Contractors have been invited to express interest in the engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Aqaba Industrial Terminal in Jordan, a source close to the project tells MEED. 

The source says that the contract, which covers both marine and onshore work, will run for 30 months and will have a budget of up to $200m.

“There is a pre-selection process and an open request for expression of interest has been sent out,” he says. “EPC tender bids are expected by the late spring or early summer and the announcement of the winning contractor will be made in the autumn with work starting by the end of the year.”

The request for expression of interest comes just before the announcement of the winning bidder of the $200m Aqaba Rock Phosphate Terminal is made in March (MEED 24:02:10).

When asked if the successful contractor for the phosphate terminal would be in a strong position to be awarded the industrial terminal. “The project is similar so it is certainly possible that the winning contractor of that job would be in a good position to win both packages,” the source says.

When completed the terminal will handle various cargoes including steel, iron ore, potash, sulphur, fertiliser, ammonia and timber.