Bahrain's Electricity and Water Minister Shaikh Daij bin Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Khalifa has signed a BD516,422 ($1.37 million) consultancy agreement for work to extend the lifespan of Phase Two of the Riffa power plant until 2015.

Under the agreement signed with German'ys Fichtner Consulting Engineers, the consultant will prepare technical specifications, tender documents, prequalifications of international companies to be invited to submit their commercial and technical offers, evaluations of tenders, site supervisions, operational testing and commissioning.

Fichtner will also be responsible for preparing the technical specifications for reduction of emissions from Phase Two gas turbines, in line with public health protection requirements, said a ministry statement.

The Riffa Power Station is the largest government-owned power station in Bahrain and has two phases.

Phase Two consists of six gas turbines, with a combined capacity of 450 MW, commissioned between 1983 and 1984. The Phase Two rehabilitation project is expected to be tendered out before the end of this year and the construction contract will probably be awarded in the first half of next year. Work on site is expected to begin during the winter of 2002/2003, with completion expected during the winter of 2004/2005.

This project complements the rehabilitation project of the Phase One gas turbines, which has been assigned to another consultant, the Kuljian Corporation of the US. Phase One consists of five gas turbines, with a combined capacity of 250 MW.

The Phase One works have already reached an advanced stage of the planning process and are expected to be tendered out during the first half of this year. Work is expected to begin late this year or early next year.