The Oman Electricity Transmission Company has invited companies to submit bids for the contract to build a 220kV grid station at the Salalah Free Zone (SFZ).

Companies have until 16 September to submit bids for the tender. The contract will involve building the grid station and the associated upgrade of the Liwa grid station.

The contract is the latest of several infrastructure contracts being tendered in Salalah as the area seeks to boost its industry through the free zone and port.

In April, the Transport Ministry invited firms to bid for a contract to provide consultancy services for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of Salalah’s general cargo terminal. The rising volume of cargo passing through Salalah port is driving the need to upgrade the existing cargo terminal.

It is one of several tenders expected to be released this year as the port looks to support the increasing number of industries setting up in the nearby free zone. There are also plans to build new container terminal berths in 12-18 months’ time.

A general cargo terminal and liquid jetty is currently under construction at the port and due to be completed at the end of 2013.

Local construction firm Hani Archirodon Construction is overseeing the scheme, which will see the terminal’s cargo-handling capacity rise from 6.5 million tonnes a year (t/y) to 20 million t/y of dry bulk commodities and 6 million tonnes of liquid products.