Oman has shortlisted eight international firms for a 400 MW power and water desalination, state-run Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (Oman PWP) said on Saturday.

"Eight companies are pre-qualified for the project and their bids will be opened in May 12. The award is expected to be three to four months after that," Ahmed Al Busaidy, Oman PWP project manager said.

The firms are General Electric, Union Fenosa, Mitsui, Malakoff, Abu Dhabi's Mubadala, Marubeni, Transfield Services Infrastructure and Sembcorp.

The project would be awarded on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis. The desalination plant would supply 15 million gallons of water per day and the power plant was expected to be in operation in the summer of 2009, he said.

The plant will be built in Salalah in the south.-Reuters