Manama, August 31 /BNA/ – Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Chairman of the Electricity and Water Authority, announced the launch of an international tender to develop and implement the Sitra Independent Power and Water Plant project through the Tender Board. The plant will have a production capacity of approximately 1400-1500 MW of electricity and 30 million imperial gallons per day of potable water, based on a strategic partnership with the private sector under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) scheme.

He indicated that the Authority has completed the prequalification procedures for developers, qualifying seven global companies and consortia to develop Independent Water and Power Plants (IWPP). These include Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), ACWA Power, Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), JERA, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Sumitomo Corporation, and the CMEC/China Datang (Overseas Hong Kong) consortium.

The project will be implemented using the latest global technologies with high operational efficiency in electricity production and seawater desalination using reverse osmosis technology. The initial operation phase and performance testing are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2028 with a production capacity of 600 MW of electricity and 30 million gallons of water, with commercial operation scheduled for the second quarter of 2029.

The Chairman explained that the project aligns with the Authority’s plan to replace older plants with more efficient ones that use modern technologies to reduce natural gas consumption, enhance environmental sustainability, optimize resource use, and prepare energy and water infrastructure to meet comprehensive development requirements and support economic and urban growth in the Kingdom.

He added that the project is strategic for enhancing electricity and water infrastructure and achieving sustainable electricity and water security, in line with Bahrain’s strategic directions towards sustainable transformation. It also reflects the Authority’s goals to enhance cooperation with the private sector to increase production capacity, improve efficiency, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

The Electricity and Water Authority invited contractors and investors interested in cooperation to directly contact the qualified companies and consortia to continue enhancing partnership opportunities and exchange expertise in project implementation according to the desired aspirations.