State-owned downstream operator Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) is considering extending the bid deadline for the $3.3bn liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal that is due to be built near the town of Al-Zour.

An extension until mid-January is being considered by KNPC, according to sources close to the project.

If the deadline is moved to January it will be the third time that the bid deadline has been extended.

According to KNPC’s plans, the LNG regasification terminal will have a capacity of 1.5 trillion BTUs a day (btu/d) and will include two berths for the simultaneous unloading of large LNG carriers.

The terminal will also include four full containment LNG tanks, each with a working capacity of 225,500 cubic metres.

It is due to be constructed on reclaimed land formed by hydraulic filling.

If the LNG import terminal see significant delays it could have a knock-on effect on the planned Al-Zour New Refinery Project, which is due to be built next to the import terminal and will share some port facilities.

KNPC is a subsidiary of Kuwait’s state-owned oil company Kuwait Petroleum Coproration (KPC).

KPC did not respond to a request for information about the timeframe for the LNG import terminal project.