Abu Dhabi Gas Industries (Gasco) has launched a tender for an estimated $45m natural gas pipeline from Yas Island to Mina Zayed port.

Technical bids are due on 23 October, according to a source close to the project, with commercial proposals due in the middle of December.

More than 10 firms have been prequalified to bid, including:

• Alsa Engineering & Construction (local)
• Consolidated Contractors Company (Athens-based)
• Dodsal (India)               
• Larsen & Toubro (India)
• Punj Lloyd (India)

US-based Veco Engineering has completed the front-end engineering and design (feed) work for the 24-inch, 45-kilometre pipeline, which will supply gas to the existing natural gas vehicle filling station at the port by 2015.

Formed in 1978, Gasco is a joint venture of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and three international oil companies; UK/Dutch Shell Group, France’s Total and Portugal’s Partex.