Metito and Berlinwasser launch $1bn venture for MENA utilities sector

The new company, Metito Berlinwasser Ltd, has plans to manage a total capital expenditure of $1bn over the next three years. The company combines the strengths of Metito, the region's leading water treatment company, with Berlinwasser, one of the largest integrated wastewater and water utility service providers in Europe, serving 10 million consumers worldwide within the framework of Public-Private-Partnership schemes. The new company is owned 60% by Metito Utilities and 40% by Berlinwasser International, and is headquartered in Dubai.

The MENA Region in the Focus

Metito Berlinwasser is committed to offering a variety of industry leading services in the water utility sector across the Middle East and North Africa markets with a specialisation in water and wastewater projects. Rami Ghandour, Executive Director of Metito Utilities said, "With a $120bn expected to be invested in the water industry in ME over the next decade, creating Metito Berlinwasser was a way of saying that, Metito and Berlinwasser are committed and focused on the region. We are bringing together complementary services and combining two cultures with similar highly ethical standards in the water utility sector and believe we are coming together to form a new market leader."

Dieter Ernst, CEO of Berlinwasser International added:

"We believe, that the unique combination of operating experience and regional understanding from Berlinwasser and Metito are the foundation of Metito Berlinwasser. Individually Berlinwasser and Metito are market leaders and will continue to run our existing businesses side-by-side and look forward to becoming a dominant leader in the region with the creation of this new venture."

The new joint company is already in the process of tendering for water projects with governments and master plan developers across the MENA region.

Metito Berlinwasser will focus on long-term government projects ranging from operating and maintenance contracts to long-term investments in running water and wastewater assets. Metito Berlinwasser's creation caters to the emerging trend of private sector involvement in state-run utility projects. Governments throughout the Middle East, North Africa are planning to open the water sector to private companies with the objective of improving efficiency and enhancing services to consumers. There are many challenges facing the water industry in the region including escalating costs, with Metito Berlinwasser's vast regional and international expertise the new company will be providing cutting edge solutions that improve cost efficiencies at the same time as reducing the impact on the environment.

Strategic Cooperation in the Chinese Market
Metito Utilities and Berlinwasser International have also formed a strategic alliance to jointly develop and invest into new water and wastewater projects in China. This builds on Berlinwasser's extensive experience and early success having built the first wastewater BOT and TOT's in the country.