Chennai Company WABAG Wins Over Rs 1000 Crore Desalination Contract in Kuwait
Chennai-based water technology player Va Tech WABAG has secured a mega desalination project order valued at over ₹1,000 crore in Kuwait, marking the company's maiden entry into the Gulf nation. The contract for the Doha Seawater Reverse Osmosis Stage II project was awarded by Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy.
The project represents a major milestone for the Chennai-headquartered firm, expanding its business footprint in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. WABAG will execute the contract through an unincorporated joint venture where it serves as the lead partner, working alongside Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company.
Under the terms of the agreement, the joint venture is responsible for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the desalination plant. The facility is designed to produce 60 million imperial gallons of water per day, which is equivalent to approximately 272 million litres per day. The plant will also feature a specialized recarbonation system.
The scope of the contract extends beyond construction, as the joint venture has also secured a five-year operations and maintenance agreement for the plant. The entire project is scheduled to be completed within a 36-month timeframe.
In an effort to support Kuwait's renewable energy targets and lower the environmental impact of the facility, the project will integrate solar photovoltaic systems. These solar installations will partially power the desalination plant's energy requirements, thereby reducing its overall carbon footprint. Once operational, the plant is expected to significantly enhance Kuwait's water security and meet its rising demand for potable water.
WABAG categorizes this contract as a "mega" order, a classification it reserves for international projects worth more than $150 million or domestic orders exceeding ₹1,000 crore.
Rohan Mittal, Head of Strategy and Business Growth for the GCC region at WABAG, noted that the project marks a significant step for the company. He stated that the Doha SWRO II project reinforces WABAG's growing leadership in the Middle East desalination market and highlights its capability to deliver large-scale, energy-efficient solutions.
