Sources at PEEGT said on 19 August that the tender for the turnkey contract would be issued within 15 days and that bids would have to be submitted by the end of November. A separate tender is also expected for a consultant. The Deir Ali project will be financed by the government and is expected to take about 30 months to complete. The 750-MW plant will include two 250-MW gas turbines and a 250-MW steam turbine.

A number of international power consultants submitted bids for the contract to carry out a feasibility study for the Deir Ali project in January. No contract has yet been awarded, although the US' KuljianEngineering Corporation is understood to have submitted the lowest bid for the contract. PB Power, also of the US, also bid.

PEEGT is also preparing plans for a second 750-MW plant at Deir Ezor in the northeast. Damascus is understood to be in talks with Tokyo about financing. This tender is expected in late 2003.