The expansion of the harbour is linked to the much-delayed upgrade of the Azzawiya refinery and will increase the capacity of the harbour to handle crude oil, various refined products, asphalt and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Currently, refined products are exported through three offshore single buoy moorings. In order to increase shipping capacity at the refinery, a new harbour with five berthing points for marine bulk carriers is to be established next to the refinery.

The scope of the project includes the construction of five sheltered berths to serve LPG tankers of up to 5,000 dwt, product tankers up to 70,000 dwt and crude tankers up to 150,000 dwt. The contract includes evaluation of new harbour schemes, design of new breakwaters, a jetty with three berthing points, two piers, each with one berthing point, harbour infrastructure including buildings and roads, multiproduct pipelines, storage tanks, fire-fighting facilities and treatment facilities in the harbour area. The project scope is similar to a design completed by COWI in 2000, although the new contract will see the location of the harbour moved three-four kilometres east of the refinery.

ARC, a subsidiary of National Oil Corporation (NOC), is also understood to be considering retendering the estimated $280 million engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to expand its 120,000-barrel-a-day refinery after negotiations with Germany's Uhde broke down earlier this year (MEED 16:9:05).