The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) has extended the bid deadline for the Al-Abdaliyah integrated solar combined-cycle (ISCC) plant by more than two months.

KAPP, Kuwait’s public-private partnership (PPP) body which was formerly called the Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB), is overseeing the development of the scheme in partnership with the Ministry of Electricity & Water (MEW).

The previous deadline was 17 May, but the client has notified developers that the deadline has been extended. The new deadline is expected to be in late July, according to a source close to the scheme. This is the second time the deadline has been extended, with the original submission date having been set for 17 March.

The seven prequalified groups, with lead developer specified, are:

• Acwa Power (lead; Saudi Arabia) / Al-Mulla Group (local) / Acciona Energia (Spain)
• Abengoa (lead; Spain) / Sojitz (Japan) / Alghanim International (local)
• EDF (lead; France) / Toyota (Japan) / Al-Sager (local) / TSK (Spain)
• Korea Electric Power Corporation (lead; South Korea) / Kharafi National (local) / Aries Energy (US)
• GDF Suez (lead; now called Engie; France/UK) / Elecnor (Spain)
• JGC (Japan)
• RWE (lead; Germany) / Ali Kharafi (local)

The ISCC facility, which will run on a combination of solar power and gas, will have a total capacity of 280MW. The plant will contain a 60MW solar component. The project will be located in Al-Abdaliyah in southwest Kuwait, and will be located on an area spanning 2 square kilometres.

KAPP, in collaboration with the MEW, will oversee the creation of a joint stock project company that will build, operate and transfer (BOT) the project for an investment period of 25 years. The project company will sign an Energy Conversion and Power Purchase Agreement (ECPA) with the MEW, with the ministry being the offtaker for the electricity generated by the plant.

The UK’s HSBC was appointed as financial consultant for the scheme in September 2013.