Three other companies bid for the contract. They were the US' General Electric (GE), Vestas Wind Systems and Nordex, both Danish. Work on the $142 million project is expected to begin in September. Project completion is expected to take 18-20 months. The project was launched after finance was secured from Germany's Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW).

The NREA on 21 August released prequalification documents for the contract to design and build a 120-MW wind farm located at its Zafarana base. Applicants have until October to express interest in the project. The scope of works will include the design of the farm and the supply and installation of the wind turbines, but will exclude electrical and civil works. The project was launched after financing was secured from the Danish International Development Agency (Danida).

Technical offers are also under evaluation for the LSTK contract to design and build another 120-MW wind farm. The scope of works includes the plant design, the supply and installation of turbines and the operation, connection to the substation and maintenance of the plant for five years.

Gamesa and Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation have submitted bids. Financial offers are likely to be opened within weeks following technical approval by the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC). An award is expected by mid-October. The consultant for all the projects is Germany's Decon (MEED 14:10:05).