Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has received 12 bids to provide consultancy services for the $1bn Salalah independent water and power project (IWPP).

The winning bidder will oversee the construction of the project on behalf of OPWP and in collaboration with the engineer to the project’s sponsor, Sembcorp.

Bids were submitted by the following companies:

• Mott MacDonald (UK) – RO 570,000 ($1.48m)
• Atkins (UK) – RO 788,000 / 726,000
• KEO International Consultants (Kuwait) – RO 418,000
• Consulting Engineering Services (Oman) – RO 357,000
• Associated Consulting Engineers (Ace) (Athens-based) – RO 233,000
• National Engineering Office (Oman) – RO 296,000
• Atlas Engineering Consultants (Oman) – RO 427,000
• Fichtner (Germany) – RO 846,000
• Tebodin and Partner (Oman) – RO 219,000
• Hatch (Oman) – RO 675,000
• ILF & Partner (Oman) – RO 587,000
• Scott Wilson (UK) – RO 640,000

Germany’s Fichtner was technical adviser on the project until financial close was reached in November 2009. Work has already begun on the project after a groundbreaking ceremony in February.

Salalah IWPP is being developed by Sembcorp Salalah Power and Water Company and the Oman Investment Corporation (OIC) for a total project value of $1bn.

The project, which is expected to come into commercial operation by mid-2012, is a gas-fired power and water plant, with 445MW capacity and a desalination unit which will produce 15 million imperial gallons of water per day.

The facility will be the largest power and water plant in the governorate of Dhofar and the entire electricity and water output from the facility will be sold under the 15-year power and water purchase agreement.