GDF Suez Energy International has won the contract to build, own and operate the Al Dur-1 power generation and seawater desalination plant in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Al Dur-1 is a greenfield, natural gas-fired installation that is expected to deliver 1,234MW of electricity and 218,000 cubic meters (cbm) of water per day. Completion of the plant is scheduled for 2011.
GDF Suez Energy International and the Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) each hold a 50% stake in the bidding consortium. Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority is the sole off-taker of the plant output as stipulated in the 20-year power and water purchase agreement.
The Al Dur-1 will utilize reverse osmosis (RO) as its water desalination technology. Degremont, a subsidiary of Suez Environment which specializes in water treatment and desalination, will provide the RO technology.
The Al Dur plant will be located in the south of Bahrain, approximately 40km from the Al Ezzel power generation plant in which GDF Suez has a 45% stake. GDF Suez is also a shareholder in the Al Hidd power and water plant, which delivers 938MW of electricity and 136,000cbm per day of water.
Bahrain plans to develop three more power and water plants at the Al Dur site in the next 20 years. The second phase, the Al Dur-2, of a similar size to the first phase is expected to be launched in 2009 to cope with the country’s increasing energy and water needs.