Infrastructure major GMR Group is among 11 bidders initially shortlisted for building a 200 MW gas-fired power plant in Malta in the African continent, sources said.
GMR will have to compete with other bidders such as oil major Royal Dutch Shell, Italian utility Edison and China’s state-owned CPECC, that qualified in the first round.
“The 11 bidders who were qualified will have to submit more detailed proposals by the end of July, and the contract is expected to be awarded to the winning bidder by the end of September,” sources told PTI.
Enemalta Corporation, the state-owned main provider of energy generation and distribution in the Maltese Islands, will give a commitment for power purchase to the successful bidder, sources added.
When contacted, a GMR spokesperson refused to provide details saying the company constantly looks for opportunities.
“As a company we pursue innumerable business leads, but we do not comment on speculative or premature news,” the GMR official said.
According to Enemalta, the new energy supplier will be required to supply approximately 200 MW power from a new gas—fired CCGT power plant and corresponding LNG facilities which may supply gas to the 150 MW existing Enemalta plant.
“In the following months, independent investors will first be pre—qualified and then will be invited to bid competitively to enter into a power purchase agreement and/or a gas supply agreement with a pre—condition to build, own and operate their gas and power plants at Enemalta’s Delimara site to be fully commissioned by spring 2015,” an Enemalta statement said.
A project development statement submitted by Enemalta Corporation to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for construction of 200 MW gas power station and a terminal for natural gas facilities suggests that the liquefied natural gas terminal will be floated offshore onto a barge.
GMR has developed storage and re—gasification units for a LNG terminal at the deep—water port at Kakinada, on the East coast in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Another bidder, Deawoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, is also specialised in the sector.