Bidding is now under way for four engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) packages of Oman Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company’s (Orpic) Liwa Plastics Industries Complex in Oman.

Orpic is also aiming to raise $4 billion for the project, according to an Oman Daily Observe report.

The complex consists of a polymers plant in Sohar industrial port, an NGL (natural gas liquids) extraction plant in Fahud, a steam cracker plant, and a 300-km pipeline from Fahud to Sohar, said the report.

Orpic has received a positive response with five technical bids submitted for the polymers plant and three technical bids for the NGL extraction package.  A number of bids were also expected on the steam cracker and pipeline packages last month (August), the report said.

“It’s positive to see so many strong technical bids submitted from several notable proponents and joint venture partners.  This project will be one of the largest in the region, and we expect to be making a significant impact on the local economy through EPC works alone,” Musab Al Mahrouqi, CEO of Orpic, was quoted as saying in the report.

Orpic is on track to conclude evaluation of bids for all the packages early next month (October), with final decisions by the end of the month.