News

His Excellency Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), announced the launch of an international tender to develop and implement the Sitra Independent Water and Power Production Plant (IWPP), with a planned capacity of approximately 1400–1500 megawatts (MW) of electricity and 30 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of potable water, through a strategic partnership with the private sector under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) system.

HE noted that EWA has completed the pre-qualification process for developers, with seven leading global companies/consortia qualified in developing Independent Water and Power Production (IWPP) plants: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), ACWA Power, Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), JERA, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), Sumitomo Corporation, and the consortium of companies: China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEMC) and China Datang (Overseas Hong Kong). EWA has invited contractors and investors interested in cooperation to directly communicate with these entities to explore partnership opportunities and exchange expertise for the implementation of the project.

The project will be developed using the latest global technologies of high operational efficiency and quality standards in the field of electricity generation and seawater desalination using reverse osmosis (RO) technology. The operational testing phase and initial commercial operation of 600 MW of electricity and 30 MIGD of water are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2028, with the full commercial operation of the plant scheduled for the second quarter of 2029.

HE explained that this project is in line with EWA’s plan to replace old plants with new, more efficient ones, using modern technologies that help reduce natural gas consumption, thereby supporting better resource efficiency and the Kingdom’s efforts to lower carbon emissions and achieve environmental sustainability.

He further stated that the project will be implemented using the latest global technologies to enhance operational efficiency, in line with strategic directions toward sustainable transformation, and will strengthen infrastructure readiness to meet the requirements of comprehensive development, while supporting economic and urban growth in the Kingdom.

Eng. Kamal highlighted that this project is one of the strategic initiatives to strengthen electricity and water infrastructure and achieve sustainable electricity and water security. It reflects EWA’s vision to promote sustainability in the Kingdom’s electricity and water production sector by working with the private sector to increase production capacity to meet urban and economic growth, in line with Bahrain’s strategic directions toward sustainable transformation, enhancing infrastructure readiness, and contributing to the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

HE stressed that such projects reflect the vision of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain to enhance sustainability and infrastructure for energy and water, underscoring the importance of collaboration with the private sector to improve efficiency and meet the growing demand for essential services, thereby increasing the Kingdom’s ability to address future challenges.

This project comes within the framework of EWA’s continuous efforts to develop the energy and water sector. It follows the launch of an international tender for the establishment of the Al Hidd Independent Water Production Plant with a capacity of 60 MIGD, as well as the announcement of the commencement of work on the Kingdom of Bahrain’s first solar-powered electricity and water production plant, in cooperation with the private sector. The plant will have a production capacity of around 150 MW, with its tender scheduled to be launched in the fourth quarter of this year.