Developers have been given until 17 September to respond to the RFQ on the oil-fired Shuqaiq plant. Some 44 local international companies have expressed interest in the build-own-operate (BOO) project, which has recently been increased in size to 850 MW and 47 million gallons a day (g/d).

The request for proposals (RFP) is due to be issued for Shuqaiq in late October, following the signing of the key project agreements, including the 20-year power and water purchase agreement (PWPA), on the Shouaiba IWPP. Financial close on the estimated $2,200 million Shouaiba project is scheduled for the first quarter of 2006. The oil-fired plant will have a capacity of 900 MW and 176 million g/d.

The advisory team on Shouaiba and Shuqaiq comprises HSBC(financial), Germany's Fichtner(technical), and Clifford Chancewith the local Law Firm of Yousef & Mohammed al-Jadaan(legal).

The revised RFP is also under preparation at The Power & Water Utilities Company for Jubail & Yanbu (Marafiq) for its Jubail IWPP, which was significantly increased in size in May (MEED 20:5:05).

www.meed.com/powerwater