Oman Power & Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has shortlisted bidders for its planned Barka and Sohar independent power projects (IPPs).

The shortlisted bidders are France’s GDF-Suez and Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power for Barka 3, and GDF-Suez and Japan’s Marubeni for Sohar 2.

GDF Suez’ consortium includes Yonden, a subsidiary of the Shikoku utility in Japan, Japanese investment firm Sojitz, and Oman’s Bahwan Engineering. US firm Chadbourne & Parke is legal adviser to Suez in its bid.

Germany’s BayernLB, France’s Credit Agricole CIB and France’s Natixis are the lenders backing the bid. The US’ Milbank is legal adviser to the lenders.

Acwa Power has bid with the local Sogex and is supported by a lender group comprising Jordan-based Arab Bank, the UK’s Standard Chartered and Japan’s SMBC. Milbank is legal adviser to Acwa Power while US firm Shearman & Sterling is working for the lenders.

Marubeni has submitted a bid with Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC) in a 50:50 joint venture. Their bid is backed by SMBC, Japan’s Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Credit Agricole CIB and Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC).

The developers submitted their technical and commercial proposals in early December 2009, which were opened in January (MEED 27:1:10).

OPWP had not asked them to take part in a separate prequalification process, choosing instead to include its qualification criteria in the request for proposals.

OPWP is advised in the tender by the UK’s Berwin Leighton Paisner, Finland’s Poyry and Oman’s Bank Muscat.