Hutchison leaves Ashdod desalination bidding race

The Israeli national water company, Mekorot, has confirmed reports from Israel that the Hutchison group has dropped out of the bidding for the Ashdod desalination plant.

The plant will produce 100 million m³/year, beginning in 2012-13 and an announcement of the successful tender is due in November 2009.

This apparently leaves Hutchison’s consortium partner, IDE Technologies, as a sole bidder alongside two other consortia: BGS Group, which includes Housing & Construction, Global Environmental Solution, Shapir Civil & Marine Engineering and Baran; and IVM, which includes Sadyt of Spain and Minrav Engineering.