Linde in mid April signed contracts for setting up a 20-tonne-an-hour industrial gas unit and for the post of project management consultant (PMC) on the Mobin project, a source close to the project says. There has been no official statement on the contract awards yet.

On a third package, to set up a 660-MW power generation facility, state-owned Iran Power Plant Projects Management Company (Mapna)is understood to be well placed to win the contract. Several international companies, including France's Alstomand Germany's Siemens, submitted proposals for the project.

The source says that the desalination package is likely to be awarded to France's Sidem. The UK's Weir Westgarthwas ranked second in the evaluation of bids.

Contracts for the remaining three packages, the wastewater treatment plant, seawater intake and offsite units, are expected to be awarded within weeks.

The Mobin facilities will supply power, steamed oxygen and fresh water, and will provide related facilities for petrochemical complexes at Bandar Assaluyeh, including the olefins 9 and 10 projects, the aromatics 4 and methanol 4 plants and an ammonia and urea unit.

The project is set to take 30 months to complete.

Three packages on the scheme were awarded to South Korea's LG Engineering & Constructionin September, but the estimated $400 million contract was cancelled after NPC failed to receive approval for the deal from the Higher Economic Council. The council in turn called on NPC to retender the project (MEED 5:10:01).