A consortium led by Saudi-based Acwa Power, a major developer of power and water desalination projects, has emerged the lowest bidder for the Al Dur 2 IWPP (independent water and power plant) project in Bahrain.

French desalination specialist Sidem is the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor for the 1,500 MW gas-fired power project that will also include a 50-million-imperial-gallons-per-day (MIGD) seawater reverse osmosis plant.

Besides Acwa Power, Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority had also received a bid from Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation after it issued a request for qualifications for the IWPP in May.

However, in August, it was announced that the consortium of Acwa Power and Sidem had submitted the lowest offer.

The mega IWPP project, which is estimated to cost around $1.5 billion, is likely to be completed by the end of 2020. The scope of works include construction of an underground and deep-sea tunnel, a side stream filter plant, interstage pump, and the installation of gas turbines, steam turbines, chemical dosing systems, a dissolved air flotation system, and a plant control system.