The prequalified groups are: Parsons Internationalof the US, with the local Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Company); Samsung Corporationof South Korea; Geneva-registered Archirodon Construction (Overseas), with the local Industrial Construction & Engineering Company(SIAC); Besixof Belgium, with the local Orascom Construction Industries (OCI); and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC), with the local Misr Sons Development (Hassan Allam & Sons). CCC and Misr Sons were awarded the £E 112 million ($19 million) civil works package on the 750-MW Cairo North power project in September last year.

Tendering for the Nuberiya project has moved ahead rapidly following the award of the $157 million steam turbine contract to Germany's Siemens. Bids are due on 12 June for the supply and installation of two heat recovery steam generators and the supply and installation of main and auxiliary power transformers.

The two combined cycle plants at Nuberiya and Cairo North comprise the first phase of a 10-year emergency power station construction programme, which envisages the installation of more than 16,000 MW of new capacity by 2012. The programme comes in response to revised forecasts of a 7.5 per cent annual increase in demand for electricity over the next decade. The consultant is the local/US Power Generation Engineering & Services Company (PGESCo).