Kharafi’s bid is marginally lower than the next best offer of KD8m submitted by the local Almeer Technical Services Company (Atsco).

Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company (Heisco), also local, is ranked third on price at KD8.5m. Eight other contractors bid for the work.

The lump-sum engineering, procurement and construction contract covers modifications to the pier's infrastructure and modernisation, and maintenance of the existing structure. The state refinery operator Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) is the client. (MEED 27:1:08).

In 2007, South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company won a $15m extension to an existing contract to upgrade the oil export pier at the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery (MEED 28:9:07).