Emirates Sembcorp Water & Power Company has invited bids to design, build and operate a desalination facility to add to the existing Fujairah F1 independent water and power project (IWPP).

Emirates Sembcorp, which is owned by Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) and Singapore’s Sembcorp, has prequalified a total of eight companies and groups for the project. Companies have until 17 October to respond to the request for proposals (RFP).

The winning bidder will build the 30-35 million gallons a day reverse-osmosis seawater desalination project and operate it for seven years after construction.

The project will stand next to the existing Fujairah F1 IWPP, which reached financial close in June 2004 and was completed in March 2009. The facility currently has a capacity of 785MW of power and 100 million gallons a day of water.

Construction of another IWPP also located in the emirate, Fujairah F2, has recently been completed. The plant was inaugurated on 9 May.