The tender was issued in late April. No reason has been given for the latest delay.

The successful bidder will design, supply, construct, operate and maintain the combined-cycle power plant. The 2,000MW plant will be gas-fired.

Six companies have been prequalified the project. They are the US's GE; Spain's Iberdrola Ingenieria y Construccion; Japan's Mitsui & Company; Marubeni Corporation, also of Japan; SNC Lavalin of the UK and Germany's Siemens.

The project was first tendered in 2006. At the time the US' GE Energy and South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries were selected by the client but later pulled out of negotiations in 2007 and the contract was never awarded.

The contract was retendered in 2007 and awarded to the local Kharafi National, but was cancelled due to cost.

The Water & Electricity Ministry is the client (MEED 29:4:08).