Oman has prequalified nine leading global marine engineering firms to construct a major bulk liquid berths terminal at the Port of Duqm on the sultanate’s Wusta coast, said a report.

The project, which is likely to be worth $1 billion, will see the winning bidder undertake the detailed design (based on owner-provided front-end engineering design), dredging, reclamation, and jetty works, reported the Oman Observer.

The prequalified bidders are Boskalis Westminster Middle East Oman, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Van Oord Oman; Dredging International, Tecnicas Reunidas, Consolidated Contractors, China Harbour Engineering, Huta Marine Works, and Penta Ocean Construction Company.

The Special Economic Zone Authority at Duqm (Sezad) is overseeing the competitive tendering process for the contract, in line with its broader mandate to develop a mega industrial and maritime hub at Duqm, it stated.

The contract, encompassing primarily the marine infrastructure facilities, represents Package 1 of the terminal project.

Topside facilities including the installation of product storage tanks, dry bulk facilities, pipelines, buildings, road and other infrastructure, will be covered in the second package, due to be tendered out later, said the report.

According to Sezad, the terminal will serve as the outgo port for Duqm Refinery, an ambitious 230,000 barrels per day capacity greenfield project that is currently under development at an adjoining location.

Consequently, construction of the Liquid Terminal will be schedule-driven, with handover planned in advance of the refinery’s scheduled start-up in early 2019, the report added.