Those selected to bid for the export pipelines package are: Saipem-Snamprogetti, Bonatti and Techint, all of Italy; the US' Bechtel; and a joint venture of US-based Willbros Group and Saudi Arabia's National Contracting Company (NCC).

The shortlisted companies for the two offsites packages include a joint venture of Saipem-Snamprogetti and GTP; France's Entrepose; Techint; Bonatti; and the Willbros-National Contracting team. The sixth shortlisted bidder is ABB Sarpi, a joint venture of Europe's ABB and the state-owned Sonatrach; Four companies are shortlisted for the civil works package: Italy's Bentini with Egypt's Orascom; Lebanon's Butec; Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company; and the local Entreprise Nationale de Realisation des Infrastructures Energetiques (Inerga).

A further four bids have been shortlisted for the central processing facility. They are from UAE-based Petrofac International; Canada's SNC Lavalin; Bechtel and a joint venture of Saipem-Snamprogetti and Japan's JGC Corporation.

The scheme involves oil recovery from four fields in the Berkine basin. Tenders are set to be issued this month (28:9:07).