EXCLUSIVE: Oman extends bid deadline for rail advisory role

04 January 2018
Oman Rail plans line to link mineral-rich regions in Dhofar to Duqm port

Oman Rail has extended the deadline for the financial advisory services tender for its planned mineral rail line to 21 January.

The specific advisory role sought is for public-private partnership (PPP) funding.

The original deadline for the submission of bids was 7 January.

Last year, Oman Rail awarded a joint venture of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Italian Railway State Company) and Italferr a consultancy contract for the scheme.

Two other firms – US-based Parsons and Lebanon’s Khatib & Alami – were shortlisted, but were not awarded the contracts.

Oman Rail had originally said it expects to award consultancy contracts, which will be on a call-off basis over a period of two years, to three consultancies.

Oman’s planned mineral rail line is envisaged to carry heavy freight from three locations in the Dhofar governorate to a central location, which will then link to a separate rail line that runs to the Duqm port. The mineral cargoes can then be processed into final products such as steel or glass at Duqm’s special economic zone, before being exported to international markets.

The line is envisaged to connect with Segment 4A, which, under the current Oman National Railway plan, will terminate in Amal. Amal will serve as the hub of the mineral line that will branch out to Shuwaymiyah, Manji and Thamrait. From Amal, a separate line will run to the Duqm port.

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