The turnkey contract calls for the construction of a 300-MW combined cycle plant. It will consist of two gas turbines, two heat recovery steam generators and a steam turbine. The successful bidder will also install a condenser, cooling tower, pumps, generator step-up transformers, generator breakers and all other associated mechanical and electrical equipment, as well as carrying out the associated civil works - plant buildings, roads, drainage and landscaping. The first unit is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2005. Amman is expected to finance 30 per cent of the EPC project costs, with the remaining 70 per cent coming from Arab development agencies.

The scope of the project has been scaled back from the original plan, which called for the construction of a 450-MW plant on a build-operate basis. Following the late 2002 withdrawal of preferred bidder Tractebelof Belgium from the project, the government in March invited four groups to bid for the estimated $300 million independent power project (IPP). However the IPP route was abandoned after bidders said they needed more time (MEED 16:5:03).

Bids are already under evaluation for a second combined cycle conversion project, covering the Hussain power plant. About six international contractors submitted bids in mid-May for the Hussain project. Bidders include Italy's Ansaldo Energia, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company of South Korea, Paris-based Alstom Power, Turkey's Gama, Poland's Elektrinand Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Company, also of South Korea. The project involves the supply and installation of a steam turbine, a gas turbine and two waste heat recovery boilers (MEED 6:6:03).