Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) has submitted the lowest bid for the estimated $100m-deal to build a series of high-pressure crude oil pipelines in the north of the country.

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) received the bids on 20 May, according to sources close to the project.

The winning firm will build a series of six-inch carbon-steel crude oil pipelines in northern Kuwait, running from KOC’s oil field wellheads to their associated manifolds and gathering centres.

Twelve firms submitted bids including:

• Al-Dar Engineering & Construction (Kuwait)
• Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting (Kuwait)
• Hot Engineering & Construction (Kuwait)
• Al-Khadda General Trading & Contracting (Kuwait)
• Al-Meer Technical Services (Kuwait)
• Combined Group Company (Kuwait)
• CCC
• Gulf Spic General Trading & Contracting (GC) (Kuwait)
• Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company (HEISCO)(Kuwait)
• Kharafi National (Kuwait)
• Mushrif Trading & Contracting Company (Kuwait)
• Mohammed Abdulmohsin al-Kharafi & Sons (Kuwait)

Contractors say there are mixed signals coming from KOC over its plans to increase heavy oil production in the north of the country. Awarding the pipeline deal would indicate that Kuwait is pushing ahead with its heavy oil plans. However, KOC recently extended the closing date for contractors to prequalify for a deal to buildheavy oil processing facilities to the end of June (MEED 31:5:10).