The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) has announced that consortiums of regional utility sector giants including Saudi-based Acwa Power and Abu Dhabi energy company Taqa have been shortlisted for its major independent water and power projects – Az-Zour North Phase II and III and Al Khairan Phase I – along with three others global players.

These projects are being implemented by KAPP in collaboration with the Ministry of Electricity and Water and Renewable Energy (MEWRE) of Kuwait.

Those shortlisted for the projects are:

•   Taqa with consortium partners AH Al Sagar & Brothers and Jera Company;

•   Acwa Power Company with Kuwait-based Gulf Investment Corporation;

•   China Power International Holding with Malaysia-based Malakoff International and Saudi group Abdulaziz Alajlan Sons and Company;

•   Nebras Power, a Qatar-based power development company, and Sumitomo, a Japanese company engaged in diverse businesses including construction systems and infrastructure.

A key utility plant, Az-Zour North IWPP will have a net capacity of 2,700 MW of power and 120 millio imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water.

On the Al Khairan IWPP, KAPP said the strategic power and water desalination plant will have a net capacity of at least 1,800 MW of power and 33 MIGD of desalinated water.

The project will be located adjacent to the southern border of the Az-Zour South thermal power and desalination plant, 100 km south of Kuwait City. Both the Az-Zour North and Al Khairan IWPPs will operate with a mix of liquefied natural gas and high-pressure natural gas with gas oil as back up fuel.