Metito, the international water desalination and wastewater treatment specialist which has been in operation over 50 years, has announced the creation of a new joint venture company with Germany-based Berlinwasser.

The new company, Metito Berlinwasser Ltd, has plans to manage a total capital expenditure of $1 billion over the next three years.
The company combines the strengths of Metito with those of Berlinwasser, one of the largest integrated wastewater and water utility service providers in Europe, serving 10 million consumers worldwide within the framework of public-private-partnership schemes. The new company is owned 60 per cent by Metito Utilities and 40 per cent by Berlinwasser International, and is headquartered in Dubai.
Metito Berlinwasser is committed to offering a variety of industry-leading services in the water utility sector across the Middle East and North Africa markets with a specialisation in water and wastewater projects.
Rami Ghandour, executive director of Metito Utilities, said, “With $120 billion expected to be invested in the water industry in the Middle East over the next decade, creating Metito Berlinwasser was a way of saying that Metito and Berlinwasser are committed and focused on the region. We are bringing together complementary services and combining two cultures with similar highly ethical standards in the water utility sector and believe we are coming together to form a new market leader.”
Dieter Ernst, CEO of Berlinwasser International, added: “We believe that the unique combination of operating experience and regional understanding from Berlinwasser and Metito are the foundation of Metito Berlinwasser. Individually Berlinwasser and Metito are market leaders and will continue to run our existing businesses side-by-side and look forward to becoming a dominant leader in the region with the creation of this new venture.”
The new joint company is already in the process of tendering for water projects with governments and master plan developers across the Mena region.
Metito Berlinwasser will focus on long-term government projects ranging from operating and maintenance contracts to long-term investments in running water and wastewater assets. Its creation caters to the emerging trend of private sector involvement in state-run utility projects.
“Governments throughout the Middle East and North Africa are planning to open the water sector to private companies with the objective of improving efficiency and enhancing services to consumers,” a statement issued by the new compay said. “There are many challenges facing the water industry in the region including escalating costs, with Metito Berlinwasser’s vast regional and international expertise the new company will be providing cutting-edge solutions that improve cost efficiencies at the same time as reducing the impact on the environment.”
Metito Utilities and Berlinwasser International have also formed a strategic alliance to jointly develop and invest into new water and wastewater projects in China.  This builds on Berlinwasser’s extensive experience and early success in the country.
As well as Rami Ghandour and Ernst, officials present at a gathering to announce the joint venture were Uwe Wiegand, director, business development, Berlinwasser, Mutaz Ghandour, CEO, Metito, and Bob Smith, development manager, Metito Berlinwasser.