Bids are due in mid-October for the main onshore and offshore subcontracts. The offshore package entails the installation of an 800-metre-long intake pipe and a 600-metre-long outfall pipe. The diameter of each pipe will be 2.5 metres.

Contractors have also been asked to quote for a seawater intake station and outfall structures. The prospective bidders are understood to include Belgium's Six Construct, Geneva-based Archirodon Construction (Overseas), Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC - Athens-based)and Interbetonof the Netherlands. Bids are due on 15 October.

The onshore work is broken into three packages: site preparation, civils 1 and 2 for the main LNG facilities and tankage. The prospective bidders are understood to include Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Bahwan Engineering Company, both local, and the UK/local Tarmac Alawi. Bids are due on 16 October.

The government signed a deal in May with Spain's Union Fenosafor 50 per cent of the train's output. The Spanish utility also took a 20 per cent equity stake in the venture. Oman LNG- which already produces 6.6 million t/y of LNG - along with its major foreign shareholder, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group, is expected to take a 20 per cent stake in the third train. Negotiations are understood to have reached an advanced stage with another foreign partner to take the bulk of the train's remaining output (MEED 7:6:02).