Namibian power utility NamPower has announced the names of the eight international companies and consortia shortlisted to participate as strategic equity investors (SEIs) in the building of the 800 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) Kudu power station, near Oranjemund, in the south-western part of Namibia.

NamPower received 12 bids for the prequali- fication SEI tender, which closed on August 9, of which Electricite de France, of France; Quantum Power, of the US, Sumitomo Corporation, of Japan, Posco Energy, of Korea, and South Africa-based companies Globeleq Advisory, GDF Suez Energy Southern Africa, ACWA Power and Marubeni Corporation complied with the qualification criteria to advance to the full SEI tender.

In addition, NamPower approved the short-listing of ten companies and consortia to ful- fill the role of operations and maintenance (O&M) services contractor for the $1-billion project.

NamPower received 13 bids for the O&M services contractor prequalification tender, of which First National O&M Company, of Saudi Arabia, ESB International, of Ireland, Siemens, of Germany, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, of South Africa, the Korea Electric Power Corporation, of Korea, the Sumitomo Corporation, of South Africa, Alstom Power O&M, of Switzerland, Energy Services – a wholly owned subsidiary of German electricity generator Steag, Marubeni Corporation, of Japan, and Electricite de France complied with the qualification criteria to advance to the full O&M tender.

NamPower said that it would announce the names of the successful companies by February next year.

Due to be commissioned in 2017/2018, the Kudu project involved the development of the Kudu gasfield, off the coast of Namibia, which contained an estimated 1.3-trillion cubic feet of gas.

The gas produced would be delivered to an 800 MW CCGT power station, 25 km outside Oranjemund, through a 170-km-long pipeline, which would be connected to the Namibian and South African grids.

NamPower would buy power from the plant under long-term power purchase agreements for local and regional use.