Saudi Arabia suspends privatisation of desalination and power plant

Saudi Arabia has suspended the privatisation of the Ras Al Khair desalination and power plant, one of several state assets that the government aimed to sell to reduce pressure on capital spending and diversify revenues away from oil. The Privatization Supervisory Committee for the Environment, Water and Agriculture sectors said that the decision was made to capitalise on knowledge and capacity built in the Kingdom as a result of many years of experience in water desalination but that it will continue to engage investors in future public-private partnerships and privatisations in the water sector.