Five companies have submitted bids for the civil works contract for the Gwadar port project. The contract is valued at about $200 million. The bids are currently under evaluation and a preferred bidder is expected to be selected by February, project sources say. The companies bidding for the contract are: Turkey's STFA Tamel; Daewoo Corporation and Hyundai Corporation, both of South Korea; Italy's Grandi Lavori Finconsit; and Iran Marine Industrial Corporation.

The contract comprises the dredging of a five-kilometre shipping channel, the construction of three multi-purpose berths, quay walls, warehouses, container freight stations and offices, the provision of a standby power generation facility and the installation of desalination capacity.

The first phase of the development will also include a contract for procurement of lifting and offshore equipment, including tugs, boats, cranes, and fork-lift trucks. Several companies have been prequalified for the contract but tender documents have not yet been issued, says the consultant, Posford Duvivier of the UK, acting with Gifford & Partners, also of the UK. The procurement contract is estimated to be worth about $80 million.

The cost of the first phase is to be met by export credits and government funding. The Communications Ministry is developing the project and hopes the port will be granted tax concessions by the government. A second phase is also planned but is expected to be implemented on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis. The second phase could include more berths, container terminals and grain terminals, project sources say (MEED 11:10:96).