Orascom Construction Industries announced that its 50:50 JV with Spanish group Aqualia, Orasqualia was awarded Egypt's first Public Private Partnership concession for the construction and operation of the New Cairo WasteWater Treatment Plant.

The 20 year concession was tendered by the Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities & Urban Developments in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

The overall contract value during the concession period is EGP 2.646 billion (USD 472 million) and includes the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of the plant and the Operation and Maintenance during the contract period. The wastewater treatment plant will have a capacity of 250,000 m3 per day and will serve over one million people.

The project is expected to commence construction during Q4 2009 and will take approximately 24 months to complete. After completion of the plant, Orasqualia will operate and maintain the plant for the remaining 18 years of the concession.