Four groups have submitted unpriced commercial bids for the technology supply and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract on the cracker. They are: US-based ABB Lummus Global, with Japan's Toyo Engineering Corporation; Stone & Websterof the US, with JGC Corporationof Japan; Paris-based Technip; and Germany's Linde, with South Korea's Samsung Engineering Corporation. The next step in the bidding process will be the submission of technical proposals, which are due on 28 January. Priced commercials are expected to be submitted in April (MEED 31:10:03).

The package involves the construction of a 1.3 million-tonne-a-year (t/y) cracker. An ethylene pipeline, which will run from the plant to Mesaieed, will be tendered separately in mid-2004.

About 10 international companies have applied for prequalification for the EPC contract on Q-Chem II's downstream facilities, which covers the construction of a high density polyethylene unit and an alpha olefins unit, each of 350,000 t/y. They are understood to include: South Korea's LG Engineering & Constructionwith Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas; Daelim Industrial Company, also of South Korea; Germany's Uhde; Italy's Snamprogetti; Tecnimont, also of Italy; JGC; US-based Foster Wheeler; and ABB.