A GDF Suez-led consortium has been awarded a contract to construct and operate the Az Zour North Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP) – the first such project in Kuwait – by the state’s Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB).

GDF Suez along with its partners Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and Kuwait’s Abdullah Hamad Al Sagar and Brothers will build and operate the gas-fired combined cycle power plant of at least 1,500 MW and an associated water desalination plant with a capacity of 102 to 107 million gallons per day (gpd) or 464,000 to 486,000 cu m a day.
The project will be jointly owned by the consortium, Kuwaiti public entities and Kuwaiti nationals (via an initial public offering).

Shankar Krishnamoorthy, CEO and president of GDF Suez Energy Middle East, Turkey and Africa, said: “I would like to thank the PTB for the constructive and co-operative negotiations that have led to the award of the Az Zour North project to our consortium. GDF Suez is proud to be the first international investor in private power and water development in Kuwait and to partner with the PTB to develop quality infrastructure for the people of Kuwait.”

The capacity of the plant will account for approximately 12 per cent of Kuwait’s installed power generation capacity and about 23 per cent of its installed desalination capacity. All of the plant’s output will be purchased by the Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water under a 40-year long-term energy conversion and water purchase agreement (ECWPA).

The plant is expected to start commercial operation in 2015.