The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced the commercial operation of the Jubail 3B Independent Water Project (IWP). Valued at SR2.6 billion ($693.3 million), this state-of-the-art facility employs reverse osmosis technology to produce 570,000 cubic meters of potable water daily, catering to the needs of two million residents in Riyadh and Qassim.

The project reached financial closure in October 2021, following a collaboration between SWPC and a developer consortium led by French energy giant Engie. The consortium, which formed the Al-Jubail International Water Company, also includes prominent local firms Nesma Company and Alajlan Company.

The Jubail 3B IWP not only features advanced desalination capabilities but also incorporates storage tanks to hold a day’s worth of production and an in-house solar power system aimed at reducing reliance on the national electricity grid.

Under a build-own-operate contract spanning 25 years, the developer team submitted a competitive levelised cost of water tariff of $0.42 per cubic metre in 2020. Engie holds a 40 percent stake in the project company, with Nesma and Alajlan each owning a 30 percent share.

The local content of this initiative compromises 40% in the construction phase, and 50% during the first five years of operation, and will increase to 70% in the remaining years.