Oman’s Public Authority for Electricity & Water (PAEW) has prequalified companies vying for a contract to manage the country’s water sector.

Companies submitted their prequalification documents on 3 August. It is unclear how many firms the Omani authority has prequalified, but the utility had said that it would select five companies when it first issued the prequalification request in June.

A total of 18 companies purchased the prequalification documents.

In June, PAEW awarded an advisory contract for the scheme to a consortium led by accountancy firm KPMG.

KPMG is acting as the financial adviser on the project with Atkins, of the UK, as the technical adviser. France’s Gide Loyrette Nouel with the local Al-Busaidy Mansoor Jamal & Company are the legal advisers.