The local Kuwait Systems General Trading & Contracting Company is understood to have submitted a low bid of KD13.8m ($46m) for the contract to build roads in South Ratqa, located in the northern part of the country close to its border with Iraq.

According to a source familiar with the project, 12 bidders submitted an offer for the contract on 21 January.

The project has an estimated budget of KD20m.

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) is the client for the scheme. Ratqa is home to the Kuwait section of the giant Rumaila oil field in southern Iraq.

Kuwait has awarded road contracts worth $1.77bn in 2017, according to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects.

This is under half of the overall contract value awarded in 2016, so far the best year for Kuwait’s road projects sector.

MEED understands the team comprising Turkey’s Makyol and local Contec United General Contracting is expecting to receive the signed contract for the package for road projects at South al-Mutlaa City soon.

The team offered $361m for the contract, which is higher than the $314m offer made by a team comprising Metallurgical Corporation of China and local Ali Al-Kharafi & Brothers Construction.

It is understood the Chinese/local team was unable to raise the performance bond required to win the contract.