JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said work on long-term drainage solution projects in Jeddah are progressing well.
“Implementation of permanent solution projects is on the right track and continuing around the clock,” he said while chairing a meeting of the executive committee for implementing the drainage projects at his office in Jeddah yesterday.
It was disclosed in the meeting that 3,164 workers supplied with 1,108 pieces of equipment have already completed half a million-work hours without any casualties or injuries.
Several high-ranking officials and senior executives of the companies implementing the projects as well as leading engineers attended the meeting. They included Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed, undersecretary at the Makkah governorate Abdul Aziz Al-Khodairy, Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras, director general of the Civil Defense in the Makkah province Maj. Gen. Adel Zamzami, and CEO of the National Water Company Luay Al-Mosallam.
Addressing the meeting, Prince Khaled appreciated the great efforts of concerned government agencies and officials as well as companies to complete the projects within the stipulated period of time. The governor also watched separate video presentations made by companies awarded contracts on March 28 this year to implement the projects. So far these companies have achieved 7 percent of their target, and the projects are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013. Prince Khaled was briefed on the progress of the construction works, as well as expropriation of properties for the projects in addition to engineering work.
The permanent drainage solution projects include construction of five dams, expansion of existing canals in the northern, southern and eastern parts of Jeddah and construction of a new canal along King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Two Saudi and two international companies have been awarded contracts worth a total of SR3.39 billion to implement these projects. Nesma Company won a contract worth SR803 million to build four dams in Wadi Ghaya, Wadi Um Hablain, Wadi Daghbaj, and Wadi Briman and another contract worth SR372 million to build another dam in Wadi Ghalil and renovate the southern floodwater path. The second contract valued at SR143 million was awarded to the China Communications Construction Company to renovate the northern floodwater path.
Snamprogetti Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., a company of Saipem Group of Italy, has won the biggest contract valued at SR1.319 billion to construct a rainwater drainage system for the new Jeddah airport.
Saudi Pan Kingdom for Trade, Industry and Contracting (SAPAC) won a SR751 million contract to renovate the eastern floodwater path.
