The Yanbu gas plant expansion project calls for the installation of a new de-ethaniser column system and associated ancillary systems to process an additional 195,000 barrels a day (b/d) of ethane plus natural gas liquids (NGL) streams, which is a mixture of ethane, propane, butane and pentane plus. The estimated $100 million-200 million project will raise total fractionation capacity at the plant to 585,000 b/d. The scope of works also covers the installation of a new steam boiler and modifications to the utility systems to accommodate the new process equipment.

Companies such US-based ABB Lummus Global, Taiwan's CTCI, South Korea's Daelim Industrial Company, Italy-based Techintand Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas are expected to bid for the lump-sum turnkey (LSTK) contract. An award is scheduled for March, with the project due to come on stream in December 2008.

Bids are due on 13 September for the LSTK contract to expand the existing Hawiyah gas plant by adding 800 million cubic feet a day of capacity (MEED 17:6:05).