Special Economic Zone Authority Duqm (Sezad) held a meeting with all the seven pre-qualified applicants ahead of awarding the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for construction of a key refinery in Oman, a report said.

The seven tenderers comprise a combination of joint ventures, alliances, and sole entities capturing a total of 15 international companies, reported Oman Observer.

The open forum organised by Duqm Refinery was aimed at familiarising the tenderers with the process together with visits to the proposed construction site, Oman Dry Dock, Port of Duqm and other surrounding infrastructure.

The forum commenced with a note from Said bin Hamdoon al Harthy, Under Secretary of Ports and Maritime Affairs, Board member of the Special Economic Zone Authority and was followed by a summary of the project by Jacobus Nieuwenhuijze, Project Director of Duqm Refinery.

Speaking at the forum, Jacobus Nieuwenhuijze, the project director of Duqm Refinery, said: "The forum serves as an ideal platform not just for Duqm Refinery to interface with the tenderers but also for local Duqm companies to engage with them to promote their own services and add value to the project."

The briefing session featured presentations from Economic Zone Authority of Duqm, Takatuf and the local Duqm companies on the capabilities and level of support that would be available. The local companies in attendance included Oman Dry Dock Company, the Renaissance Services group, Rural Authority for Electricity and Water, the Special, Port of Duqm and Duqm Development Company, he added.