The Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) has received six expressions of interest (EoI) from technical consultants to advise on its independent power project (IPP) at Dairut in the Behera governorate.

The following companies responded to the EoI:

• Mott MacDonald (UK)
• Socoin (Spain)
• Crisil Risk and Infrastructure Solutions (India)
• Economic Consulting Associates (UK)
• Kema (Netherlands)
• Poyry Management Consulting (Sweden)

The chosen technical consultant will primarily focus on the issue of gas feedstock access taking domestic demand and export commitments into consideration.

The consultant will also review all feasibility reports, surveys and models built by other agencies, as well as advise on the overall feasibility of the site in Dairut for the construction of the 1,500MW power plant.

The assignment is estimated to last from four to six weeks and is expected to be concluded by 31 March.

The Washington-based International Finance Corporation (IFC) is advising the Egyptian government on the project, which is to benefit from World Bank finance.

The ministry prequalified 10 groups to bid on the contract to develop the plant in June 2010. The prequalifiers are:

• Sumitomo Corporation (Japan)
• Enka (Turkey)
• EDF International (France)
• Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia) and Hassan Allam Holding (local)
• Powertek (Malaysia)
• Tenaga Nasional (Malaysia)
• GMR (India) and El-Sewedy Dairut Power (local)
• GDF Suez (France), OCI (local) and Sojitz (Japan)
• Mitsui (Japan)
• Marubeni Corporation (Japan)

While the project temporarily stalled in the latter half of 2010, there are some indications that the tender is beginning to progress once more.

The combined-cycle power plant will be developed at Dairut on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis. The plant is likely to have capacity of 1,500MW comprising two 750MW units.

Developers, however, will be allowed to propose a different configuration using three 750MW units, which would take capacity of the project to 2,250MW.

The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) will buy the output of the plant for 20 years under a power-purchase agreement.