Abu Dhabi Department of Energy has invited the lowest bidders for further clarification meetings for the planned 200 million imperial gallon a day (MIGD) Taweelah independent water project (IWP).

According to closes close to the project, the client has invited Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power and a consortium of France’s Engie and Japan’s Marubeni to attend clarification meetings on 26 and 27 November.

MEED reported on 29 October that the Department of Energy had received bids from seven groups for the planned Taweelah project, with the Acwa Power and Engie/Marubeni groups submitting the lowest offers.

For the evaluation tariff, based on 100 per cent electricity cost, Acwa Power submitted the lowest proposal of AED8.26 per thousand imperial gallon (TIG). The Engie/Marubeni consortium submitted the second lowest proposal of AED8.61/TIG.

The client also announced tariff prices for a secondary reference tariff, which was provided for 20 per cent electricity price. For this tariff, Engie/Marubeni’s proposal of AED4.54/TIG was lower than Acwa Power’s AED4.74 submission.

When completed, the Taweelah facility will be the world’s largest seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant.

The standalone desalination plant will be developed on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis, with the successful bidder taking a 40 per cent stake in the project company formed to develop the scheme. A wholly owned subsidiary of Adwea will take the remaining 60 per cent stake.

The IWP will be located at the existing Taweelah power and water facility 45 kilometres north of Abu Dhabi city and use reverse osmosis technology.

Abu Dhabi has appointed ILF Consulting Engineers as technical adviser, Alderbrook Finance as financial adviser and White & Case as legal adviser for the Taweelah scheme.