Bahrain’s Electricity & Water Authority (EWA) is understood to have prequalified one consortium and two individual developers that can bid for a contract to develop and operate the state’s first independent water project (IWP).

The Al-Hidd seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plant is expected to have a production capacity of about 60 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD), equivalent to roughly 272,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d) of potable water.

EWA received statements of qualifications for the contract from interested companies on 25 December.

According to industry sources, the following companies have been prequalified to bid for the contract:

• GS Inima (South Korea/Spain) / Lamar Holding (local)
• Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia)
• Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa, UAE)

The facility will be developed on a brownfield site and is expected to be fully operational by the second quarter of 2028. It is envisaged to help expand Bahrain’s water infrastructure to meet projected demand based on its 2030 masterplan.

The Al-Hidd IWP will be developed using a build, own and operate (BOO) model for 20 to 25 years.

EWA has also notified companies that have been prequalified to bid for another BOO project.

The Sitra independent water and power project (IWPP) is a combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant expected to have a production capacity of about 1,200MW of electricity. The project’s SWRO desalination facility will have a production capacity of 30MIGD of potable water.

The plant is Bahrain’s fourth IWPP, replacing the previously planned Al-Dur 3. The Sitra IWPP is expected to be fully operational by the second quarter of 2029.

Sixty representatives from utility developers and contracting firms attended a market-sounding event for the two separate utility BOO projects in Manama in October last year.

EWA’s transaction advisory team for the two BOO projects comprises KPMG Fakhro as the financial consultant, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff as the technical consultant and Trowers & Hamlins as the legal consultant.

MEED understands that EWA’s Sitra IWPP will likely be Bahrain’s last CCGT plant project. Solar power is expected to account for all future electricity generation capacity.

Bahrain aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.