Tekfen's nearest rival for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build the Ain Dar-Shedgum line was Lebanon's Contracting & Trading (CAT).

A total of eight local and international contractors submitted bids for the contract in early February.

The 16-month contract calls for the construction of a 56-inch-diameter, 80-kilometre-long pipeline linking the Qurrayah seawater treatment plant, under construction by Italy's Snamprogetti, with the Ain Dar water injection facility number 1. Additional works comprise the construction of two surge relief tanks and two new injection lines with diameters of 10-30 inches and a total length of 48 kilometres. The project manager is Canada's SNC Lavalin (MEED 19:9:03).

Tekfen and Suedrohrbauof the Netherlands are understood to be the frontrunners for the estimated $55 million-60 million Haradh GOSP-3 pipeline project. A contract award is expected in April.

Five other companies - a team of Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC), with Lebanon's Contracting & Trading (CAT); Italy's Saipem; the local Tamimi Construction, Italy-based Techint; and the German office of Technip- bid for the contract in February. It involves the construction of more than 170 kilometres of crude and gas pipelines with diameters ranging from 24-48 inches and 150 kilometres of smaller-diameter lines to transport seawater.