The Ministry of Energy (Electricity & Water) has retendered the estimated KD 25 million ($86 million) contract to upgrade distillation units at the Doha east power and desalination plant. The same six international contractors that were prequalified for the original tender issued last year have until 23 April to submit bids. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract calls for the upgrade and rehabilitation of the auxiliary power units and 11 multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination units at the facility. The Doha east facility was commissioned in 1979. It has electricity generating capacity of 1,158 MW and desalination capacity of about 42 million gallons a day. The project is aimed at increasing the plant's operational lifetime by a further 10-20 years. The original tender was cancelled in January after only one prequalifier - South Korea's Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction - submitted a bid. Under local tender regulations, at least two offers must be submitted for a project to proceed (MEED 3:2:06).