Prequalification applications have been invited by 30 September from consultants by the State Hydraulics Works (DSI) for the engineering services for the $1,400 million Greater Melen river water supply project for Istanbul (see Tenders).

Keen interest has already been expressed by around 30 applicants, according to industry sources. A short list should be drawn up in October, possibly for a contract award early in 1995. Design work should take about a year, so the earliest construction could start would be in 1996, according to the sources.

About $1,050 million of financing has been agreed towards the total cost by the Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF) of Japan. It signed the first $495 million tranche in November.

The components of the project are:

the Melen weir, with a capacity of 8.5 cubic metres a second

a transmission pipeline from the Melen river to Cumhuriyet outside Istanbul, including all tunnels and ancillary structures. The 150-kilometre pipeline will be constructed from steel pipe with a diameter of 2,500 millimetres, and reinforced concrete cylindrical pipe with a diameter of 3,000 millimetres

the Melen and Cumhuriyet pumping stations, with an electricity demand of 22.5 MW and 5.8 MW, respectively

the Alacali dam, a rock-fill structure formed from 1,050,000 million cubic metres of material

turnkey delivery of the Cumhuriyet water treatment plant, which will have a capacity of 700,000 cubic metres daily

a 25-kilometre transmission pipeline between Cumhuriyet and Kagithane, including all tunnels and ancillary structures. The pipeline will be constructed out of 2,500 millimetre steel sections

a crossing of the Bosporus, including a three-kilometre tunnel with a diameter of 3,600 metres below the strait

the supply in three portions of steel pipes, valves, fittings, and other ancillaries

the erection of a 177-kilometre, 154-kV electricity transmission line.

The DSI has also invited tenders from a short list of seven international firms for another major water supply project for Istanbul, the $270 million Yesilcay scheme (MEED 3:6:94). The two projects should meet the city's chronic water shortages.