State-upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has pushed back the deadlines for proposals by another two weeks to 28 June for three deals to perform clean-up services at its oil fields in the southeast of the country.

About 25 local and international engineering firms have been prequalified for the deals, which are worth an estimated $200m in total, to treat environmental damage at the oil fields caused by the 1991 Iraqi invasion. The oil fields have been divided into three lots known as A, B and C.

A larger deal for the clean-up of thousands of oil lakes formed by the Iraqi invasion and subsequent retreat is expected to be tendered by KOC in August (MEED 8:4:11). The scheme is estimated to cost about $3.5bn and will be funded from the United Nations war reparation funds.

More than 2,400 oil lakes, covering an area of almost 50 square kilometres were formed as retreating Iraqi troops set fire to hundreds of oil wellheads. The oil lakes have formed a mixture of oil, sand and highly concentrated salts as a result of using seawater in extinguishing the oil-well fires after the war.