As exclusively revealed by MEED in mid-July, the contract was awarded to Russia’s Stroytransgaz after the firm submitted the lowest initial bid and again when revised bids were called for after a major change to the scope of works (MEED 11:7:08).

The Moscow-based pipeline specialist beat competition from Italy’s Saipem and Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) to win the work, which is its first major contract in the UAE.

The Dolphin gas pipeline project involves the engineering and installation of a 240-kilometre-long, 48-inch-diameter gas pipeline between Taweelah in Abu Dhabi and Qidfa in Fujairah.

The pipeline itself has been procured by the client from Germany's Salzgitter Mannesmann International in a deal worth more than $200m.

The gas, which originates in Qatar, will serve the Fujairah II independent water and power project at Qidfa (MEED 27:4:07).

Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Energy is providing 2 billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas from Qatar via a sub-sea pipeline.

The main customers for the gas are Abu Dhabi Electricity & Water Authority (Adwea) and Dubai Supply Authority (Dusup). Oman is also due to start receiving Dolphin gas this summer.

The other firms to submit bids for the design and build contract on the Dolphin pipeline in February were the local Al-Jaber Energy Services, Dubai-based Dodsal and Egypt's Petrojet.