Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity is closing in on deals with Saudi private electricity plant developer Acwa Power and international finance institutions for a project to build a 2.25GW power plant at Dairut, on the west bank of the River Nile in Assiut governorate. The development cost is estimated at $2.2bn.

The Cairo government is pursuing the project despite Acwa being the only company bidding for the development, though 19 companies and consortia submitted qualification documents when the project was first announced in 2010. The ministry initially called for bids for a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant comprising two 750MW units. However, developers were also given the option to pursue economies of scale through proposals for a plant comprising three 750MW units to give 2.25GW. (CONTINUED - 286 WORDS)