The Department of Contracts has shortlisted six candidates in the procurement process for a plant capable of generating a minimum of 100MW of electricity to help Enemalta Corporation meet the rising needs of a growing economy, the corporation said yesterday.

An increase in the electricity supply is a central component of the corporation’s generation plan published in 2006 by the Investment, Industry and Information Technology Ministry.

Malta needs a greater supply of electricity to sustain the current rate of development of the economy. As the developments in Tigné and Mater Dei Hospital come on line, the current generating capacity needs to be increased. SmartCity, Penderville, Fort Cambridge and others will also, in time, require greater energy resources.

These are major developments that are clearly significant of their own accord and reflect the ongoing trend of increased investment in the country, the corporation said.

“Suffice it to say that peak demand in 2006 reached 148 per cent of what it had been in 1997. Up to 10 years ago, the highest level of demand would be reached in winter, then standing at a demand of 294MW. But the increased consumption in summer, mostly through the popularity of air conditioners, has now pushed the summer demand from highs of 281MW in the summer of 1997 to a high of 434MW 10 years later.

“At the same time, improved standards of living are resulting in an ever-growing consumer demand, both from domestic and commercial customers, year in year out, as the development of Malta’s economy grows, and consequently the public’s demand and expectations for energy grow with them.”

In July 2007 – when none of these developments had yet come on line – demand for electricity from the existing power stations had reached unprecedented levels, with a peak load of 434MW registered, compared to 404MW last year.

Following an international call for offers, six international companies have been shortlisted and have been invited to bid for the contract to provide this new electricity generating plant. The firms, in alphabetical order, are:

Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor (BWSE) AS;

Ido Hutney Projekt/ Bateman Energies BV;

Isolux Ingeniera SA;

MAN Ferrosthal Power Industry GmbH;

Metal Constructions of Greece (Metka) SA;

Socoin Ingeniera y Construccion SLU.

These firms have been invited to tender under the negotiated procedure in the financial regulations. Bidders are expected to file preliminary proposals and a bid bond by October, after which negotiations will

commence.