Prequalifiers for the consultancy contract include ESB International of Ireland, PB Power and Mott MacDonald, both of the UK, and Fichtner and Lahmeyer International, both of Germany. The successful bidder will carry out studies and pre-engineering work, prepare the EPC tender package and undertake construction supervision. For the EPC package, contractors responded in mid-October to a solicitation of interest issued by UWEC.

The first-phase development, involving 100 million g/d and 656 MW of capacity, is under construction by South Korea's Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction and is due to be commissioned by the third quarter of 2003. The consultant is Fichtner (MEED 13:9:02).