Client and Abu Dhabi Power Corporation (ADPower) have issued a joint tender for the scheme. Requests for proposal have been sent to international companies. The tender sets out to develop and operate the region’s first high-voltage, direct current sub-sea transmission system that will connect Adnoc’s offshore oil and gas production facilities to ADPower’s onshore electricity grid. It is to be executed on a build-own-operate and transfer basis. The successful bidders, alongside Adnoc and ADPower, will develop and operate the transmission system, with the full project being returned to Adnoc at the end of the transmission agreement. The tender closing date is on 30 September 2020.

Companies interested are currently submitting bids for the tender. Some of the leading contractors that are understood to take part in the tender process include Elecnor, Cobra Group, Engie, Marubeni Corporation, Kansai Electric, China Southern Power Grid, China State Grid, Siemens,Terna, Saipem, Subsea 7, National Petroleum Construction Company and McDermott.

Developers have received at least six non-binding offers (NBOs) for the contract to develop and maintain a high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) sub-sea transmission system. Firms that are understood to have submitted an offer on 2 July 2020 include:
Kansai Power (Japan)
State Grid Corporation of China (China)
Vision Invest (Saudi Arabia) / Elia (Belgium)
China Southern Power Grid (China)
Kepco (South Korea) / EDF (France) / Kuwait Investment Company (KIC) (Kuwait)
Terna Energy (Greece)
The binding offers are expected to be submitted on 30 September, 2020.