The Public Authority for Industry (PAI) has invited companies to prequalify by 22 February for an estimated $40 million-45 million contract to revamp and upgrade the existing seawater cooling plant at Shuaiba. Prequalifications have been invited from joint ventures of civil contractors with international pump manufacturers and equipment suppliers (MEED 16:8:02).

Called pumping plant C refurbishment, the contract involves: the supply and installation of 13 new pumps, along with motors, cabling and associated switchgears; provision of stop logs and bandscreens, discharge pipes, valves and manifolds; modification of the existing switchgear and associated electrical and control systems; construction of a 1.8-metre-diameter pipeline; installation of a 11-kV diesel generator; extension of an existing concrete structure; and related civil works.

The electro-mechanical works will be carried out on a design-build basis, while the civil works will be on a lumpsum basis. The project will take about 18-20 months to complete.

The C plant, built in 1977, is one of two pumping units operated by PAI to provide seawater cooling facilities to various projects in the Shuaiba industrial area. At present, the plant has 12 operational pumps serving the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery and a nearby liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plant.

Designs are also nearing completion for a new seawater cooling plant and intake system at Shuaiba to serve the two new petrochemical plants proposed by the local Petrochemical Industries Company.

Estimated to cost at least KD 30 million ($100 million), the project will include the construction of a 240,000-cubic-metre-an hour seawater transfer system, a 3-kilometre-long pumped delivery main and gravity return culvert and related facilities. Project completion is set for early 2006. The consultant for both projects is the UK's Mott MacDonald(MEED 16:8:02; 11:1:02).