The local Bahwan Engineering Companyhas been awarded the RO 43.5 million ($111.5 million) contract to install a power transmission network to serve the Sohar port and industrial area. The client is the Housing, Electricity & Water Ministry (MEED 30:4:04).

Bahwan was third lowest bidder for the contract when prices were opened in June, behind KEC Internationaland Larsen & Toubro, both of India. The scope of works calls for the construction of two 220/132-kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substations, at Sohar and Muladha, and about 225 kilometres of overhead transmission line. Completion is due by mid-2006, in time for the start-up of the Sohar independent water and power project (IWPP), awarded to Belgium's Tractebelin July.

An award is imminent for the construction supervision contract on the project, for which the local Hamed Engineering Servicesis low bidder, ahead of Belgrade-based Energoprojektand the UK's Mott MacDonald.

The bid deadline has been extended by two weeks to 16 August to build the water transmission network serving the plant. More than 15 companies have picked up tender documents. The 20-month turnkey contract includes construction of a water reservoir and a forward pumping station at Sohar, service reservoirs in seven wilayats and pipelines and pumping stations along the route (MEED 25:6:04).