Oman has awarded Daewoo Shipbuilding and local firm Galfar a construction contract worth RO170.2 million ($442.2 million) at Duqm port, a Galfar official said on Tuesday.

'The contract is to build 2 breakwaters, each 5 kilometres long, two dry docks, each 400 metres long, and one quay wall of 2.5 kilometres in length, and a number of docking gates,' KM Sagheer, Galfar's general manager of environment said.

'It also involves dredging and reclamation work. The project is expected to be completed by end of 2010. Construction is scheduled to start as soon as possible,' he added.

Oman's coastal area of Duqm is to become a fully integrated downstream export centre, together with a major export refinery and a petrochemicals complex.

It will have a crude oil export terminal. The area will become a free zone for downstream industries.-Reuters