The prospective financial advisers: are Societe Generale,with Bank Muscat; and BNP Paribas, with Oman Arab Bank. Financial bids are due to be opened after Ramadan for the next construction package on the $1,000 million scheme, for the Al-Ansab sewage treatment plant (STP). Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC); the local Galfar Engineering & Contracting; an Indian team of Larsen & Toubroand Bhageeratha Engineeringwith the local Teejan; and Austria's Strabagare bidding for the contract, which calls for the installation of a 53,000 cubic-metre-a-day STP at Al-Ansab and a control system for the entire project.

OWSC has invited bids by 13 December for a contract to expand the Darsait catchment's network - the furthest advanced of the elements on the scheme. The contract calls for the construction of substation buildings, a gatehouse, cable trenches and ducts, compound walls and fencing, and an access road to serve the compound. The local Bahwan Construction Company was awarded the contract to construct the Darsait STP in 2003.

In early October, China's Sinohydro Corporationwas awarded the RO 57.2 million ($146.8 million) contract to build the Al-Bawshar wastewater collection network and treated effluent redistribution system (MEED 8:10:04).

The next phase of the project will see the network expanded to cover the Seeb area and 27 applications for prequalification were submitted on 11 October for the contract to provide design and construction supervision services on all future expansions (MEED 15:10:04).