Bahrain's Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has announced that it has received bids from two leading utility developers - Saudi Arabia's Acwa and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) - for the multibillion-dollar Sitra Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP).

One of the kingdom’s largest utility projects, the Sitra IWPP, on completion will boast up to 1,500 MW of power and 30 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of potable water using seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO).

The Sitra IWPP is being tendered under a build-own-operate (BOO) model and forms a key component of Bahrain’s strategy to strengthen power generation capacity and ensure long-term water security while supporting future economic and industrial growth.

The scope of work for the winning bidder includes development of a large-scale combined power and water production facility comprising a thermal power plant with a Guaranteed Net Contracted Power Capacity (GNCPC) ranging between 1,400 MW and 1,500 MW, alongside a seawater reverse osmosis desalination facility with a Guaranteed Net Contracted Water Capacity (GNCWC) of 5,682 cu m per hour, said EWA in its tender notification.

The move is aimed at replacement of the aging infrastructure to improve energy efficiency and reduce natural gas consumption.

Upon completion, the facility will significantly enhance Bahrain’s electricity generation and potable water production capabilities, supporting growing demand from residential, commercial, and industrial sectors across the kingdom.-TradeArabia News Service