Namibian power utility NamPower has announced the names of the eight international companies and consortia shortlisted to participate as strategic equity investors (SEI) 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 prequalification SEI tender, which closed on August 9, of which Electricite de France, from France; Quantum Power, from the US; Sumitomo Corporation, from Japan; POSCO Energy, from 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 shortlisting of ten companies and consortia to fulfill 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, from Saudi Arabia; ESB International, from Ireland; Siemens AG, from Germany; Hyundai Engineering & Construction, from South Africa; the Korea Electric Power Corporation, from Korea; the Sumitomo Corporation, from South Africa; Alstom Power O&M, from Switzerland; Energy Services – a wholly owned subsidiary of German electricity generator Steag; Marubeni Corporation, from Japan, and Electricite de France complied with the qualification criteria to advance to the full O&M tender.

NamPower told Engineering News Online on Tuesday 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. The power station 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.