Contractors are awaiting the award for the expansion of port facilities at the Port of Fujairah, UAE, with the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract expected to be awarded in the coming weeks.

The Port of Fujairah tendered the estimated $100m project in December 2011, but the contract, which was expected to be awarded in mid-May, has been delayed.

At least six companies bid for the main contract, including: India’s Afcons Infrastructure; Greece’s Archirodon Construction and Athena; Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Company; the local/UK Dutco Balfour Beatty; and Belgium’s Six Construct.

The scope of the project includes adding two oil tanker berths for a total length of 900 metres and 20 metres draft, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Fujairah, the only major UAE port on the Gulf of Oman coast, is the world’s second largest bunkering fuel hub in the world after Singapore.