According to MEED, a Dubai-based business magazine, the Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB), the government body overseeing public-private partnerships, issued a request for proposals for the planned Al Zour independent water and power project (IWPP) in late March. Bids for the country's first ever IWPP are due to be submitted by September 27th. The plant will have a capacity of 1,500 mw of power and 102-107m gal/d of desalinated water.

The PTB has prequalified the following 15 companies or consortia to bid for the project:

• Acwa Power (Saudi Arabia), Gulf Investment Corporation (Kuwait), Samsung C&T (South Korea), Itochu Corporation (Japan);
• GE International (US);
• Malakoff International (Malaysia), SK Group (South Korea);
• Marubeni Corporation (Japan), Alghanim International (Kuwait);
• Sumitomo Corporation (Japan);
• Tenaga Nasional Berhad (Malaysia);
• National Industries Group (Kuwait);
• Privatisation Holding Company (Kuwait);
• International Power-GDF Suez (UK-France), Korea Electric Power Corporation, AH Sagar & Brother Group (Kuwait);
• Mitsui & Company (Japan), Kharafi Group (Kuwait), Ahmadiah Trading & Contracting Company (Kuwait);
• Combined Group Contracting Company (Kuwait);
• National Bank of Kuwait (Kuwait);
• United Industries Group (Kuwait);
• Noor Investment Company (Kuwait); and
• KGL Logistics Company (Kuwait).