Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) said it has received bids from three groups for the $1.5bn contract to build the Hassyan sea-water cooling system.

Dewa had extended the closing date for Hassyan seawater intake and outfall system contract to August 31 to enable bidders to get more time.

Dewa had commissioned Mott MacDonald to undertake a marine environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed combined power and desalination station.

Station ‘P’ will provide 9,000MW and 600 million imperial gallons of water per day, said a Mott MacDonald official.

The exact construction design is dependent upon seawater recirculation studies undertaken by Mott MacDonald as part of this project.

The proposed intake comprises an open channel system of 800m by 300m and an outfall consisting of 18 submerged pipes of 3m internal diameter each extending two kilometre offshore.