Oman Logistics Company (Olco) has released a tender for the construction of roads and infrastructure for the first phase of Khazaen, a planned 95-square-kilometre integrated logistics hub in the South al-Batinah governorate.

Bidders have until 17 May to submit prices.

The tender announcement specified that there will be a non-compulsory option for public-private partnership build-operate-own-transfer (PPP-BOOT) included in the tender.

In March, Olco invited interested companies to register their interest to finance, design, construct and operate facilities for the new logistics hub, with the deadline for submissions set at 3 May. The request indicated PPP as the primary structure to develop the logistics facility.

The expressions of interest (EoIs) were geared towards the development of warehouses, hotels, commercial towers and potentially residential buildings within the proposed location.

A dry inland port is envisaged to form the anchor of the hub. It is understood that bids for the operation and maintenance contract for the dry port are currently under evaluation, with an award expected in May.