Egypt’s Construction Authority for Potable Water and Wastewater has issued a request for proposals for a wastewater treatment plant at 6th October City near Cairo.

The winning bidder will finance, design and build a 150,000-cubic-metre-a-day (cm/d) wastewater treatment plant.

The contract for the project was originally to be tendered several months ago. However, the project experienced delays earlier in the year due to alterations to the project.

The original scope included the operation and maintenance of a 100,000 cm/d plant and the new wastewater facility was to comprise two plants at the 6^th October site. The government reopened prequalification as a result of the changes which set the tender back.

The following companies were prequalified to bid for the work:

• Mohamed Abdulmohsin al-Kharafi & Sons (Kuwait)
• Orascom Construction Industries (Egypt)/Aqualia (Spain)/Fomento de Construcciones Y Contratas (FCC) (Spain)
• Samcrete (Egypt)/Inima (Spain)/Icat (Egypt)
• Mitsui & Company (Japan)/Atlatec (Mexico)
• Veolia Water (France)
• GS Engineering & Construction Corporation (South Korea)
• AAW Utilities (Egypt)/Befesa (Spain)/Emasesa (Spain)/Siac Industrial Construction & Engineering Company (Egypt)
• Acciona Agua (Spain)
• Samsung Concessions (South Korea)
• Aktor Concessions (Greece)

Prequalified companies are to submit proposals by April 2011. The UK’s Trowers & Hamlins is the legal adviser to the housing ministry. UK-based firm Ernst & Young is financial adviser on the 6th October project.