Of the six companies to have submitted technical bids in February, five are understood to be left in the running. They are the local Al-Jaber Energy Services, Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC), Dubai-based Dodsal, Snamprogetti of Italy and Russia's Stroytransgaz.
Egypt’s Petrojet, which also submitted an offer, is understood to have been disqualifed following the technical evaluation process.

At least two of the bidding companies have requested an extension to the commercial bid deadline to allow them more time to prepare their offers. As a result the client may extend the deadline by a further two weeks.

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

The pipe 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.