19 January 2011
MUSCAT -- International and local consultants are lining up to bid for a key advisory services package linked to the development of a major Independent Water Project (IWP) at Ghubrah in Muscat Governorate.
An invitation to bid for the prestigious contract, issued here last week, has attracted the interest of a number of well-known firms so far, including Curtis Mallet Prevost, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Keo International, BankMuscat, Sogreah Consulting, Marubeni Corporation, KPMG, Black & Veatch International and Dar al Handasah.
The state-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), which has the mandate under the Sector Law to procure all new power and related water capacity on a competitive basis, will oversee the procurement of the Ghubrah IWP on behalf of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW).
Procurement of any new water-only capacity by the OPWP can only be done at the behest of the PAEW under Royal Decree 58/2009, after obtaining the green-light of the Ministry of National Economy. Accordingly, the PAEW requested OPWP to undertake the procurement of the Ghubrah IWP on its behalf.
At roughly 42 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD), equivalent to 191,000 cubic metres per day, the Ghubrah IWP will be largest greenfield seawater desalination project to be developed in the Sultanate. Project costs are estimated at $350 million.
Modelled on the lines of the nation's first IWP at Sur, which was successfully concluded in 2007, the proposed Ghubrah IWP will be developed, owned, financed and operated by the private sector. The project will be based on reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology.
Significantly, the new IWP has been sized not only to cater to projected growth in the potable water needs of the Muscat region, but also contribute to the government's goal of minimising groundwater pumping. Development of the IWP will be accelerated with a view to ensuring that potable water from the plant becomes available by the year 2013. To meet this target, as well as to ensure continuity of water supply from the Ghubrah site, the project will be implemented in phases. Phase 1, with a capacity of 30 MIGD, is proposed to come into operation by May 2013, with the balance capacity of 12 MIGD, targeted to be operationalised in Phase 2 by April 2014. Water from the Ghubrah IWP will be purchased by OPWP under a long-term Water Purchase Agreement.
According to officials, the actual capacities and technology of the RO units will be allowed to vary within reason to ensure "unconstrained competition". The range of capacities of the plant and the limitations in respect of technology will be determined initially on the basis of advice provided by the advisory team.
The new IWP is proposed to be established on the site of the existing Al Ghubrah Power Generation and Water Desalination Plant in Muscat Governorate. The latter facility, built in phases over many years, is itself planned to be decommissioned in line with OPWP's seven-year planning process, as well as for environmental considerations.
Although conceived as an independent facility, consideration will be given to the sharing of facilities with the existing power and water desalination plant. Shared facilities will include seawater intake and outfall systems, interconnections with the Main Interconnected System (MIS), interconnections with the existing water transportation system, and use of existing blending and potabilisation facilities.
According to officials, the principal role of the selected advisory team is to define the project, assign the risk profile and develop the competition process, and manage the tendering process, evaluation of bids and execution of final project agreements.
In addition to reviewing the feasibility of the project, the advisory team will also be required to undertake, among other things, the following: site studies, preliminary environment impact assessment, project definition report, site development report, risk allocation studies, preparation of RfQ and RfP documents, prequalification of bidders, and bid review and recommendations.
Bids for OPWP's advisory services contract close on February 21, 2011.
MUSCAT -- International and local consultants are lining up to bid for a key advisory services package linked to the development of a major Independent Water Project (IWP) at Ghubrah in Muscat Governorate.
An invitation to bid for the prestigious contract, issued here last week, has attracted the interest of a number of well-known firms so far, including Curtis Mallet Prevost, Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Keo International, BankMuscat, Sogreah Consulting, Marubeni Corporation, KPMG, Black & Veatch International and Dar al Handasah.
The state-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), which has the mandate under the Sector Law to procure all new power and related water capacity on a competitive basis, will oversee the procurement of the Ghubrah IWP on behalf of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW).
Procurement of any new water-only capacity by the OPWP can only be done at the behest of the PAEW under Royal Decree 58/2009, after obtaining the green-light of the Ministry of National Economy. Accordingly, the PAEW requested OPWP to undertake the procurement of the Ghubrah IWP on its behalf.
At roughly 42 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD), equivalent to 191,000 cubic metres per day, the Ghubrah IWP will be largest greenfield seawater desalination project to be developed in the Sultanate. Project costs are estimated at $350 million.
Modelled on the lines of the nation's first IWP at Sur, which was successfully concluded in 2007, the proposed Ghubrah IWP will be developed, owned, financed and operated by the private sector. The project will be based on reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology.
Significantly, the new IWP has been sized not only to cater to projected growth in the potable water needs of the Muscat region, but also contribute to the government's goal of minimising groundwater pumping. Development of the IWP will be accelerated with a view to ensuring that potable water from the plant becomes available by the year 2013. To meet this target, as well as to ensure continuity of water supply from the Ghubrah site, the project will be implemented in phases. Phase 1, with a capacity of 30 MIGD, is proposed to come into operation by May 2013, with the balance capacity of 12 MIGD, targeted to be operationalised in Phase 2 by April 2014. Water from the Ghubrah IWP will be purchased by OPWP under a long-term Water Purchase Agreement.
According to officials, the actual capacities and technology of the RO units will be allowed to vary within reason to ensure "unconstrained competition". The range of capacities of the plant and the limitations in respect of technology will be determined initially on the basis of advice provided by the advisory team.
The new IWP is proposed to be established on the site of the existing Al Ghubrah Power Generation and Water Desalination Plant in Muscat Governorate. The latter facility, built in phases over many years, is itself planned to be decommissioned in line with OPWP's seven-year planning process, as well as for environmental considerations.
Although conceived as an independent facility, consideration will be given to the sharing of facilities with the existing power and water desalination plant. Shared facilities will include seawater intake and outfall systems, interconnections with the Main Interconnected System (MIS), interconnections with the existing water transportation system, and use of existing blending and potabilisation facilities.
According to officials, the principal role of the selected advisory team is to define the project, assign the risk profile and develop the competition process, and manage the tendering process, evaluation of bids and execution of final project agreements.
In addition to reviewing the feasibility of the project, the advisory team will also be required to undertake, among other things, the following: site studies, preliminary environment impact assessment, project definition report, site development report, risk allocation studies, preparation of RfQ and RfP documents, prequalification of bidders, and bid review and recommendations.
Bids for OPWP's advisory services contract close on February 21, 2011.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
