Downstream operator Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has postponed the deadline for bids for the country’s planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal.

The deadline has been pushed back to 10 November from 29 September.

The postponement comes after two groups bidding on the project asked for a three-month extension to the project deadline, according to a source close to the scheme.

The groups that requested extensions are:

• Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain) / GS Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Petrofac (UK) / Black and Veatch (US) / Entrepose Projects (France) / Vinci Construction Grands Projets (France)

The LNG import terminal will be located near the town of Al-Zour in the Kuwaiti half of the Divided Zone, which is shared with Saudi Arabia.

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.

A total of 13 contractors have qualified to bid on the terminal.

According to a KNPC document seen by MEED, the full list of prequalified companies is:

• Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (Netherlands-based)
• Samsung Engineering (South Korea) / Samsung C&T (South Korea)
• Daelim Industrial (South Korea) / IHI Corporation (Japan)
• Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain) / GS Engineering & Construction (E&C; South Korea)
• Hyundai Engineering (South Korea) / Hyundai E&C (South Korea) / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan)
• Chiyoda Corporation (Japan)
• Sener Ingeniería y Sistemas (Spain) / Techint Compagnia Tecnica Internazionale (Italy/Argentina)
• Fluor Services Kuwait (US/Kuwait) / Daewoo E&C (South Korea)
• Petrofac International (London-based) / Black and Veatch International (US) / Entrepose Projects (France) / Vinc Construction Grands Projetsi (France)
• Technip Italy (France/Italy)
• Saipem (Italy) / Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC; Athens-based)
• Bechtel (US)
• JGC Corporation (Japan)