Bidding on the 318,000-tonne-a-year (t/y) Ilam olefins unit has been extended while NPC clarifies feedstock specifications. NPC is already evaluating bids for the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) package on the Ilam complex, after prices were submitted in September. On the 660,000-t/y Kharg methanol unit, the delay has been attributed to NPC looking at potential capacity changes. Bid documents are under preparation for the other major unit planned for Kharg - a 500,000-t/y monoethylene glycol (MEG) unit - and will be issued in early 2004.

Prequalification is nearing completion on the next major NPC development - the olefins 8 complex at Bandar Imam. The company has prepared bid documents and is awaiting approval of the prequalification list from its contracts board. Five-six companies are expected to be invited in November to bid for the HDPE and MEG plants units.

Companies have also been asked to prequalify in early November for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) package for the olefins 11 complex at Assaluyeh, which involves the installation of HDPE, LDPE, styrene monomer, ethylene and MEG capacity.