JEDDAH: Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al-Hussayen yesterday gave good news to Jeddah’s residents, saying they would not face any drinking water scarcity this summer.
“Two floating desalination plants will arrive in Jeddah within a few days,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after launching a branch of National Water Company in Jeddah, Al-Hussayen said three more customer service centers would be opened in Makkah, Madinah and Taif. The ministry has already established one in Riyadh as part of its efforts to provide efficient service to the public.
The first floating plant, which has been erected on a barge at Shuaiba, south of Jeddah, started pumping 10,000 cubic meters of potable water to the city’s network in June last year. The plant’s capacity is expected to reach 26,000 cubic meters in a short time. The new branch of the company, which is located on Prince Mohammed Street (formerly Tahlia), includes a joint communication center and the headquarters of the Jeddah business unit.
Luay bin Ahmed Al-Musallam, CEO of the company, said his company would provide drinking water and sewage water services in Riyadh and Jeddah.
“Our focus will be on developing the standard of services by opening new customer service centers in provinces targeted for privatization of the water and sewage sector,” he said.
He said the first customer service center in Riyadh was successful, adding that it was established soon after the company’s formation.
Abdullah Al-Assaf, director of the Jeddah business unit, said extending the best possible services would be his company’s priority.
