SUEZ Secures RO 900 Million Water Services Contract: What This Means for Oman’s Business and Investment Landscape
Muscat, June 30 – In conjunction with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s visit to France, the Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company (Nama Water Services) has awarded a landmark 15-year performance-based contract valued at €2 billion (approximately OMR 900 million) to the global utility leader SUEZ, along with its partners National Trading Company LLC and National Energy Center SAOC.
The contract encompasses the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater services for Cluster 1, which includes the governorates of Muscat, North Sharqiyah, and South Sharqiyah—serving an estimated 2.3 million residents, roughly 43% of Oman’s population. A key objective of the agreement is to significantly reduce water loss to meet the highest international standards.
Xavier Girre, CEO of SUEZ, expressed pride in the collaboration, stating, “It is an honour for SUEZ to work with the Omani authorities to provide sustainable drinking water and sanitation services to over two million people. This contract is the largest ever awarded to SUEZ in the Middle East and highlights our expanding presence and expertise in addressing critical water challenges amid structural water stress.”
The contract scope includes:
- Water services: Operating and maintaining 240 wells and 10,700 kilometers of pipelines that distribute 470,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily. It also covers upgrading four desalination plants and managing over 400,000 smart meters.
- Wastewater services: Managing 22 wastewater treatment plants with a combined capacity of 280,000 cubic meters per day, maintaining roughly 3,000 kilometers of sewer networks, 400 kilometers of treated effluent networks for reuse, and expanding wastewater house connections.
This performance-based contract integrates 33 key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure sustainable network operation and high-quality water service delivery. Operator compensation is tied to meeting targets such as reducing water losses from 34% to 11% by 2040, guaranteeing continuous 24-hour supply of safe drinking water, and implementing proactive maintenance programs to boost service reliability and asset longevity.
A significant emphasis is placed on capacity-building, leveraging international expertise to enhance the skills of Omani teams over the long term. The project supports Oman’s strategic Vision 2040 goals with strong commitments to Omanisation—exceeding 83%—and enhancing In-Country Value.
While Nama Water Services will retain its strategic and regulatory oversight, daily operations will be managed by the National Sustainable Water Alliance LLC, the consortium formed by National Trading Company LLC and National Energy Center SAOC. National Trading Company brings extensive multisector expertise including power, manufacturing, IT, real estate, and retail, while National Energy Center is a premier Omani utility development and infrastructure investor specializing in water, energy, and digital utility solutions.
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The 15-year, €2 billion contract with SUEZ and local partners marks a transformative shift towards sustainable water management in Oman, covering nearly half the population and driving major infrastructure upgrades. For businesses, this signals significant opportunities in water technology, smart metering, and infrastructure services, while investors should note the strong focus on performance-based outcomes and Omanisation, aligning with Oman Vision 2040 priorities to foster local expertise and long-term value creation.
