Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) said  it has received bids from leading utility developers – Saudi group Acwa (formerly Acwa Power) and Spanish major GS Inima Environment – for the landmark Hidd Independent Water Production (IWP), following its international tender announcement.

A major seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant in the kingdom, Hidd IWP will be implemented on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis. 

It will have a guaranteed net contracted water capacity (GNCWC) of 11,364 cu m per hour, contributing substantially to Bahrain’s potable water supply and supporting growing residential, commercial, and industrial demand, said EWA in its tender notification.

The bidding process was open to eligible prequalified companies who were required to meet a comprehensive set of technical, legal, and financial criteria as outlined in the request for proposals (RFP) documents.

Last month (March), EWA also launched the international tender for the development of Bilaj Al Jazayer Independent Power Project (BAJ Solar IPP), with a planned capacity of up to 100 MWac.

A utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) facility, it will be implemented through a strategic partnership with the private sector under a BOO system. The project supports Bahrain’s national target of achieving 20 per cent renewable energy by 2035.

According to EWA, the selected bidder will be responsible for the full life cycle of the project for 25 years with the project scope including development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and site restoration.

The solar farm is set for commercial operations on September 30 next year.