Cairo – Mubasher: Orascom Construction Ltd (ORAS) on Wednesday announced that its 50:50 joint venture with FCC Aqualia, a subsidiary of FCC, signed an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract of $320 million to build Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant in Egypt.

The plant will operate with a capacity of 1.6 million square metres per day, as it is comprised of primary and secondary treatment units, and it is planned to be constructed over phases within 37 months, the firm said in a statement.

This plant will serve about 6 million people after the completion of its construction, as the contract is covering the operation and maintenance of the plant for three years, the firm added. 

“A 50:50 joint venture between Orascom Construction and Aqualia New Europe is currently the co-owner and co-developer of New Cairo Wastewater Treatment Plant, Egypt’s first public private partnership,” the firm noted.

“This award confirms our [ORAS] ability to continue to secure quality contracts and underscores our strategy to focus on water-related projects, such as our two recently-signed water desalination plants, due to the strategic need of this sector in Egypt,” CEO of Orascom Construction Osama Bishai commented.

“We are also pleased to collaborate again with our partner FCC Aqualia, demonstrating our long-term successful relationship,” he added.