Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has issued the request for proposals to developers for the state's largest co-generation plant.

The Ras Laffan C independent water and power project (IWPP) is a key element in Kahramaa's plan to triple its installed generating capacity to about 10,000 MW by 2015, up from 3,419 MW in 2006, to cope with sharply rising electricity demand.

The scale of the challenge was underlined last year when peak power demand rose by an unprecedented 18 per cent to 3,230 MW.

Ras Laffan C will have a capacity of 2,600 MW and 40 million gallons a day. Prequalified developers have been given until June to submit proposals, with the signing of the key project agreements set for the end of the year.

The successful bidder will take a 40 per cent stake in a new project company, with the remaining 60 per cent to be held by local partners, widely expected to be Qatar Electricity & Water Company and Qatar Petroleum (MEED 23:2:07).

Kahramaa has also invited selected consultants to submit bids by mid-March to assist in the tendering and evaluation of the IWPP bids.