The successful company will be required to take a 51 per cent interest in the project's capital, with NEAL and Banque Exterieure d'Algerie (BEA)taking a 34 per cent stake and the European Investment Bank (EIB) holding a 15 per cent interest.

The 12 companies to express interest include General Electricand CME International, both of the US, Cobra Instalaciones & Serviciosof Spain, Siemensand SolarMillennium, both of Germany, Canada's SNC Lavalin, US-based Black & Veatch, Japan's Mitsui & Company, France's Alstomand the US/local Brown & Root Condor.

NEAL was created in July 2002 to encourage domestic production, use and export of renewable energy. Its shareholders are state energy company Sonatrach, state power company Sonelgaz- each with a 45 per cent shareholding - and private industrial group Semouleries Industrielles de la Mitidja (SIM), which holds the remainder.