Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has invited bids to build its second power plant at Shuaiba. Contractors have until 10 July to respond to the request for proposals.

The natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant will have a capacity of 1,440MW. The winning bidder will construct Shuaiba II on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis.

According to a source at SEC, a selection on the winning bidder is to be made by the third quarter of 2011. The project should be completed by the third quarter of 2014.

The first Shuaiba project was developed in three phases. The first has a capacity of 1,050MW while the second phase has a capacity of 760MW of power and 100 million gallons per day (g/d) of water.

The third phase was built as an independent water and power project (IWPP) with a capacity of 900MW. It was brought online in 2009.

The second Shuaiba project will be built near the existing facility.