SAUDI ARABIA IS firmly commited to the principle of privatisation in the development of its water and power industries. Investment partners from inside and outside the Kingdom will continue to form an essential part of the financial mix to address the huge infrastructure projects that will be necessary over the next two decades.
p>SAUDI ARABIA IS firmly commited to the principle of privatisation in the development of its water and power industries. Investment partners from inside and outside the Kingdom will continue to form an essential part of the financial mix to address the huge infrastructure projects that will be necessary over the next two decades.
However, the Kingdom will not relinquish ownership of its water resources, which will remain securely in the stewardship of the country. Dr Bakr Koshaim, power consultant and member of the Majlis-e-Shoura, said that the experience of the Kingdom had been the IWPPs and the involvement of the private sector in the development of both the power and water sectors was very positive. ?They have reduced the costs of production, improved management and run the plants more efficiently,? he said. Asked if, with respect to water and privatisation in the sector whether any kind of tariff structure had been discussed, Koshaim said it had not.
