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• The plant will provide 40 million litres a day of fresh and clean water, thereby 40% of the Kigali city’s potable water requirements.
• A milestone in Rwanda’s progressive vision to build an economic, prosperous and first class developed country.
• Secured and sustainable water supply will have a huge impact on the socio-economy of the country.

November 2017: the Government of Rwanda and Metito have today announced the Financial Close of the first competitively tendered Build Operate Transfer (BOT) Water Concession in Sub-Saharan Africa (outside of South Africa). The finalisation of this Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement spells the start of execution of the highly-anticipated Kigali Bulk Water Supply Project with construction forecasted to last 30 months from the commencement date.

The Kigali Bulk Water Supply Project will be located in Kanzenze, in the South Eastern part of Kigali. The Project will provide 40 million litres per day of fresh, clean and safe water to the residents of Rwanda’s Capital city to serve domestic, commercial and industrial end users. The treated water will be extracted from the south bank of the Nyabarongo River and will supplement existing water supplies in a strategic move to meet Kigali’s growing water demands – a city with a population of over one million residents.

This iconic project is being developed by Kigali Water Limited (KWL), a fully owned subsidiary of Metito, a global provider for intelligent water management solutions with 60 years of experience developing and managing water facilities across the world covering four continents. KWL will design, build, maintain and operate the treatment plant and will then sell potable water to the Water & Sanitation Corporation of Rwanda (WASAC) under a 27- year PPP Agreement.

The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), a member of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), is the mandated Lead Arranger of the financing of this project which is worth US$60.8 million. EAIF and The African Development Bank (AFDB) are covering US$40.6 million of the capital cost of the project; US$38 million of Senior Debt and US$2.6 million of Junior Debt with all loans on 18-year terms. The balance will be provided by Metito as equity finance. The Kigali Bulk Surface Water Supply PPP project also benefits from a US$6.25 million grant from PIDG’s Technical Assistance Facility (TAF).

The Kigali Bulk Water Supply Project was awarded to Metito through an international and competitive tender process, and the completion of its financing marks a historic moment and a milestone in Rwanda’s progressive vision to build an economic, prosperous and first class developed country. The successful Financial Close of a project of this size also highlights the effective partnership between the public and private sectors and is a landmark project that will pave the way to other similar capital intensive projects in Africa and a catalyst that can enhance the international investor community’s appetite to invest in Rwanda.

David White, Chairman of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund says, “The conclusion of the financing is tremendous news for Rwanda. Fresh, clean water has a fundamental role to play in economic development and water-dependent businesses like hotels, food processing and leisure, will have greater confidence in investing in Kigali. The financing exercise has been a model of cooperation between EAIF, the AFDB, the Government of Rwanda, and Metito.”

Mutaz Ghandour, Metito Chairman and CEO, said, “The Kigali Bulk Surface Water Supply PPP project puts Rwanda on the map for the international investor community and marks a historic moment for Rwanda. Together, today, we are setting a precedent not only for Rwanda, but for the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa, and surely for Metito. Once complete, this will become an exemplar project for PPPs in the region – there is no doubt – so today, we must all celebrate alongside the People of Rwanda.

He added, “Africa has huge potential and we expect this to continue as critical infrastructure develops around the provision of key utilities. To undertake such capital intensive infrastructure projects, the PPP scheme remains to be the best, and sometimes unavoidable, formula, and Metito acknowledges this. Our global growth strategy aims at expanding our presence in Africa, and augmenting Metito’s well established and tested operations in North, West and now East Africa, and this remarkable project here in Kigali is in line with this strategy. The diligence and effort put into the structuring of the project and towards reaching Financial Close is outstanding, and we look forward to working with our partners on this project and other similar opportunities in Rwanda and the region. We are honored to be part of this.”

[ENDS]
For further information, please contact:
Metito
Reem Saleh +971506280031
reem.saleh@localhost

About Metito
Metito is the leader and provider of choice for total intelligent water management solutions in the emerging markets with operations covering three business areas: design and build, specialty chemicals, and utilities. With 60 years of experience, the group provides customized, comprehensive and advanced solutions across the full spectrum of its industry; from clean to dirty water; desalination and re-use; industrial solutions (up to hyper pure water); investing into water and wastewater assets; and structuring both Greenfield and Brownfield schemes under project finance structures. With a mission to sustain the world’s water resources, Metito provides effective water management and treatment systems that can reconcile the ever growing water demand and the dwindling natural resources. Committed to a cleaner environment, Metito endeavours to utilise its world-class global knowhow to provide millions of people across the globe access to clean and safe water. Metito is at the forefront of the water and wastewater industry with an impressive project portfolio that includes more than 3000 projects in in more than 45 countries worldwide through its strategically located operational offices and over 2500 experienced and talented employees.

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Mutaz Ghandour, Metito Chairman and CEO, named the longest-serving Chief Executive in the Water Business as reported by Global Water Intelligence (GWI) .

Running long-term businesses need long-term leaders, and Mutaz Ghandour has been leading Metito Group successfully for more than 51 years demonstrating that there is no limits to success when there is a deep rooted vision and a committed leader who is able to inspire his people every day, everywhere.

GWI lists the largest portfolio of privately financed water/wastewater treatment plants around the world

GWI publishes the list of companies having the biggest interests in municipal build-operate-transfer and build-own-operate water and wastewater treatment plants in its latest edition, October 2016.

The list is based on equity ownership of total capacity (i.e. the total of capacity of projects in which a company has an equity interest, multiplied by the percentage share of the project company that they own in each case). It is a pretty rough measure, and in Metito’s case conservative, but GWI clearly states that it is the best estimation based on the data available. Looking at active non- Chinese developers only, the leaderboard* was published to be: 1) Suez; 2) Veolia; 3) Tedagua; 4) Engie; 5) Acciona; 6) Biwater; 7) Hyflux; 8) Metito; 9) Mitsui; 10) Sembcorp.

*For the complete list please check the latest issue of GWI newsletter– October 2016 edition.

150 students attend Metito’ s workshop at Rashid School for Boys in Dubai

November, 2015: Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) held its annual Student’s Workshop under the theme; “Global Environmental Challenges – From Green Attitude to Green Action” at Rashid School for Boys in Dubai, UAE. Metito was invited to lead a session covering one of the most important environmental challenges facing the world today; water conservation.

Representing Metito at the workshop were; Hans Meu, Metito Utilities General Manager; Reem Saleh, Metito Corporate Communication Senior Manager and Alaa Waswas, Metito Corporate Communication Executive.

To break the ice , Metito presented students with an individual challenge where they were asked to make up a sentence after putting together, in order , 17 words to form a coherent statement on why we must all conserve water. After announcing the first winner and presenting her with an instant prize the room was buzzing with excitement. A good start for what turned out to be a successful engagement.

Hans then presented an overview on ‘Innovations in wastewater treatment and sustainable solutions’ where he highlighted how water recycling and reuse can change the world and further help in conserving water. The presentation was then followed by Q&As and a group challenge. Thirty groups, made up of 5 senior students each, from over 100 schools across different emirates in the UAE took part in this activity and three teams were announced the winners.

The workshop was very successful and we had a lot of positive feedback from school team leaders, EEG and the students.

“Environmental issues are global concern gaining momentum in recent times. They’re no longer limited by geography of a region or nations. What happens in one country eventually happens to all of us. We all need to tackle these issues and it is imperative that we extend these discussions to the community to empower them to take responsibility for creating a sustainable future. . It is very important for us to involve students in these discussions as they are our future. Metito has played a key role in addressing the issues around waste water and promoting sustainable development for all, and we hope to continue such collaborations for years to come.” commented Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson EEG, President/CEO, Arabia CSR Network and GRI Stakeholder Council Member.

Summit endorsed by the Egyptian Government and under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Egypt

October, 2015: Held under the auspices of the Prime Minister of Egypt, H.E. Sherif Ismail, the 3rd Annual PPP Investment Summit organized by IQPC was held in Cairo, Egypt.
The summit was held at Four Seasons Hotel – Nile Plaza in Cairo with significant representation from the Egyptian Government and remarkable attendance by senior government officials, leading bankers and established service providers in Egypt.

Atter Hannoura, Director of the PPP Central Unit, Ministry of Finance sincerely welcomed Metito’s team sincerely greeting the at the venue. Representing Metito at the event were; Karim Madwar, Metito Africa Managing Director, Salah Degheidy, Metito Africa Executive Director and Ahmed Zaky, Metito Africa Business Development Manager. The team was also joined by Walid Madwar, Metito Utilities Vice President Business Development, who was also a panelist in the session titled; Project sector focus: Wastewater and desalination sector presentation and panel

The PPP Central Unit at the Egyptian Ministry of Finance has been spearheading the Government’s efforts to identify tenable infrastructure projects that would substantially improve the quality of services provided to the citizens and to entice private sector financial and execution support. This summit provided yet another platform to address key challenges to further evolve the PPP model in Egypt, insights into the latest strategies taken by the Ministry to overcome these challenges. It was also a well communicated venue to make new project announcements and engage with key industry players including Metito.

Metito’s booth was a center of attraction to the summit attendees with a wide screen showcasing key projects and other collateral that showcased our commitment to the environment and to developing communities such as that of Egypt.

The event was also sponsored by Orascom Construction, Al Tamimi & CO., Zaki Hashim & Partners, QNB Al Ahli bank, and Huawei.

Long-term attributes of Islamic finance ideally suited to water industry development

October 27th, Dubai-UAE: Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest Islamic bank in the UAE and Metito, the leading provider of intelligent water management solutions in the emerging markets , have recently signed a 10-year Islamic financing agreement for AED 240million. This is Metito’s first Islamic finance agreement and DIB’s debut partnership with a private company working in the water and wastewater industry.

The transaction is another step in expanding Islamic finance into sectors and institutions previously catered to by the conventional form of banking. DIB is successfully advocating the agenda of making Islamic finance a norm in the global banking industry and this deal is a testament to the visionary leadership and the meticulously crafted strategic agenda of the largest Islamic bank in the country.

Commenting on the agreement, Dr. Adnan Chilwan, Group CEO of Dubai Islamic Bank, said: “Clearly the region, and in particular, UAE is witnessing renewed economic momentum with infrastructure development attracting local and international investors. In our view, primary infrastructure development projects are the cornerstone of sustainable growth, a key element of the strategy of the country. DIB has always played a pivotal role in leading and facilitating such transactions and is linked to many landmark deals with some of the top corporates across the UAE and beyond. Metito’s business model and their long-term strategic vision, ties in well with DIB’s own growth plans, and further solidifies our position as a bank of choice in this sector.”

The long-term attributes of Islamic finance also makes it ideally suited for the sustainable nature of the water sector, with many projects lasting decades and requiring on-going finance at competitive rates.

Commenting on the partnership, Mutaz Ghandour, Chairman and CEO, Metito, said: “I am very pleased to have DIB as our first Islamic finance partner. DIB is an innovator in its field – just like Metito is in its sector, making this transaction, and this partnership ideal. The water sector is very cost intensive, and the term length of the projects generally can be prohibitive for many financers, but, by approaching the deal with an innovative and solution-focused mindset, DIB turned this challenge into an opportunity.

“This clarity of vision allowed Metito to embrace Islamic finance – for the very first time – and to root for it within the water and wastewater sector through promoting DIB in the markets where we already have local presence and the bank sees potential,” he added.

Synergy Consulting, Latham & Watkins, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP have all played a role in making this transaction possible and finalised in a record time.

Commenting on the transaction, Anand Rohatgi, Senior Vice President, Synergy Consulting, said: “We are pleased to act as the financial and transaction advisor for this landmark transaction. Metito’s significant experience in the water sector, DIB’s clear understanding of Islamic financing and project’s operating track record were the key drivers for the successful closure of the transaction. The transaction also provides opportunity for Metito and DIB to build on and further strengthen their relationship by partnering in other geographies that are in line with their growth plans.”

The value of assets belonging to Islamic finance is forecast to increase by 80 percent to reach US$3.24 trillion by 2020 according to the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) and Thomson Reuters State of Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) report and landmark deals such as this one are critical in supporting the leadership’s agenda of establishing Dubai as the global capital of Islamic economy.

Water Leader Magazine interview with Rami Ghandour, Metito Managing Director

June, 9th, 2015 – As part of its ongoing commitment to Egypt, Metito, the leader and provider of choice for total intelligent water management solutions in emerging markets, has announced its participation in four key projects that will support the revival of Egypt’s local tourism economy.

The four projects, worth more than EGP 65M, are located in major luxury resorts that serve Egyptians holidaying in their own country, namely; ‘City Stars’ by Golden Coast, ‘Hacienda Bay’ by Palm Hills, ‘Porto Sharm’ by Amer Group and ‘Marassi’ by Emaar Egypt. The projects that include sea water desalination installations and sewage treatment plants will be concluded over the course of this year and are aimed to bolster the critical infrastructure at these resorts through ensuring the sustainable supply of clean and safe water and clean treated effluent for irrigation usage, features that are much expected form such luxury holiday resorts.

Commenting on the new signings, Karim Madwar, Metito Africa Managing Director, said: “Egypt is a well known holiday destination, but there are many resorts that cater not only to foreign tourists but also to Egyptians on vacation. These resorts require investment, particularly in their infrastructure, to make them attractive to the Egyptian tourists and to those who wish to invest in real estate through owning vacation houses/villas. The new projects we are working on will play a key role in strengthening the appeal and value proposition of these resorts as we make safe, sustainable and clean water supply available from the outset.”

He added: “Metito has been present and very active in Egypt and our commitment to the country and its people was never compromised, even in challenging economic times. Our portfolio of projects is diverse, working extensively with the industrial, municipal and residential sectors. We believe that Tourism is yet another core sector to Egypt’s economic development and through our tried and tested world-class water management solutions we are proud to be supporting its evolution..”

The plans are in line with recent steps taken by both the Egyptian private and public sectors towards economic recovery in recent months. This ongoing movement has led to an increase in investment across many sectors, bringing back to life several infrastructure projects previously put on hold as well as facilitating new ones.

The projects at Hacienda Bay and Porto Sharm include comprehensive/360 sewage treatment plants with a capacity of 1500m3/day each in addition to providing training for site personnel. The sea water desalination installation at Marassi will use Reverse Osmosis to produce 7,500 m³/day of potable water as well as operation and maintenance of the plant for one year. Previously, Metito installed a 5000 m3/d Reverse Osmosis plant and a 3000 m3/d Sewage treatment plant at the same resort. City Stars project on the other hand involves a BOT scheme for a 4500 m3/d Desalination plant and a 3000 m3/d Sewage treatment plant. Metito’s services, in all sites, follow the stated environmental regulations and aim at lowering energy consumption per cubic meter of produced water.

To cater for the high water demands expected this summer at various areas around Egypt, Metito will also be accommodating immediate delivery of temporary desalination plants.