France's GEC Alsthom has submitted the lowest bids for two contracts for the provision of equipment for the 1,450-MW Ghazi Barotha hydroelectric power scheme, project sources say. The contracts are for the provision of 5 turbines with capacity of 290 MW each, and generators of the same capacity.

Eight companies have bid for the turbines contract. They are GEC Alsthom, Switzerland's Sulzer, General Electric Company (GE) of the US, Austria's Voith, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Company and Itochu Corporation, all of Japan, and the UK/Norwegian Kvaerner Boving. GEC Alsthom's bid was the lowest at Rs 2,847 million ($81.4 million).

Nine companies bid for the contract to supply the generators. The companies are Germany's Siemens Power Generation, Zurich-based ABB Asea Brown Boveri, Italy's Ansaldo, China National Machinery & Equipment Corporation, GE, GEC Alsthom, Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Itochu. GEC Aisthom's bid was for Rs 2,581 million ($73.8 million).

The consultant is the local Pakistan Hydro Consultants, a joint venture comprising Harza Engineering Company International of the US, Ewbank Preece and Binnie, Black & Veatch, both of the UK, and two local firms, National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) and Associated Consulting Engineers.

The client is the Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The consultant expects to award the contracts before the end of the year.

Other contracts for the project went to Italy's Impregilo, with France's Campenon Bernard, Ed Zueblin of Germany, and Saadullah Khan & Brothers and Nazir & Company, both local, for the construction of a barrage and power channel. The next award is likely to be the contract for the construction of the power complex, which is expected to be awarded to China's Dongfang Electric Corporation (MEED 7:6:96).