Meridian Energy, one of New Zealand's largest electricity generation companies, has issued requests for proposals for constructors and designers to participate in its planned NZ$1.2B (US$664.7M) Project Aqua development on the lower Waitaki river in New Zealand's South Island.

Successful partners to cooperate with Meridian are expected to be selected by October 2003.

The hydro project consists of an intake section, a 62km canal, six low-profile hydro power stations, tailraces and high-voltage transmission lines. The company has yet to apply for resource consents for the scheme, but has bought land along the proposed route of the canal system.

The scheme would generate 524MW of electricity.