Under the contract, the successful bidder will provide new equipment and carry out enhancement works at the 200,000-tonne-a-year (t/y) line. A decision is still awaited on one of the largest projects planned by Hadeed, the expansion of the company's hot mill and hot skin pass mill. Industry sources say Hadeed plans to hold another round of technical meetings in October followed by commercial negotiations. A contract award is expected by the end of the year at the latest. Three companies in August submitted modified technical offers and prices for the contract. They are Danieli, VAI and Germany's SMS Demag.

Companies are also preparing to submit proposals by 10 October and 23 October for the projects to install a paint coating line with capacity to handle 150,000 t/y of flat products and to build a 500,000-t/y rebar and wire rod mill at Hadeed's Jubail complex. VAI and Danieli are among the companies expected to bid for both contracts (MEED 29:8:03).

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