Global and regional construction firms have been invited to submit bids for the development of the third phase of the Al Dibdibah Power and Al Shagaya Renewable Energy solar PV project by the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP). The project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Electricity & Water & Renewable Energy.

The winning developer or developer/consortium will be responsible for the financing, design, procurement, engineering, construction, testing, commissioning, operation and maintenance, as well as the transfer of the Al Dibdibah Power and Al Shagaya Renewable Energy – Phase III – Zone 1 Solar PV IPP. The deadline for submitting the bids has been set at February 22, according to the KAPP.

The Al Dibdibah Power and Al Shagaya plant is located in the administrative boundary of the Jahra Governorate in the west of Kuwait City, and is said to be approximately 100km from the capital. On completion, it will boast a net capacity of 1,100MW.

As the main body responsible for implementation of the public-private-partnership projects, KAPP aims to utilise private sector skills and expertise to maximize value for money and service quality. It is currently in the process of initiating several high-impact projects in the power, water/wastewater, education, health, transportation, communications, real estate, and solid waste management sectors, said a report.

Following the completion of the project, it will benefit from a power purchase agreement with the Ministry of Electricity & Water & Renewable Energy as the off taker for a 30-year term. It will export the output from the plant to Kuwait’s electricity grid and transmission network, the report added.

Ernst & Young supported KAPP and the Ministry of Electricity & Water & Renewable Energy as lead and financial advisor, DLA Piper as legal advisor and DNV as technical and environmental advisor.