The programme includes new concession agreements

to build a container port at Tunis-Rades, a new cruise terminal at La Goulette in Tunis and a greenfield deepwater port at Enfidha.

The most advanced project is for the build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession for a new cruise terminal at La Goulette port.

The client has made a selection and is due to officially award the contract by the end of June.

The concession period will initially be for 30 years, with an option to extend operations by a further 10 years. Total investment will be $15 million-30 million.

OMMP has invited companies to submit bids by 23 September for the BOT contract to develop a new container terminal at the commercial port of Tunis-La Goulette-Rades. The minimum 30-year concession centres on the development of a new terminal to meet future container capacity.

The investor will have the possibility of two 10-year extensions. The new facility will cover an area of about 400,000 square metres and require investment of Eur 60 million-100 million ($77 million-128 million).

The terminal is scheduled to begin operating within 30 months of contract award. Germany's Hamburg Port Consulting is the consultant on both projects. OMMP is also looking to award a 30-year concession for the development of a 500,000-square-metre logistics zone adjacent to the commercial port.

The government is expected to begin tendering by the end of the year on a proposed $1,400 million-1,600 million greenfield deepwater port at Enfidha, 70 kilometres south of Tunis. A team of the Netherlands' Royal Haskoning and the local International Development Consultants (IDC), which has completed the feasibility study, is acting as consultant on the project.

The scheme calls for the construction of a new port with capacity of 5 million 20-foot equivalent units covering an area of about 2 million square metres. It will include 3.6 kilometres of quay and berths with a depth of 17 metres.

Construction will be completed in three phases. The project also comprises a 30,000 square-metre logistics park.

The new port aims to tap into growing demand throughout the Mediterranean area, which is expected to have a lack of capacity by 2008.