The rapidly growing demand for water and power has become a major resource issue this century while generating new investment opportunities across the developing world.

The Jeddah Water and Power Forum 2006 (JWPF) this month is set to discuss key issues concerning the bourgeoning power and water sector, which is forecast to attract billions of dollars in investment in the next decade in the kingdom and the region.
Building on the success of last year’s event, this year’s forum and exhibition will be held between November 11 and 13 at the Jeddah Hilton.
The forum will comprise a high-level conference and an exhibition in which international and regional companies will take part.
Being held under the patronage of Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the  Mekkah Region, the JWPF has the full the support of the Ministry of Water and Electricity, Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Water and Electricity Company and Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC).
The exhibition has nearly doubled from last year and was sold out three months before the show.
This year, 150 companies from 29 countries will take part. Companies from Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, India and Singapore from Asia; Germany, the UK, France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Spain and Italy from Europe; the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran and Oman from the Middle East and the US are participating along with Saudi companies.
“The JWPF 2006 will provide a platform for national and international business leaders, investors and contractors to meet and exchange ideas, with the aim of identifying new opportunities that exist in the high-growth water and power sectors in the kingdom,” said Abdullah Al-Hussayen, the Minister of Water & Electricity, in his message to the forum.
The JWPF will incorporate an international exhibition which is the commercial focus of the event, giving companies the opportunity to present their knowledge and technological innovations in their area of expertise directly to buyers and decision-makers from across the kingdom under one roof, he said.
“The high-level strategic conference provides an unrivalled opportunity for local and international business leaders to network and exchange ideas. JWPF 2006 will be a meeting place for all companies planning to operate in the water and power sectors in the region,” he said.
The Second Jeddah Water and Power Forum (JWPF 2006) is a perfect platform for companies to showcase their products, services and expertise, says a spokesman for the organisers.
The event is co-organised by CWC Associates and the Jeddah Marketing Board. Gulf Industry magazine is a media partner for the forum.
More than 350 senior-level Saudi and international delegates attended the conference over the two days last year, while about 100 companies from 17 countries took part in the exhibition.
Key topics for discussion this year will include: Major IWPP and related projects in the kingdom; Future strategic plans in the industry; Moving towards a competitive power and water market; Investment opportunities in generation, transmission, desalination, water reuse and water management; New and improving technologies for use in water and power plants and upgrading existing facilities; Finance: Facilitating Saudi and international busineses into the market; and Requirements from contractors and suppliers.
Forum speakers include senior officials from the kingdom as well as international experts. They are:
Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Makkah Region; Abdullah Al-Hussayen, Minister of Water & Electricity; Dr Adil Bushnak, chairman and CEO, Bushnak Group; Amr Al-Dabbagh, Governor, Sagia;  Dr Fareed Zedan, Governor, Electricity & Cogeneration Regulatory Authority; Fehied Fahad AlShareef, Governor, SWCC; Omar Al-Ghamdi, president, Water & Electricity Company; Abdulrahman Saleh Abahusain, president and CEO, Marafiq; Majed Halawi, executive managing director, Rawec;  Dr Ahmed Mohammed Ali, president, Islamic Development Bank; Loay AlMusallam, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development, Ministry of Water & Electricity; Brian Clark, partner, DLA Piper; Alan Lowe, senior vice president and head of corporate finance, Riyad Bank; Paul Leatherdale, managing director and head of infrastructure, DEPFA Bank; Leon Awerbuch, president, Leading Edge Technologies; Gerard Canton deputy managing director, Sidem; Abdullah Al Jardan, structured project leader Saudi Arabia, GE Water and Process Technologies; Werner Sigg, vice-president, power generation, KSA, Siemens; Yong-Joo Lee, desalination plant design engineer, Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company;James N Suciu, president of global sales, GE Energy;  Dr Ali Al-Tokhais, Deputy Minister for Water, Ministry of Water & Electricity; Teng Chye Khoo, CEO, Public Utilities Board, Singapore; Dr Abdulaziz Al-Turbaq, dean of engineering, King Saud University; Dr Naif Al-Abbadi, NEEP steering committee chairman and director, Energy Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology; and S Ramalingam, president, Energy and Fuel Users’ Association of India.
Session chairs include:  Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki; Dr Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-AlShaikh, deputy governor for planning and development, SWCC; Dr Nahed Taher, chief executive officer, Gulf One Investment Bank; Leon Awerbuch, president, Leading Edge Technologies; Saleh Ali Al-Turki, chairman, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Jeddah Marketing Board; Dr Walid Abderrahman, professor of water resource management, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals; and  Dr Saleh Al-Awaji, Deputy Minister for Electricity, Ministry of Water & Electricity & Chairman, GCCIA.
Sector Investment
Saudi Arabia is today one of the largest markets for water and power solutions. Huge investments are necessary as the kingdom’s population is forecast to grow 45 per cent to 33 million by 2020.
The kingdom’s total water supply is now 52 million cu m per day. Municipal water supply is 6 million cu m per day and the water produced by desalination plants is 4 million cu m per day. 
The SWCC estimates that $43 billion is needed for future desalination projects and an investment of $100 billion is required in water and sanitation projects over the next 20 years.
Out of the total water supply, 80 per cent is met through ground water sources and 37 per cent of water supply is collected as wastewater and only 16 per cent is reused, say the event organisers.
About $100 billion will have to be invested to expand desalination plant capacity alone in the Gulf states within the next 10 years, says a report.
“I see in the desalination as well as the complete water and wastewater industry the global growth market of the 21st century”, said Detlev Daues, CEO of V-Line, a participant at the conference.
The kingdom’s present electricity generating capacity is 26.6 gigawatts (all thermal). As the power demand grows by 5.5 per cent each year, it is estimated that $117 billion capital investment is required to increase the capacity to 67 GW by 2023.