Oman shortlists water contract management bidders

18 December 2009

Companies due to submit their bids by 18 January 2010

Oman’s Public Authority for Electricity & Water (PAEW) has shortlisted seven groups to provide it with contract management services covering the country’s water sector.

The shortlisted bidders are Germany’s Gelsenwasser; Singapore’s Jurong Consultants with PUB Consultants and Boustead Singapore; UAE/German joint venture Metito Berlinwasser with Malaysia’s Ranhill Utilities Sendirian; the UK’s Severn Trent Services International; France’s Suez Environnement; the UK’s United Utilities International; and France’s Veolia Water.

A total of nine companies had applied to prequalify on 3 August, but PAEW decided against prequalifying Spanish firms Aqualia and Acciona Aqua.

The Omani utility issued the request for proposals for the scheme on 6 December. As of 15 December, six of the seven prequalified bidders had purchased the documents. The deadline for bids is 18 January 2010.

The project will expand the coverage of PAEW’s water network across the sultanate to include areas that the utility has yet to cover.

The winning bidder will also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing water networks.

KPMG is the lead adviser to PAEW on the deal. The UK’s Atkins is the technical adviser and France’s Gide Loyrette Nouel with the local Al-Busaidy, Mansoor Jamal & Company are the legal advisers.

PAEW was established in 2007 by a royal decree, which transferred the government’s responsibilities for providing both power and water to the new entity. PAEW also took over all of the government’s power and water assets.

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