Algeria is tendering two projects to design two new towns at Hassi Messaoud and Sidi Abdellah.

The Energy and Mining Ministry has invited companies to submit bids for the contract to complete urban development studies for the new town of Hassi Messaoud-Oued el-Meraa, which is located in the Wilaya of Ouargla in southeast Algeria.

The work will involve completing the preliminary urban development studies and the general masterplan of the new town. The winning consultant will also be required to provide the basic engineering design plan for roads and utilities and draw up an implementation plan.

Firms have until 14 June to submit bids for the contract.

This is the second time the design contract for the Hassi Messaoud development has been tendered. The project was first tendered in 2008, and bids were received from four groups of international consultants.

The groups that submitted bids for the original tender were: China’s Shanghai Xian Dai Architectural Design; Canada’s SNC Lavalin with the US’ Louis Berger and Lebanon’s Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners); France’s Iosis with Tunisia’s Studi International; and a consortium of four South Korean firms, Korea Land Corporation, Saman Corporation, Samoo Architects and Korea Telecom, with France’s Sogreah (MEED 7:2:08).

The Regional Planning and Environment Ministry has also invited firms to submit bids for a project to design a new town at Sidi Abdellah. Consultants have until the 6 July to submit proposals for the contract to design a new residential enclave at Sidi Abdellah, located about 35 kilometres from the capital Algiers.