RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has prequalified 17 companies from 34 firms that expressed interest to bid for the contract to develop the Kingdom"s first independent strategic water reservoir project, ISWR, in Makkah, MEED reported. The project owner Saudi Water Partnership Co. is expected to issue the request for proposals to these 17 qualified companies by mid-year, the report stated. SWPC had received interest for the Juranah ISWR contract from 34 companies in September last year, while the prequalification documents were submitted in February. The Juranah ISWR project, previously referred to as Makkah 1, will have a capacity of 2.5 million cubic meters, and it will be implemented using a build, own, operate and transfer model, according to MEED. The project which will also include a water reservoir and associated infrastructure and facilities is being executed as part of the strategy to support the Kingdom"s goal to increase municipal water storage capacity to an average of three days in 2022 and seven days by 2030. The government also aims to increase water storage capacity to an equivalent of 20 days of Hajj demand in Makkah and 40 days of Hajj demand in Al Madina by the end of the year, MEED reported. The companies which are qualified to bid for the project include Abdul Aziz al-Ajlan Sons Co., Metscco Heavy Steel Industries, Al-Yamama Co., Alfanar Co., Almutlaq Industrial Investment Co., Al Rajhi Holding Group, China Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment Co. and China Harbour Engineering Co. Other firms that are in the race include Mowah Co., Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies, Power and Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu knowns as Marafiq, Marubeni Corporation, Metito Utilities, Mutlaq Al-Ghowairi Co., Nesma Co., Gulf Investment Corporation and Vision International Investment Co.