China’s TBEA is the low bidder for two major electricity distribution projects for Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) following the opening of bids on 25 May.

For the first contract, covering the installation of 10 132/11kV transformer stations in zones N2, N4 and N6 in PAHW’s South Sabah Al-Ahmed township, it submitted an offer of KD38m ($124m).

This is about 12% lower than the second-lowest price of KD42.75m offered by Saudi Arabia’s National Contracting Company.

The other bidders were India’s Larsen & Toubro at KD42.94m, and local firms Al-Ahleia Switchboard Company and IMCO Engineering & Construction at KD43.5m and KD43.9m, respectively.

The same five companies submitted identical prices for the second contract covering 10 132/11kV transformer stations in zones N1, N3, N5 and N11.

The two deals are the latest in a number of transmission and distribution projects tendered by PAHW for its various public housing developments across Kuwait.

It currently has just over $1.9bn-worth of substation and overhead line works under construction, with some $700m-worth of tenders out in the market.

The total value of transmission and development contracts it has awarded since 2020 exceeds $2.5bn, according to MEED Projects.