State pipeline agency Botas has invited bids for three projects to upgrade an existing pipeline from Russia and add a compressor to the new line being built to Iran. Bids for four key sections of pipeline from Ankara to the Iranian border are still under evaluation.

The projects are:

Supply and construction of a 2 million-cubic-metre-a-day (cm/d) compressor at Ambarli on the Russia-Turkey gas line. Bid closing date is 16 June

Construction of a 99-kilometre, 36-inch-diameter parallel pipeline from Kirklareli to Onerler and a 62-kilometre, 24-inch-diameter parallel pipeline from Yumurtatepe to Inegol. Bidders have to provide a credit facility worth 85 per cent of the project's value. Bid closing date is 23 June

Supply and installation of a 1.5 million-cm/d compressor on the pipeline from Dogubayazit to Erzurum. The pipeline is currently being built by a local joint venture of STFA Enerkom and Fernas. The project is part of the agreement to import gas under a $18,000 million deal struck by Iran and Turkey in August 1996. The compressor will be installed close to Dogubayazit. Bid closing date is 30 June.

Botas is still evaluating bids for the construction of a 1,215-kilometre gas pipeline in four sections from Erzurum to Ankara. Bids were submitted in March and the winning firms are expected to be announced this month. The low bidders are:

The local Alarko at $154 million for the 325-kilometre Erzurum-Imranli stretch

The local Evren Yapi and Metropol with Russia's Kransnodar Nefte at $119.8 million for the 60-kilometre Imranli-Kayseri section

A local-Ukranian joint venture of Limak and Bayinder with Poltavanaftagazbud and Vnipitransgaz at $88.9 million for the Kayseri-Ankara section

The local Colakoglu and Indet with Ukraine's Ukrnneftegazstroy at $99.9 million for the 380-kilometre Kayseri-Konya-Seydisehir section.

The local EBA report says that Botas is preparing an international tender for the 326-kilometre, 24-inch-diameter Karacabey-Izmir gas pipeline. The project is part of the Aegean natural gas project, which involves the supply of gas from Russia's Gazprom. The scheme is budgeted at TL 19.2 million million ($77 million). Feasibility studies have been carried out by the US' Howard Energy International.