The government of Egypt has invited bids to build a 1,500MW combined cycle gas-fired power plant at Giza North near Cairo.

The Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) through its affiliate company, Cairo Electricity Production Company (CEPC), is managing the tender process.

Sealed bids are to be submitted from companies to design, furnish, deliver and transport parts to the site. The chosen bidder will also provide on-site technical assistance.

Documents will be available from 24 October and bidders have until 2 January 2011 to submit bids.

The plant will use natural gas as the main fuel and light diesel oil as a back-up and is expected to cost about $1.4bn to build. Construction is scheduled to start this year with completion scheduled for 2014.

EEHC has applied for a $600m loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a subsidiary of the World Bank. If approved, the proceeds of the loan would be used to pay for the steam turbine generators and condensers.