
In comments, Majis CEO Ahmed al Mazrouy said the new company will provide sustainable water solutions to the port’s customers by leveraging modern technology and efficient delivery systems. The JV is also committed to investing in human capital development, he said.
Luis de Lope, International Director of Aqualia, stated that the new partnership is in line with Aqualia’s business model. “It is a project that promotes innovation and continuous improvement, where we can provide our knowledge and experience in all facets of the water cycle.”
With the new partnership agreement, Aqualia adds Oman to its expanding regional footprint. The water services giant already has operations in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, where it oversees water treatment infrastructure of a capacity of around 600,000 cubic metre per day.
Globally, Aqualia has a presence in around 22 countries, primarily in Europe, the Americas, Middle East and North Africa. Revenues totalled around 1.1 billion euros on a business portfolio valued at nearly 15 billion euros in 2016.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
