Local firms and joint ventures with Russian and Ukrainian companies have submitted the lowest bids to build a 1,215-kilometre gas pipeline in four sections between Erzerum and Ankara. The state pipeline company Botas expects to decide on the winners from among 78 bidders by the end of March.

When completed in 19 months, the line will bring in up to 16,000 million cubic metres of gas a year from Iran and Turkmenistan. A consortium is now building a 300-kilometre section of the line between Erzerum and Dogubeyazit, near the border with Iran. Iran is building another 270-kilometre section from Tabriz to the border (MEED 6:2:98).

The local Alarko put in the lowest bid of $154 million for the eastern stretch of the line between Erzerum and Imranli. The lowest bids for the three other sections were put in by Russian-Turkish and Ukrainian-Turkish consortiums, according to Botas. There were about 20 bidders for each section; bids were opened by Botas on 17 March (MEED 13:3:98).