Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) bids for both tenders are due to be submitted by 12 March. Gohar Zamin plans to build five iron ore concentrate production units with capacity of 2 million tonnes a year (t/y) each and two 5 million-t/y high-grade DRI ore pelletising units. The plants will be supplied with feedstock from the Gohar Zamin mine, part of the Gol-e Gohar mining complex, which is expected to come into operation by early 2008 with production of 20 million t/y of iron ore. The EPC work will take 36 months, with contract awards scheduled for 2006 and commissioning set for 2009. The successful bidder will also have to arrange project financing. According to project sources, contractors must submit proposals to bring 100 per cent of the finance for the plants. So far, no state funds have been made available for the project either directly or through the oil stabilisation fund. The final product is to be marketed both in Iran and abroad.