Arid S. Arabia might need '$50 billion' in water investment

RIYADH — Arid Saudi Arabia could need more than $53 billion in water sector investment supported by private funds as demand grows, officials said on Sunday.

The world's largest oil exporter, whose petroleum revenues fell 51 per cent last year on declining crude prices, is pushing to diversify its economy through greater private sector investment and development of new industries.

Among government agencies targeted for privatisation is the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), which desalinates water from the Gulf and Red Sea coasts.

"Future plants will be tendered to the private sector," Ali Al Hazmi, SWCC governor, told the government-organised Water Investment Forum.

"We have everything ready for privatisation."

The desert kingdom, which has no rivers, obtains most of its water from desalination and the rest from ground sources.

"This requires a lot of money and a lot of capital investment," Mansour Al Mushaiti, a deputy minister with the ministry of environment, water and agriculture, told the forum.

"We are envisaging that the capital requirements in the next five years will reach up to 200 billion Saudi riyals [$53.3 billion]."