The bidders are:International Power of the UK with two Japanese developers, Chubu Electric Power Company and Mitsui & Company, supported by an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) team of Mitsui and South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries;Marubeni Corporation of Japan with Spain's Iberdrola and Saudi Arabia's Arabian Bemco Contracting as nominated EPC contractor for the power island and Italy's Fisia Italimpianti for the desalination;Suez Tractebel of Belgium with Germany's Siemens as its EPC contractor for the power island and South Korea's Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction for the desalination. The selected developer will take a 40 per cent stake in the project company, with the remainder owned by Qatar Petroleum (QP) and Qatar Electricity & Water Company (QEWC).

The plant is due to begin commercial operations in April 2008. The project's technical consultant is Germany's Fichtner, while the steering committee is made up of QP, QEWC and Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa).

Doha had also been planning a second private power project at Mesaieed, covering the 1,350-MW captive station serving the Qatalum aluminium smelter. However, it is understood that the project sponsors, QP and Norway's Hydro, have now opted for the EPC route. The consultant is the UK's Mott MacDonald (MEED 31:3:06).

www.meed.com/powerwater