Kuwait approves 999.85 mln-dinar contract with Chinese major sewage treatment plant

Kuwait’s Central Agency for Public Tenders has approved proceeding with direct contracting between the Ministry of Public Works and China State Construction Engineering Corporation to implement the Kabd North Sewage Treatment Plant project, with a total value of 999.85 million dinars, equivalent to about $3.3 billion.

According to the official gazette issued on Sunday, the project will be carried out under a contract covering construction, operation, and maintenance for a period of 10 years. Once completed, Kabd North will be the largest wastewater treatment plant in Kuwait in terms of capacity.

The plant is designed to treat up to one million cubic meters of wastewater per day, using advanced treatment technologies. The project also includes associated infrastructure works aimed at enhancing the country’s wastewater management system, according to CNBC Arabia podcast.

Kuwait currently faces challenges in reusing treated wastewater, as a significant portion is discharged into the sea due to limited storage capacity, infrastructure constraints, and quality standards that restrict reuse mainly to irrigation purposes. The new facility is expected to help address part of this challenge by expanding treatment capacity and improving efficiency.

The Kabd North project is part of a broader package of major infrastructure developments being implemented in cooperation with Chinese companies. These include the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, whose contract was signed in December for approximately $4 billion, as well as projects related to power generation, water and renewable energy, waste recycling, and the development of new cities and residential areas.

Kuwaiti-Chinese relations have witnessed notable momentum in recent years, particularly following the visit of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to China in 2023, when he was Crown Prince. The visit resulted in the signing of several bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in infrastructure development, renewable energy, and other strategic sectors.