Marafiq, Austrian Company Sign Deal to Expand Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jubail

Marafiq, Austrian Company Sign Deal to Expand Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jubail
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Marafiq, Austrian Company Sign Deal to Expand Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jubail

Marafiq, Austrian Company Sign Deal to Expand Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jubail

Marafiq, Power and Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu announced Wednesday the signing of a deal, worth half a billion riyals, with an Austrian company to expand wastewater treatment plant in eastern Saudi Arabia.

In a statement obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, Marafiq said its President and CEO Abdullah al-Buainain signed the contract with VA TECH WABAG GmbH Company to expand the ninth Sanitary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jubail.

"This step reflects the company's commitment to its ambitious plans to expand its Sanitary Wastewater Treatment Plant (SWTP-9) and keep up with the population growth in Jubail and its industrial city," the company said.

The expansion of the plant includes independent treatment work to be designed and constructed to treat sewage and solid waste removal.

The plant will use basic processing techniques to remove grease and solid objects.

“Marafiq is confident in providing world-class utility facilities to the new wave of growth for the Saudi Vision 2030 industrial ventures,” stressed Buainain.

“We are extremely honored to have been awarded the contract to expand SWTP-9 Stage six under the leadership of Marafiq,” said CEO of VA TECH WABAG GmbH Deep Raj Saxena.

“We are confident that we will be capable to implement the project and meet Marafiq’s expectations,” he added.

Marafiq is owned by a number of Saudi economic sectors, including Aramco, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, SABIC, the Public Investment Fund and private sector investors.

It was founded on January 1, 2003, with shares worth SAR 2.5 billion.



Gold Edges Up on Softer Dollar; Focus on US Inflation Data

Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
TT

Gold Edges Up on Softer Dollar; Focus on US Inflation Data

Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices inched up on Wednesday as the US dollar eased, while investors' focus shifted to key inflation data from the world's biggest economy for cues on the likely scale of a Federal Reserve rate cut next month.
Spot gold rose 0.3% to $2,639.30 per ounce, as of 0523 GMT. Bullion hit an over one-week low on Tuesday.
US gold futures rose 0.7% to $2,639.40.
The dollar index was down 0.1%, boosting gold's appeal for holders of other currencies. The greenback fell to a near one-week low on Tuesday.
"Gold has been fluctuating alongside dollar volatility. However, in the Asian session, the price movement has been marginal," said Kyle Rodda, financial market analyst at Capital.com.
"In the long run, I think Trump's trade war may be positive for gold because of higher debt loads and a touch of dedollarization," Rodda said.
Investors digested a handful of economic data on Tuesday indicating the economy remained on solid footing.
Traders will now closely monitor core PCE figures, initial jobless claims and GDP (first revision), set for release later in the day.
Markets currently see a 63% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut by the Fed in December, as per the CME group's FedWatch tool.
Trump's appointments and policies that pressure the Fed, increase deficits, escalate tariffs, or raise concerns about US financial sustainability could collectively support gold prices, said Daan Struyven, co-head of global commodities research at Goldman Sachs.
Elsewhere, China's net gold imports via Hong Kong in October fell from September and were down 43% from the previous year, data showed.
On the geopolitical front, US-France brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect at 0200 GMT on Wednesday.
Spot silver edged 0.2% higher to $30.47 per ounce, platinum fell 0.1% to $926.74 and palladium added 0.3% to $980.55