Australia's WorleyParsons signed on Thursday a nuclear power plant consultancy contract with Egypt worth 896 million Egyptian pounds, Egyptian Electricity Minister Hassan Younes said.
WorleyParsons won the contract after talks with initial favourite U.S.-based Bechtel Power Corp stalled.
The company had come in second after Bechtel in the tender held by Egypt to pick a consultant for its first nuclear power plant.
Egypt will invite Australia's WorleyParsons to negotiate terms for a nuclear power plant consultancy after talks with tender-winner Bechtel Power Corp stalled, state news agency MENA said on Sunday.
WorleyParsons had come in second to U.S.-based Bechtel Power Corp in a tender by Egypt's ministry of electricity and energy to consult on the country's first nuclear power plant, a ministry official said in remarks cited by MENA.
The agency gave no reason for why talks with Bechtel had foundered.
The cool waters of the Mediterranean swell gently against El-Daba'a's deserted shoreline. About halfway between Alexandria and Marsa Matruh on the North Coast, the more than 100 kilometer-stretch of white sand and vibrant coral reef would be considered prime property for tourism development, if not for the fact it has been selected as one of five possible sites for Egypt's first nuclear power plant. The nuclear project could also constitute a first for the region, aside from Israel. Planning for the 1,200-megawatt project, set for completion in 10 years time, is well underway, according to the plant's official consultant, global engineering firm WorleyParsons.
The Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA), a division of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, awarded WorleyParsons the LE 900 million consulting contract two months ago. The parties signed the contract June 18, more than 50 years after Egypt's nuclear program was established.
U.S.-based Bechtel Power Corp is leading a shortlist of firms and consortia bidding to design Egypt's first nuclear power station, an official at the ministry of electricity said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the other firms on the shortlist included Australia's WorleyParsons, Sweden's AF Consult, a consortium of Spain's Iberdrola and Empresarios Agrupados, a consortium of Finland's Poyry and Invap of Argentina, a consortium including Belgian Tractebel, and a group of U.S. companies with Egypt's Excel.