More time for ethylene cracker bidders

31 October 2003
A revised bidding schedule has been announced for the main contract on the Ras Laffan ethylene cracker project. Unpriced commercial bids are now due to be submitted on 8 December, technical bids on 12 January. Commercial bids are due to be submitted in March/April. Qatar Chemical Company II (Q-Chem II)is managing the project on behalf of the client, Ras Laffan Ethylene Company(MEED 1:8:03).

Five groups are prequalified for the technology supply and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract. They are: the US-based ABB Lummus Global, with Japan's Toyo Engineering Corporation; US-based Kellogg Brown & Root, with Chiyoda Corporationof Japan; Stone & Websterof the US, with JGC Corporationof Japan; Paris-based Technip; and Germany's Linde, with South Korea's Samsung Engineering Corporation. However, it is still unclear whether all the prequalifiers will participate in the tender.

The package involves the construction of a 1.3 million-tonne-a-year (t/y) cracker. An ethylene pipeline, which will run from the plant to Mesaieed, will be tendered separately in mid-2004. The ethylene will feed new downstream petrochemical capacity planned by Q-Chem II and the local/French Qatofinventure in Mesaieed.

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