VIDEO: Dismantling of Riffa Power Station up for auction

Operations at the Riffa 1 facility in Bahrain ceased in 2022. Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority is now accepting tenders for its purchase and demolition. (PHOTO: Mazad)

Originally built by Siemens subsidiary Kraftwerk Union AG and currently owned by Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), Riffa 1 and its sister Riffa 2 are located to the east of the country’s second largest city, Riffa.

Riffa 1, operational from 1978 and retired in 2022, primarily comprises five gas turbines, transformers, exhaust chimneys, auxiliary tanks and related civil structures – all of which are to be demolished and removed.

The auction is being hosted on Mazad’s digital platform and comprises two distinct lots: one for the purchase, dismantling and removal of the Riffa power station, with a starting bid of BHD200,000 (US$530,000) and a separate lot for the of the spare parts contract, for which bids start at BHD50,000 (US$133,000).

Auctioneer Mazad said that it “encourages all potential bidders, including overseas companies, to review the comprehensive bidding requirements and submit the necessary documentation as outlined in the auction details.”

Detailed contract documentation, site history, plant specifications, scope of works and information about the tender process, - along with video and photos of the site – are all included in the auction listing. Details about the Riffa spare parts contract are published on a separate listing. 

The auction is scheduled to close on Thursday 12 June, 2025, at 12:00 PM Bahrain Time (9:00 AM GMT).

The EWA stated that “the sale and dismantling of the first phase of the Riffa Power Plant through the electronic auction represents a strategic step in integrating operational efficiency with environmental sustainability.”

The successful bidder will be responsible for dismantling and removing the facility, as well as securing permits from the Supreme Council for Environment, the Municipality, and other relevant authorities. The contractor will also be required to comply with all environmental and safety regulations.

Talal Al Araifi, CEOr at Mazad, said: “This auction represents a significant opportunity for investors and contractors in the energy sector.

“We are committed to ensuring a transparent and competitive process, leveraging our digital platform to reach the widest possible audience of potential buyers at a global level.”