Bahrain’s Works Ministry has received 25 prequalification entries for the project to expand the Tubli sewage treatment plant (STP).

The Ministry invited firms to prequalify for the expansion project in November 2013, and is currently evaluating the 25 proposals before it invites groups to participate in the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender.

The groups which submitted prequalification entries are:

• Al-Kharafi Construction Company (Kuwait)/China State Construction Corporation (China)
• Saudi Tumpane (Saudi Arabia)/ Leighton (Australia)/Wetico (Saudi Arabia)
• Combined Group Contracting Company (Kuwait)/Samsung Engineering (South Korea)
• KMC (local)/Mace Contractors (UAE)/Hyundai Rotem (South Korea)
• Six Construct (Belgium)/Canar (local)/ Wabag (local)
• Acciona Agua (Spain)/Mushrif Trading (Kuwait)
• Mohamed Al-Kharafi & Sons (Kuwait)
• Degremont (France)/CCC (Kuwait)
• Larsen & Toubro Saudi (India/Saudi Arabia)/Waterleau (Belgium)
• OTV (France) / Saudi Arabian Bemco (Saudi Arabia)
• SNC Lavalin International (local)
• Korea Engineering (South Korea)/ Crown Electro Mechanical (local)
• Al-Busaili Electromechanical Works (Saudi Arabia)
• Al-Arrab Contracting Company (Saudi Arabia)/ECOS (Russia)
• Mohamed Jalal (local))/GEGC (Saudi Arabia)/Imtech (UK)
• Gulf Consolidated Contractors (Saudi Arabia)
• Vinci (France)/SAUR (France)/Zamil (Saudi Arabia)/Artelia al-Moayyed (local)
• China Gezhouba Group (China)
• Drake & Scull (UAE)/Aziz Contracting (Saudi Arabia)/Abeinsa (Spain)
• Bahrain Pipeline Company (local)/R Grobmann (Germany)
• Azmeel (Saudi Arabia)/ Tecton ( UAE)/WTE (Germany)
• Kuwait Systems Company (Kuwait)
• Al-Ghanim International (Kuwait)/PWT Wasser (Germany)/Metito (UAE)
• Masco (Saudi Arabia)/ MTMM (Saudi Arabia)/Downtown Group (local)

The scheme is being funded by the governments of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, so prequalification was restricted to the following groups:

• Kuwaiti contractors
• Kuwaiti/Bahraini joint ventures
• Kuwaiti/foreign joint ventures or consortiums
• Saudi contractors
• Saudi/Bahraini joint ventures
• Saudi/foreign joint ventures or consortiums

The Tubli expansion project was originally scheduled to follow the example of the Muharraq wastewater treatment plant, currently being developed by a consortium led by South Korea’s Samsung Engineering, and be procured by a public-private partnership (PPP) model. However, the Works Ministry has re-evaluated the Tubli plans and will now develop the project using a more traditional procurement method.

German firm P2mberlin is the consultant for the Tubli expansion scheme. P2mberlin, together with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and Dornier Consulting, has provided consulting services for the development of a sewerage masterplan for the whole kingdom of Bahrain.

Expansion of the Tubli plant has been a key priority for the Bahraini government for several years. Tubli is the largest wastewater treatment plant on the island and covers sewage treatment for Bahrain’s capital city, Manama.