Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Limited (Gasco) has set the commercial bid deadline for a 160-kilometre gas pipeline connecting gas production, processing and power generation.

Bids for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract are due on 31 May; technical bids have already been submitted.

The list of bidders is expected to include Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), India’s Dodsal, Larsen & Toubro and Punj Lloyd, and Italy’s Saipem.

Saipem has already been awarded the front-end engineering and design (feed) contract for the project.

The 62-inch pipeline will cover two stretches. A 100km pipeline will run from Gasco’s Habshan gas processing facilities to Ruwais in the Western region, while 60km of piping will run from Ruwais to Shuweihat.

The pipeline will carry methane and ethane-rich gas, and will help connect gas production, processing facilities and gas-fired power generation.

Natural gas is a by-product of crude extraction from the Habshan field and Gasco operates a natural gas liquids fractionation plant in Ruwais. Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) operates two gas-fired power plants in Shuweihat and financing for the Shuweihat 3 independent power project was recently closed.

If the EPC contract is awarded as planned in August, the pipeline works are expected to finish in the fourth quarter of 2013. The budget is estimated to be about $100m.