Bahrain will start initial testing of its 1,240 megawatts Al Dur power and water plant in April, an official said in published remarks on Thursday.

'(The initial testing) will include two gas turbines with a total capacity of up to 400 megawatts,' Khalid Burashid, deputy chief of executive of planning and projects at the kingdom's Electricity and Water Authority told local daily al-Watan.

The first commercial operations are expected to start in June 2011, Burashid said, adding that Al Dur plant will contribute 30 per cent to Bahrain's total electricity production capacity.

The $2.1 billion project would have capacity to generate 1,240 megawatts of power and desalinate 218,000 cubic metres of sea water per day.

France's GDF Suez owns a 45 per cent stake in the project, while Kuwait-based Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) has a 5 per cent stake.

Last year, GDF Suez and GIC said they secured $1.6 billion in financing for the plant, which was 30 per cent complete at the time.

Al Dur is located in Bahrain's south, about 40 kilometres (24.85 miles) from Al Ezzel, another power plant in which GDF Suez has a 45 per cent stake.

Each of the six governments of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) owns an equal stake in the GIC.-Reuters