The Al Dur Power and Water Company's plant in Bahrain achieved full commercial operation earlier this month, it was announced today.

Al Dur is the largest independent power and water desalination plant in Bahrain, producing 1,234 MW of power and 48 MIGD of water.

The announcement was made by partners IPR-GDF Suez Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Gulf Investment Corporation, the Social Insurance Organisation, Capital Management House, Bahrain Islamic Bank, First Energy Bank and Bunyah, an Instrata Capital managed fund.

The Bahraini Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) is the sole off-taker of the plant output as stipulated in the 25-year Power and Water Purchase Agreement.

Al Dur was built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and uses General Electric turbines for the two power blocks. The plant utilizes Reverse Osmosis (RO) as its water desalination technology. Degrémont (GDF Suez group) has provided the RO technology, which is a highly flexible, efficient and environmentally friendly desalination technology.

Al Dur will be the largest desalination plant with reverse osmosis technology in the Middle East.

Shankar Krishnamoorthy, president and CEO of IPR-GDF Suez Meta, said: “We are pleased to announce the formal commencement of operations of the Al Dur power and water plant in Bahrain, which is an integral component of the power and water infrastructure of Bahrain. The successful launch of operations is due to the close alignment and cooperation of all our project partners and we want to thank them for that.”

Hisham Al Razzuqi, CEO of Gulf Investment Corporation, added: “This is the second project that GIC and International Power-GDF Suez bring to successful completion in Bahrain, after Al Ezzel Power. With the completion of this award-winning project despite challenging financial market conditions, GIC is now the largest, single private foreign industrial investor in Bahrain. We and our partners continue to share the ambition of participating in vital infrastructure projects that the economies of the GCC require for their future growth.”

Khalid Al Bassam, chairman of Bahrain Islamic Bank, said: “This is the first time that a power and water project in Bahrain has had such significant equity participation by Bahraini institutions. We are proud to say that this is the largest single private industrial project in Bahrain, and one which has now achieved commercial operation.”

The Al Dur plant will be operated and maintained by Al Ezzel Operation & Maintenance Company  (AEOM), a wholly owned subsidiary of International Power. AEOM also operates the 954 MW Al Ezzel power generation plant.

The Al Dur Power and Water Company is owned by IPR-GDF Suez Meta (45 per cent), Gulf Investment Corporation (25 per cent) and the Bahraini partners together own 30 per cent. - TradeArabia News Service