His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for Privatization in the Environment, Water and Agriculture Sectors, has signed agreement with BNP Paribas to advice on desalination privatization after assessing all possible options for private sector participation and selecting the best one.
AlFadley said that the agreement is a continuation of the efforts made by SWCC towards realizing the privatization program which aims to enhances the role of the private sector in the desalination sector. And to achieve the privatization programs objectives approved by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs including developing stronger client orientation, attracting private sector investment, developing the water sector on a commercial basis, and raising spending efficiency.
AlFadley stressed that SWCC is currently working within framework of the privatization program to separate water transfer assists and transfer them to commercial companies to handle the functions of water transfer and desalination techniques, and prepare a comprehensive study for water plants to be gathered in a form a commercial companies with private sector participation, according to the most appropriate option for participation, including involving individuals in corporate ownership.
It is worth mentioning that the Supervisory Committee for Privatization in the Environment, Water and Agriculture Sectors undertakes supervisory and support functions of privatization within an effective and integrated governance model to ensure the participation of all competent entities. It also works on projects in the environment, water and agriculture sectors on public-private partnership.