At least six companies have submitted technical bids for the construction of a estimated $500m gas pipeline for Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (Gasco) in the UAE. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract will cover two 300-kilometre pipelines to supply industries in Taweelah with additional gas.

Gasco is expected to announce a deadline for commercial bids sometime in May, a source close to the bidding process says. The EPC contract will cover services over a 34-month period.

Contractors submitting technical bids include local group Alsa, Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Indian companies Dodsal, Larson & Toubro and Punj Lloyd, and Italy’s Saipem. Other contractors expressing their interest in the EPC deal included Kazakhstan-based Kazstroyservice, China’s Sinopec and Russian group Stroytransgaz.

The 52-inch-diametre pipelines will connect to distribution manifolds at the Habshan gas hub in the west of the country to Maqta, just outside Abu Dhabi. In addition, there will be a new 52-inch pipeline from Maqta to Taweelah – halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai – and a 42-inch pipeline connecting two points in Taweelah.

The scope also includes the demolition of two existing smaller pipelines. The tender for the EPC contract was released in January. Gasco was formed in 1978 as a joint venture of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), UK-Dutch Shell, France’s Total and Portuguese group Partex.