Belgium-based Besix Group and Adwea have signed a joint venture agreement to build two wastewater treatment plants in the Abu Dhabi on build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) basis, a report said.

Adwea has signed the Dh3 billion ($816 million) concession agreement for a period of 25 years, including 30 months of construction of the Abu Dhabi and Al Ain plants, said the Khaleej Times report.

The joint venture deal will cover aspects of financing, concept, construction and operation of the two new wastewater treatment plants.

The civil works, of both plants, will be done by Besix and Six Construct, the electro-mechanical installations by Besix Sanotec in joint venture with OTV from the Veolia Group.

The plants have a capacity of 300,000 cu m per day for Abu Dhabi and 130,000 cu m per day for Al Ain.  Water will be treated and be used for irrigation purposes in both the cities.