In September 2014 Groupe Saur completed several key water network management projects in the city of Mecca in preparation for the 2014 Hajj pilgrimage in which water consumption is anticipated to spike to 10 million m3 per day as the city’s population reaches over 4.5 million. These projects included implementation of new SCADA systems and network monitoring equipment, as well as a strategic water storage plan for its client National Water Company of Saudi Arabia (NWC).
On 7 July 2014, Groupe Saur, partnering with Saudi’s water and power utility Marafiq in the joint venture MaSa (49%-51%, respectively), was awarded the water and sanitation management services contract for Yanbu Industrial City.
MaSa took over Jubail Industrial City’s O&M contract in 2011 and is now responsible for water management in Yanbu, Jubail, Mecca and Taif’s networks. The eight-year Yanbu contract adds two wastewater facilities totaling 51,000 m3/d and 146,000 m3/d of potable water treatment capacity serving 96,000 people.
Bluefield Takeaways
- Saur builds further inroads into Saudi Arabia through MaSa
- Flat growth, municipalization at home drives international expansion
- Eastern Europe has yet to deliver on expectations
