The contract includes the collection, transportation and installation of 3.6-metre and 4-metre-diameter pipes, which are to be supplied from the GMRA's Sarir manufacturing plant. It also calls for: the construction and installation of two regulating stations, two flow control stations and associated pipeline appurtenances; the supply and installation of an offline drainage system and associated structures; and the provision and installation of a cathodic protection system for the conveyance pipeline.

Designs for the pipeline, which will link up with the existing phase 1 GMR pipeline between Tazerbo and Sarir, have been completed by the UK office of Japan's Nippon Koei. Construction is expected to start in the second quarter of 2005.

Nippon Koei is also conducting preliminary designs on the second phase 3 package, which covers the development of a new wellfield south of Al-Jaghboub and construction of a 300-kilometre pipeline linking the Al-Jaghboub wellfield with Tobruk.

Other elements of the phase 3 package, including the development of a new wellfield near Al-Kufra, have yet to be tendered. Once complete, the new Al-Kufra pipeline system will supply an additional 1.68 million cubic metres a day of water (MEED 18:1:02).

Several other GMRA contracts are out to bid. Companies have until 15 December to submit quotes for phase 1 work on the pipeline between Abu Ziyyan and Al-Ruhaybat, and an award is awaited on the contract to provide communications and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for the Tazerbo wellfield, also part of the first phase (MEED 25:6:04).

Sixteen companies were also invited to bid by 9 September for the phase 4 consultancy contract. An award is expected by the end of the year (MEED 20:8:04).