Four groups submitted bids by the mid-November deadline to Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC- MEED 12:10:01). They are: South Korea's HyundaiHeavy Industries Company, with Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industrial Company (ISOICO); Italy's Saipem, with Iranian Offshore Engineering & Construction; Iran Marine Industrial Company (Sadra), with an unidentified Indonesian firm; and France's Bouygues Offshore, with the local Petrochemical Industries Erection & Construction Company.

The contract entails the construction of pipelines and pipeline tie-ins between the Aboozar gathering centre and the existing Aboozar platform, as well as the connection of the gathering centre with the NGL facility on Kharg island.

Bids for the second package, covering the installation of two offshore gas compression platforms and bridge links, are due in on 1 December. IOOC says eight companies, mainly European and South Korean, have been prequalified for the scheme.

The third package, which entails the construction of onshore facilities, will be tendered in early December. It is understood that at least eight companies have been prequalified for the contract, which involves the construction of gas-gathering stations, two NGL recovery plants, pipelines and storage and export facilities. The selected contractor will also install a pipeline to deliver residue gas to the National Petrochemical Companymethanol plant on Kharg island.