Of the three original bidders, only Paris-based Technipattended the recent meeting. Oslo-based Aker Kvaernerand Japan's JGC Corporationwere the other two firms that priced the turnkey contract. Kvaerner was low bidder at KD 234.7 million ($779 million), some 45 per cent lower than the next offer of KD 339.4 million ($1,127 million) submitted by Technip. In keeping with recent KOC tenders, Korean contractors were well represented at the meeting, with four in attendance.

The project, which retains the scope of the original tender issue, calls for the construction of 11.4 million barrels of crude storage capacity at Ahmadi. It will be tendered in four packages covering general works, tanks and gravity lines, pumps and metering skids and offshore works.