Bids are under evaluation at National Petrochemical Company (NPC)for thethird natural gas fractionation project at Bandar Imam, known as NF3. The project is likely to be worth $400 million-500 million but is not thought to be a priority for the client.

The bidders are: Germany's Linde, with the local Sazeh Consult; Japan's Toyo EngineeringCorporation, with the local Petrochemical Industries Design & Engineering Company (PIDEC); and Germany's Uhde. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract will include both the plant itself and related tank facilities.

The plant will take 100,000 barrels a day of natural gas liquids (NGL) feedstock, which is expected to be supplied from plants in the Bandar Imam area. The plant will produce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is mainly destined for export.