Chinese firms dominate the tender for power projects outside Java

Chinese companies are again dominating the tender for the power projects to be built outside Java after winning most of the large power projects to be built in Java last year, Kompas reported on Wednesday.

The tender committee said that a total of 94 Chinese companies had submitted the applications to take part in the prequalification tender for the construction of dozens of power plants with a capacity of between 7 MW and 200 MW outside Java.

Fifteen of the 27 bidders for the construction of power plants with a capacity of between 100 MW and 200 MW are Chinese companies. The Chinese companies also dominate the tender for the construction of power plants with a capacity of 50 MW and 65 MW. 13 of the 23 bidders in this category are also Chinese firms.

According to the committee, local companies are seen only dominating in the tender for the power plants with a capacity of between 7 MW and 25 MW. Thirty four of the 44 bidders in this category are local companies.

The committee said that companies passing the prequalification would be announced on Feb. 15, 2007. The constructions of power plants with a capacity of 100 MW and higher will be completed in 30 months while those with capacity of less than 100 MW in 24 months.

Chinese companies had also won most of power plants, with a capacity of between 300 MW and 600 MW, put on tender last year for construction in Java as part of the government's electricity fast track program.

Outside the crash program, Chinese companies had also won a number of large power projects such as the coal-fired Banko Tengah plant with capacity of 4 x 600 MW (China Huadian Corporation), coal-fired Labuhan Angin plant with a capacity of 2 x 115 MW (CMEEC), coal-fired Parit Bari with a capacity of 2 x 67 MW, coal-fired Kuala Tanjung with a capacity of 2 x 125 ( Shanghai Elctric). (*)