Oman’s Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority (Sezad) has invited contractors to bid for a contract to maintain the roads at the Special Economic Zone.

This is the fifth tender released by the Sezad since the start of 2017. The client has set a deadline of 11 April for proposals.

The other tenders released by the client this year include:

• The construction of an internal road at airport showroom zone
• Consultancy services for design review, and construction supervision of the economic zone’s water distribution network
• Water distribution network expansion
• Consultancy services to check and verify existing infrastructure and superstructure projects

In late 2016, Sezad signed a $265m loan with the China-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to finance the construction of the commercial terminal at the port.

The loan, which Sezad said was obtained at a competitive price, will be repaid on an instalment basis over a 25-year period, extendable for another five years. Oman is one of the 50 founding member-states of the AIIB.

It is understood that Sezad is committed to completing all infrastructure projects related to Duqm Port by 2020.

In August last year, it awarded local Galfar Engineering & Contracting the OM60.7m ($157.6m) contract for the port’s construction.

The construction contract covers dredging the harbour basin to up to six metres and land reclamation to enable the construction of port service buildings.

The contract also covers the construction of breakwaters with a total length of 3.4km, and an 850m fixed pier for fishing purposes.

The fisheries port will feature a wharf, pontoons, and five floating moorings for fishermen. It will also include pontoons for the Oman Coast Guard, a crane for boat maintenance, ramp for boats, marine services and facilities, service buildings, internal roads, parking lots, and repair workshops.