Jordan-based developer Mass Holding has awarded Turkey’s Enka the contract to convert its Irbil independent power project (IPP) from simple to combined-cycle technology. US-based Bechtel has been selected to carry out the design of the conversion project.

Six groups submitted bids for the contract. Mass Holding shortlisted two groups, which were led by Enka and Alstom, before awarding the contract to Enka (MEED 11:4:11).

With a capacity of 2,250MW, the Irbil IPP is Iraqi Kurdistan’s largest power plant. The combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGT) conversion will add a further 500MW to the project using turbines from GE.

The UK’s Mott MacDonald worked on the conceptual engineering and design for the conversion project and produced the tender documents for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts (MEED 4:7:11).

The Irbil power plant is designed to work on two types of fuel – natural gas as the primary source and diesel as the secondary. The new CCGT component will utilise steam produced by the existing power plant.

Mass Holding intends to convert its other simple cycle IPPs to combined cycle technology. Previous to the contract award, the company hinted that the winning group would be in line for similar contracts for Mass’ Sulaimaniya and Dohuk plants. However, the group led by Enka has only been awarded work for the Irbil project at this stage.