The bidders are a Japanese team of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Tomen Corporation, GE Power Systems of the US and Germany's Siemens. The client is the West Delta Electricity Production Company. The bidders were asked to quote for two 250-MW gas turbines, with an option to supply two more. It is understood that the client intends to award a contract for all four turbines, following positive indications that finance will be made available for the second phase. The total contract value for the four turbines is expected to be about $200 million-220 million.

For the first phase, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has pledged to lend Eur 150 million ($150 million), while the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development have each pledged $75 million. The same three agencies have said they are prepared to finance the second phase as well, project sources say.

The financial offers for the turbines will be opened once the technical evaluation is complete. That is expected to take four-six weeks.

The Nuberiya bidders - with the possible addition of France's Alstom - are also expected to quote for the gas turbine package on the 750-MW second phase of the Cairo North power station project. The closing date is 22 December. This phase is to be financed by Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau, Japan Bank for International Co-operation and the Export-Import Bank of the US. MHI/Tomen won the $102 million gas

turbines contract on the first phase.

The consultant on both projects is the local/US Power Generation Engineering & Services Company (PGESCo).