Qatar prequalifies six firms for next private water and power scheme

05 November 2013

International developers have until 6 February to submit proposals

Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has prequalified six developers for the tender to build its next independent water and power project (IWPP).

Kahramaa has invited the six developers to submit bids by 6 February 2014. The utility is intending to award the contract before the end of 2014, and is aiming for first power in late 2016. The proposed plant will have a power generation capacity of 2,400MW and a desalination capacity of 130 million gallon a day (g/d).

Japanese companies dominate the prequalifiers, accounting for 4 of the 6 on the list. The prequalified companies are:

  • EDF (France)
  • GDF Suez Energy International (France/UK)
  • Marubeni (Japan)
  • Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan)
  • Mitsui (Japan)
  • Sumitomo (Japan)

The developers are currently in negotiations with EPC contractors to finalise the bidding teams.

Despite having recorded some of the highest demand growth for power and desalination in the Gulf in recent years, Doha has been able to build up one of the highest reserve margins in the region. However, with demand expected to continue to rise steeply as the state pushes ahead with its construction programme for hosting the 2022 World Cup, Kahramaa is aware that new capacity is vital.

“We expect to see demand continuing to increase by 10 per cent annually for the next five years,” Ahmed Al-Nasser, technical director, Kahramaa tells MEED. “This is why we are planning to increase capacity by 2,000MW in this time, plus increase desalination capacity.”

Kahramaa’s last major desalination project was the $500m Ras Abu Fontas A2 plant, which is being developed by the local Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC). QEWC completed financing for the project in January 2013.

QEWC is developing a 72 million g/d multi-stage flash desalination plant next to the Ras Abu Fontas A1 plant. The UK’s HSBC is the financial adviser on the scheme. Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation and Toyo Thai Engineering Company have been appointed to build the facility.

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