It is understood that Germany's Fichtner has been employed by a foreign developer to carry out studies for several possible IWPPs and has completed one six-month study. Fichtner declined to comment. With revenues from oil surpassing $31,000 million in 2006, Tripoli is not short of cash. However, like many oil-rich countries in the Gulf, it is thought to prefer delegating the cost and risk associated with water and power projects to private developers. Some companies in the country are sceptical about whether the projects will go ahead. 'It is just a dream at the moment,' says the head of one international engineering company. 'The government needs to have a good understanding of what an IWPP or IPP [independent power project] is first.' Only a few small project finance deals have actually been launched in the country so far (MEED 9:3:07).