The regional government is planning three hydropower plants in the north of Iraq.

The Halwan plant will have an estimated capacity of 52MW. It will be located 30 kilometres northwest of Irbil, on Greater Zab River, the largest tributary of the River Tigris.

The Delga hydropower plant will be located near Qaladiza in the governorate of Suleimaniah, upstream of the Dokan reservoir on the Lesser Zab River. The estimated capacity of the plant is 97MW.

The largest of the three hydropower plants, Gali Balinda, is 73km east of Dohuk on the Shamdinan River, a tributary of Greater Zab River. The estimated capacity of the plant is 111MW.

The hydropower feasibility contract includes surveying works for the three dam and reservoir sites; hydrological, hydraulic, geological and geotechnical studies and carrying out a hydropower plant study.

Bidders must have carried out at least three feasibility studies for hydropower plants in the past. The deadline for bids is 20 October.

Separately, the KRG has also invited companies to bid for a wind energy feasibility study in the governorates of Irbil, Dohuk and Suleimaniah.

The contract includes nominating suitable sites for wind energy, collecting and analysing wind data from the sites, and designing a suitable wind farm for the sites.

The deadline for bids for the wind energy study is also 20 October.