Nama Water Services has awarded a performance-based contract worth approximately $2.34 billion (900 million Omani riyals) to operate and maintain water and wastewater services in Oman, supporting efforts to improve efficiency and sustainability in the sector.
The 15-year contract covers water and wastewater services in Muscat Governorate and the North and South Al Sharqiyah governorates, the first geographical service area under the program.
It also includes an integrated program to reduce non-revenue water losses across the network through a performance-based operating model.
The contract will provide water and sanitation services to more than 2.3 million people, representing about 43 percent of Oman’s population.
The program will be delivered through a partnership between Suez, the Oman Infrastructure Fund (Rakiza), and their partners, the National Trading Company and the National Energy Center.
Under the agreement, Nama Water Services will oversee governance, strategic oversight, and performance management, while the operating partner will manage day-to-day operations under a performance-based framework.
Qais bin Saud Al Zakwani, CEO of Nama Water Services Company, said that the initiative represents the next phase of the company’s institutional transformation and reflects its approach to managing the water sector through performance, innovation, and sustainability. The operating model is intended to improve asset management, strengthen water infrastructure reliability, and support the delivery of efficient water and wastewater services.
Al Zakwani noted that the program includes a comprehensive capacity-building and knowledge transfer plan, with an Omanization target exceeding 83 percent. He added that it will strengthen local content and local added value while supporting the Sultanate’s economic development objectives.
Qais bin Saud Al Zakwani added that the partnership with international companies will facilitate knowledge transfer and technical expertise while supporting institutional development, water security, the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, and the continued development of sustainable water infrastructure.
Image Credits: ONA | Cropped by GBN
The water services component includes the operation and maintenance of 240 wells, management of a water network spanning approximately 10,700 kilometers, and the daily distribution of around 470,000 cubic meters of drinking water.
The scope also covers the development and rehabilitation of four desalination plants and the operation of more than 400,000 smart water meters.
The wastewater services component includes the operation and maintenance of 22 wastewater treatment plants with a combined treatment capacity of 280,000 cubic meters per day, together with the management of a 3,000-kilometer sewage network and 400 kilometers of treated water distribution networks for water reuse.
The contract is based on 33 key performance indicators and targets a reduction in non-revenue water losses from 34 percent to 11 percent by 2040.
It also includes preventive maintenance, advanced digital network monitoring, smart leak detection, and enhanced asset management to improve operational efficiency, response times, and the overall management of water and wastewater services.
