Bemco submitted a low bid of SR 220 million ($59 million) for the PP7 contract, which calls for the addition of two gas turbines with capacity of about 60 MW each. The second lowest offer came from the local Al-Toukhi Contractingat SR 230 million ($61 million). It was followed by National Contracting Company (NCC), also local, with a price of SR 245 million ($65 million). The remaining two bidders - Athens-based ConsolidatedContractors International Company (CCC) and Germany's Siemens- priced the project at SR 251 million ($67 million) and SR 297 million ($79 million) respectively. The award of the 14-month contract is expected by the end of April.

Industry sources say that although Bemco is the low bidder on price, Siemens is also in contention if SEC decides to select the winner based on price per MW. While all the other bidders are proposing turbines from the US' GE Power Systems, the German company is offering its WestinghouseW501 turbines, which have a rating of 84 MW each.

Prospective bidders for the PP9 expansion include Bemco, NCC, France's Alstom, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Companyand Hyundai Heavy Industries, both of South Korea, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industriesand Siemens (MEED 9:1:04).