Libya’s National Oil Company (NOC) has invited firms to prequalify for the design and build of its estimated $600m Benghazi Business District.

The deadline for submitted prequalification documents is the end of January and NOC expects to complete the prequalification process in February.

The project involves the construction of seven buildings with a total built-up area of about 130,000 square metres (sq m) built on a 60,000 sq m site in the Juliana Area of Benghazi.

The centrepiece of the project will be a headquarters building known as the Diamond for NOC that will have a built-up area of 30,000 sq m.

There will also be buildings for the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Brega Marketing Company, and a branch of Central Bank of Libya as well as office space for international oil companies.

Other facilities include a convention centre, a 250-room hotel, a health centre, a mall, as well as a large covered square with restaurants, cafés and shops, car parks and outdoor spaces.

The construction is expected to take 24 months to complete.

Italy’s Artelia is the consultant.