Bahrain’s Electricity & Water Authority (EWA) is moving ahead with plans to develop the estimated $1.5bn Al-Dur 2 independent power project (IPP).

According to sources close to the project, the EWA issued the expression of interest (EoI) for consultants in August and is evaluating proposals to appoint advisors for the scheme. The client has not yet invited developers to express interest in the project.

Power generation: The proposed Al-Dur 2 IPP will be a gas-fired 1,500MW power generation facility.

Commissioning: In 2014, EWA told MEED that it was planning to commission the project between 2017 and 2019.

Tender: With the main tendering process yet to begin, the 2019 delivery date will be a more realistic delivery date.

Peak power demand growth for electricity fell to:

• 1.3 per cent in 2013, from
• 11 per cent in 2010, as a result of the Gulf’s real estate market crash and the political unrest in 2011.

Projected: However, peak demand rebounded to reach 8.1 per cent in 2014 and the EWA is predicting peak demand for electricity will increase by an annual average of 6.4 per cent until 2020.

Future: As a result, close to $1.5bn and $1bn is planned to be invested on power generation facilities and transmission projects respectively in the next four to five years.

The commissioning of the remaining 828MW of the 1,234MW Addur 1 independent water and power project (IWPP) in the first quarter of 2012 brought the installed generating capacity in Bahrain up to 3,934MW.

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) is planning to expand its captive power plant capacity, which will also increase Bahrain’s grid capacity. MEED reported in May 2015 that Alba would build a 1,300MW plant as part of its plans for a sixth potline, which was granted long-awaited government approval in the second quarter of 2015.