Veolia’s Bahwan Veolia Water has been awarded a five-year contract to operate and maintain the Al Asilah desalination plant in Oman, expanding its portfolio in the country’s water sector. The contract was granted by Al Asilah Operation and Maintenance LLC and includes management of both the desalination facility and its onsite solar photovoltaic farm.
The Al Asilah plant, with a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters per day, becomes the fourth desalination facility operated by Veolia in Oman. The company already manages plants in Sur, Barka IV, and Salalah. Together, the Al Asilah and Sur plants supply drinking water to approximately 600,000 residents of the Al Sharqiyah South Governorate. The close proximity of these facilities is expected to enhance operational efficiency through the sharing of technical resources and expertise.
Ownership of the Al Asilah plant lies with Al Asilah Desalination Company, whose key shareholders include Japan’s JGC Holdings Corporation and Oman’s Bahwan Group. Bahwan Veolia Water represents a joint venture between Veolia and the Bahwan Engineering Company, combining international experience with local capabilities to support Oman’s water infrastructure needs.
Philippe Bourdeaux, Veolia’s Executive Senior Vice-President for Africa, Near, and Middle East, highlighted that the contract reinforces Veolia’s ongoing partnership with Oman and aligns with the group’s ambition to double its global desalination capacity by 2030. He emphasized the critical role of desalination in ensuring water security across the Middle East.
The integration of desalination operations with the solar photovoltaic installation at Al Asilah is designed to enhance operational performance while contributing to lower-carbon water production. Bahwan Engineering Company noted that the collaboration aims to prioritize safety, efficiency, and reliability, alongside expanding operational expertise with a long-term vision of broadening services within Oman’s water sector.
Sunao Horii, General Manager of Al Asilah Operation and Maintenance, described the contract award as the start of a new phase, following an extensive period of negotiations. Veolia, with nearly two decades of experience in Oman, also stressed its commitment to Omanisation by providing training and professional development aimed at strengthening local technical capabilities in managing strategic water infrastructure.
The agreement underscores the ongoing efforts to modernize and sustain critical water systems in Oman while advancing environmental objectives through renewable energy integration.