Oman Railway Company (Oman Rail) has received bids for the transaction advisory services contract for its planned mineral rail line.

At least three teams comprising international technical and financial advisory firms are understood to have submitted an offer for the contract. They include:

• Deloitte (US)
• Arup (UK)/ PWC (UK)
• Parsons (US) / HKA (UK)

The selected team or company will support Oman Rail develop the project using a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Last year, Oman Rail awarded a joint venture of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Italian Railway State Company) and Italferr a consultancy contract for the scheme.

Two other firms – US-based Parsons and Lebanon’s Khatib & Alami – were shortlisted, but were not awarded the contracts.

Oman Rail had originally said it expects to award consultancy contracts, which will be on a call-off basis over a period of two years, to three consultancy firms.

Oman’s planned mineral rail line is envisaged to carry heavy freight from three locations in the Dhofar governorate to a central location, which will then link to a separate rail line that runs to the Duqm port.

The line is envisaged to connect with Segment 4A, which, under the current Oman National Railway plan, will terminate in Amal. Amal will serve as the hub of the mineral line that will branch out to Shuwaymiyah, Manji and Thamrait. From Amal, a separate line will run to the Duqm port.