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* It is not just desalination deals that are making the headlines in the Middle East this month.

In Oman, Veolia is the preferred bidder to provide management services for the Muscat wastewater project. It will work alongside the Oman Wastewater Services Company, which is in charge of building and operating the capital’s wastewater system. Veolia is also in the running for a contract to operate and manage water services in Abu Dhabi. Its competitors are Suez Environment, Saur and a joint venture of Siemens and United Utilities. A preferred bidder should be known by the end of June. A similar O&M contract for neighbouring Al Ain has attracted strong interest, with a preferred bidder also set to be announced at the end of the month.

* Meanwhile, project advisors are finalising a RFQ for a BOT project in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. It will cover a capacity extension of Abu Dhabi’s Mafraq WwTP, operation & maintenance of a WwTP in Al Ain and construction of a new plant in Al Ain at Al Sad. Interested parties will have until 10 July to submit their PQ applications. A separate RFQ will be issued for the operation & maintenance of the sewerage networks in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The client for both projects is the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA).

* Jordan’s relaunched Disi-Amman water conveyor project is also attracting a good deal of interest. The Ministry of Water & Irrigation has shortlisted a total of six companies or consortia who it will invite to submit proposals. There are some familiar names and some not quite so familiar. SNC Lavalin and Kuwait’s Utilities Development Company could be expected to feature, as might the consortium of Mitsui & Co. and Befesa, which is establishing a growing reputation outside its native Spain. We wonder if the mysteriously named Arabian Consortium for Disi Project will spring any surprises (full list of companies, see p38).