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The Kuwait Authority for Partnerships Projects (KAPP) has shortlisted seven teams for the Al-Khairan independent water and power project (IWPP) project.

The shortlisted bidders are the following:

• Abengoa
• International Company for Water and Power (ACWA) / AlMulla Group Holding Company Consortium
• Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)
• Marubeni Corporation / Fouad AlGhaim & sons Group of Companies Consortium
• Mitsubishi Corporation
• Mitsui & Co.
• Sumitomo Corporation

The IWPP project will involve the development design, engineering, construction, ownership, operation, maintenance and transfer of a power generation & water production facility for a 25 year period. It will be located at the AlKhairan site on the Arabian Gulf coast approximately 100 km aouth of Kuwait City and to export the power and water output from the plant to Kuwait's electricity and water transmission network.

The project will generate power with a minimum capacity of 1800 MW through a conventional thermal steam power plant. In addition to its power generation capacity, the project will include a sea water desalination plant with a minimum capacity of 125 MIGD.

The preferred bidder will sign an energy conversion and water and power purchase agreement (ECWPA) with the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW).

The request for qualification (RFQ) for the project was issued on 8 February 2015.

Previously in March 2013, a consortium comprising BNP Paribas, Chadbourne & Parke and Lahmeyer International signed a mandate with Kuwait PPP agency Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB) to advise on the project.

Throughout this year we have reported on three other PPP projects in Kuwait:

• Services and Entertainment Center in Egaila
• Umm Al Hayman Wastewater
• Kabd Municipal Solid Waste