NWC holds a workshop to discuss ways to develop the quality and sustainability of project materials

The National Water Company (NWC), represented by the (Projects and Technical Services and Shared Services) sectors, held a workshop on Sunday, December 17, at its headquarters in Riyadh to discuss ways to increase the local content of the industrial products used in drinking water and wastewater capital projects. This is done to achieve continuous development of quality, increase the efficiency and sustainability of raw materials and manufacturing, and enable its industry locally in accordance with the best practices. Oil Sustainability Program (OSP) of the Ministry of Energy, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) and the National Housing Company (NHC) participated in the workshop, in addition to the companies and factories qualified by NWC.

The water company presented the scope of the portfolio of water and wastewater projects with an approved cost of (103) billion Saudi Riyals. NWC reviewed the company's plans to achieve the objectives of bidding and awarding these projects to achieve the coverage percentage according to the strategic plans for water and wastewater services in all regions of the Kingdom. The presentation also discussed and reviewed the volume of expected demand in view of the continuous updating of the technical specifications approved by the company. These are based on best practices in accordance with the highest standards of technical specifications and standardization. Ways to achieve the highest percentage of local shares of this increasing demand while maintaining sustainability, developing and improving quality, and increasing efficiency in the implementation of these projects were also discussed.

Eng. Mansour Abu Thunain, NWC’s Executive Vice President for Projects and Technical Services, emphasized the importance of continuous increasing the local content in capital projects. He pointed out the importance of improving coordination with SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) and the industrial community to attract international manufacturers and transfer successful experiences in order to achieve localization of industries and supply chains for these great investment opportunities to achieve sustainability and efficiency standards in their technical, economic and environmental terms.

For his part, Mohammed Al-Suqour, NWC’s Executive Vice President of Shared Services, praised the role of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)’s Nusaned “We Support” program in enabling and building industrial capabilities in the fields of manufacturing materials for the implementation of water and wastewater projects. Mr. Al-Suqour noted the need to prepare for the highest levels in the workshop scheduled for next February, to include all the challenges facing the National Water Company at this stage, and to work with partners to develop a local suppliers program to raise the companies' contribution to local content.