Egypt’s Housing, Utilities & Urban Development Ministry has delayed the deadline for contractors to prequalify for the development of the Abu Rawash wastewater treatment plant.

The original deadline for applications to prequalify for the public-private partnership (PPP) project was originally set for 14 February but has now been pushed back to 28 February.

The Abu Rawash plant will be developed in the Giza governorate, west of Cairo. The winning bidder will take over the existing facility, which has capacity of 1.2 million cubic metres a day (cm/d), and increase capacity to 2 million cm/d.

Once a contract award is made, the successful consortium will design, construct, finance and operate the new and existing facilities, before transferring the plant back to the ministry at end of the 25-year contract.

The ministry began consulting firms about the project in early August. Responses from contractors and potential financial investors were received later that month.

KPMG is providing financial advisory services to the housing ministry. The UK’s Trowers & Hamlins is legal adviser.

Abu Rawash is expected to draw similar bidders to the recently closed New Cairo wastewater project. A consortium comprising the local Orascom and Spain’s Aqualia was selected over six other bidders.