11 bidders pass Cirebon power plant project pre-qualification

State electricity firm PLN said on Friday it was ready to announce the winners of Cilegon 600MW coal-fired power plant pre-qualification next week, with 11 bidders declared eligible.

PLN director Ali Herman Ibrahim said that the 11 eligible bidders were picked form 36 participants in pre-qualification. He did not disclose the names of the 11 bidders.

But an industry source familiar with the bidding process said that among the eligible bidders are: Itochu Corp., Essar Corp from India, Mitsubishi Corp. Malaysia?s YTL Corp, and Masser Corp, also from Malaysia, J Power, Marubeni, consortium of Indonesia Power and Babcox Wilcox, Astratel and AES Transpower.

Ali said that the winner for the project is expected to be announced by the end of first quarter next year.

The winner of the tender will develop the power plant under the build, operate, own (BOO) 30-year contract with PLN.

According to Ali, the Cirebon power plant is expected to come on stream in 2008. The project is estimated to cost US$500 million.(alex)