The selected team of advisers will assist in developing the project concept, prequalifying developers, preparing the request for proposals (RFP) document and achieving financial close. UWEC is aiming to have all the project agreements signed in the third quarter of 2005. International developers are expected to be offered a 40-49 per cent stake in a new project company.

UWEC's existing plant at Qidfa has capacity of 656 MW of power and 100 million gallons a day (g/d) of water. The planned expansion, known as phase 2, is expected to involve the construction of a 100 million-g/d desalination unit, with a captive power plant of 150-200 MW. Commissioning of the expansion is scheduled for late 2007.

Germany's Fichtnerwas appointed last summer to act as project management consultant and draw up the basic engineering package for the phase 2 project.