Veolia, a leader in optimised resource management, says its Middle East subsidiary has secured a $63-million management contract from Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (Kipic) for a wastewater project within its Al Zour facility, one of the world’s largest refinery complexes under development.

The deal, which is for a period of seven years, will see Veolia Middle East provide operation and maintenance services for its future wastewater treatment plant located in the south of the country.

As per the contract, it will treat and recycle wastewater at the rate of 1,500 cu m/h, and will also be responsible for the sludge incineration unit, according to Veolia.

As soon as it is commissioned, the Al Zour refinery will have a production capacity of 615,000 barrels per day, increasing Kuwait’s refining capacity to over 1.5 million barrels a day.

Veolia says it will deploy its complex facility management solutions to optimise water treatment and recycling with a goal of zero liquid discharge (ZLD).

This new success confirms that natural resource management has now become a strategic issue for industry, says the company.

“Major industrial operators such as Kipic are expressing growing needs for operational excellence and compliance with increasingly stringent regulations in terms of discharging pollutants,” remarks Christophe Maquet, Veolia’s executive vice president, Africa and Middle East. “By offering solutions that deliver both performance and competitiveness, Veolia has the responses to the major issues they face in terms of water requirement, waste treatment and performance.”

“Kipic is keen to partner with internationally reputed entities such as Veolia to achieve its vision of becoming a leader in operating its integrated refinery, petrochemical and LNGI facilities,” remarks Khaled Anwar Al Awadi, the deputy CEO in charge of Al Zour refinery, at Kipic.

Through this contract, Veolia will also transfer its knowledge and expertise to Kipic and Kuwaiti employees who will be employed as part of this contract, he adds.