The turnkey contract calls for project management, surveying, design, engineering, procurement, laying, commissioning and testing on the pipeline, which is estimated to cost $250 million. The 14-month contract is expected to be awarded by the end of March. Bidders will be obliged to provide 25 per cent of the project's funding.

ONGC has also invited companies to offer their services as suppliers for the Greater Nile Oil Project, in which it acquired a 25 per cent stake from Canada's Talismanin 2003. Firms capable of carrying out land drilling work, seismic surveys, cementing, logging and well stimulation services are asked to register their interest.

ONGC Videsh, the international arm of state-owned ONGC, has been expanding its interests in Sudan over the past year. As well as the acquisition of the Talisman asset, ONGC bought Austria's OMV out of blocks 5A and 5B in late 2003, and is in the process of taking an 11 per cent stake in blocks 3 and 7 (Oil & Gas, MEED Special Report, 19:9:03, pages 66-67).