The bidders for the Riyadh PP7 power plant, which calls for the addition of two gas turbines with capacity of at least 55 MW, are: Al-Toukhi Contracting, Arabian Bemco Contracting, National Contracting Company (NCC), all local, Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC)and Germany's Siemens.

Industry sources say the evaluation of technical proposals is due to be completed within four weeks and will be followed by the opening of prices.

SEC is in the process of evaluating bids submitted on 1 December for three other expansion schemes at Asir, Bisha and Jizan in the south of the kingdom. A total of five companies participated in the three tenders. The expansion projects for the Arar and Rafah power plants involve the addition of 100 MW and 50-60 MW of new generating capacity respectively.

SEC is also pressing ahead with the preparation of tender documents for the expansion of Riyadh's PP9 power station. Industry sources say requests for qualification could be invited before the end of the year. The project calls for the installation of at least one, but possibly two, combined cycle modules, with four 60-80-MW gas turbines.