A consortium of Sumitomo Corporation, International Power-GDF Suez and Abdullah Hamad Al Sagar and Bros Co has been declared preferred bidder for the Az Zour North Independent Power & Water Project in Kuwait.
Sumitomo announced on 9 March 2012 receipt of a formal preferred bidder notification letter from Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB) for finalization of the project agreements for the development, financing , procurement, construction, insurance, operation and maintenance of the project. PTB is the agency in charge of the financial, commercial and technical evaluation of public-private partnership projects.
The successful consortium will construct a gas-fired combined-cycle powerplant with a capacity of at least 1,500 MW and a desalination plant with a capacity of 102-107 MIGD (464,000-486,000 m³/d), located 100 km south of Kuwait city. Commercial operation is scheduled to start in May 2015 and will account for about 12% of the installed generation capacity and about 23% of the installed desalination capacity in Kuwait.
All generated electricity and water will be purchased by the Ministry of Electricity & Water.