Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has issued a request for proposals to provide consultancy services for the 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.

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 (MEED 11:2:10).

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.

A contract for the civil works associated with the project was awarded to the local Teejan Trading & Contracting in April.