The engineering, procurement and construction contract has an estimated value of at least $500m.

It covers the construction of at least three main oil pipelines to the 615,000-barrel-a-day Al-Zour refinery, each one carrying a different type of crude as well as fuel-oil (MEED 15:6:08).

A total of 20 contractors are prequalified to bid as a main contractor for the lump-sum engineering, procurement and construction contract.

They include Chiyoda Corporation and JGC Corporation, both of Japan, Bechtel and KBR, both of the US, Paris-based Technip, Italy’s Snamprogetti, UAE-based Petrofac International, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company, Daelim Industrial Company, and SK Engineering & Construction, all of South Korea.

In addition, 14 companies have been prequalified as a consortium partner. The list includes Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC), the UK’s Penspen, Turkey’s Tekfen and the US’ Wilbros.

State refinery operator Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) recently awarded the main process packages on the $15bn Al-Zour refinery. While KNPC has responsibility for the scheme's overall development, control of the supply pipelines falls under KOC's mandate (MEED 25:7:08).