The Al-Aweer bidders are: France's Veolia Water Systems, a subsidiary of Vivendi Universal; Degremont, also of France; Germany's Invent Umwelt; Turkey's Artima Treatment Systems; and a joint venture of France's Stereauwith Japan's Mitsubishi Corporationand Sharjah-based Eagle Electromechanical Company. Total project costs are estimated at about $50 million. Al-Aweer was last expanded in 1998 to a capacity of 260,000 cm/d.

The municipality has also invited companies to prequalify by 5 September for the first-phase construction of the grassroots Jebel Ali STP. Twenty-one locally registered contractors and 20 international firms have been invited to prequalify. The main tender is expected to be issued by the end of the year. Construction is scheduled to take three-four years.

The first phase, which will have capacity of 300,000 cm/d, will cost an estimated $150 million-200 million. Three further phases are planned at the site, which will take overall capacity to 1 million cm/d.

The municipality is undertaking a major expansion of the emirate's sewage treatment capacity to meet a projected surge in demand led by the rapid growth in the real estate and tourism sectors. The UK's Montgomery Watsonis acting as consultant on both projects.