Saudi Arabia has halted the sale of one of the world’s biggest water plants, which had attracted interest from investors including France’s Engie SA, in a setback for the kingdom’s privatization plans.

The Ras Al Khair desalination and power facility on Saudi Arabia’s east coast had cost more than $7 billion to build.

The government, which had been hoping to accelerate asset sales this year, blamed disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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