The estimated KD 30 million ($97 million) project calls for the construction of a new seawater intake system - plant C - and the maintenance of two similar existing networks - plants A and B. The new system will mainly serve two petrochemical projects proposed at Shuaiba.

The larger of the two schemes is a $2,000 million polyethylene plant, dubbed Equate II. The complex will have a nameplate capacity of 850,000 tonnes a year (t/y) of ethylene, 450,000 t/y of polyethylene and 430,000 t/y of ethylene glycol. The project will be developed by a joint venture between the local Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) and a foreign company (MEED 3:8:01).

PIC will be the sole owner of the second proposed project. The estimated $1,400 million aromatics complex will have a nameplate capacity of 650,000 t/y of benzene and paraxylene and 500,000 t/y of monomers. Four international companies have been invited to bid by 30 January for the post of project management consultant on the project (MEED 4:1:02).

Both projects are scheduled to be commissioned by 2005 (MEED 9:11:01).