Egypt’s PPP Central Unit has delayed the deadline for bids on the Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) from 28 December 2014 to 26 January.

Bidders asked for more time to secure financing, as many stakeholders closed their doors over the holiday period.

However, financing is not expected to be a major stumbling block for the project.

The plant will be expanded from a capacity of 1.2 million cubic metres a day to 1.6m cm/d and upgraded. The main contract encompasses design, build, own and operations and maintenance over 17 years..

A consortium led by German Hochtief, and including the UAE’s Metito and declined to bid, after Hochtief pulled out of the Egyptian market.

The three remaining prequalified bidders are:

• Orascom (local)/Veolia (France)/Aqualia (Spain)/I-Cat (local)
• Kharafi National (Kuwait)
• Degremont (France)

The winning bidder will sign a 20-year PPP agreement for the design, financing and construction of a secondary treatment stage, sludge management facilities and cogeneration unit.

Egypt’s Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater (CAPW) is receiving technical assistance from the PPP Central Unit of the Finance Ministry. The UK’s Trowers & Hamlins and KPMG are the government’s legal and financial advisers respectively.

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