Saudi's National Water to outsource water systems

 Saudi Arabia's state-owned National Water Company is expected to sign a US$46.32 million deal with a French-Saudi consortium to manage and operate the water and sewage sectors in the Saudi cities of Makkah and Taif, reported the Saudi-based Al Riyadh daily.

The consortium comprises of France's Saur Group and Saudi Arabia's Zamil Operations and Maintenance Co., a unit of Zamil Group Holding Co., the paper reports, adding that the five-year deal is a partnership with the private sector.

Under the contract, the consortium will engage in the supervision, management, operation and maintenance of the water and sewage grids in addition to the management and development of the client service department, and revenue collection, leakage reduction, and workforce training, National Water said according to the daily.