Jordan Phosphate Mines (JPMC) is in talks with the companies that submitted expressions of interest (EoIs) for the operation and maintenance (O&M) contract for its new rock phosphate terminal.

A total of four companies submitted EoIs to maintain and operate the new terminal being constructed in the south zone of the Aqaba port complex in Jordan. The works will be let as one single package for a period of between three to five years. The deadline for submissions was initially set for 10 October and was not extended.

A source close to the project says that negotiations with the interested contractors are progressing and that the tender process is being “fast-tracked”.

The companies that expressed interest in the contract are: Jordan’s Al-Own Advanced for Contracting; MacNally Bharat of India; a joint venture of Jordan’s Mid Contracting and African Mechanical & Superlift (owned by Indian firm Onshore Construction Company); and India’s TM International Logistics.

The Netherlands’ Royal Haskoning is the consulting engineer and adviser for the project.