Oman has awarded four contracts covering road works, sewage treatment and supply of transformers.

The first agreement signed with Hassan bin Juma Backer Trading and Contracting calls for the construction of a sewage treatment plant in Rustaq, a report said. The plant will have an initial capacity of 7,200 cu m per day. Construction work is expected to be completed by May next year.

The second contract is for protection works at wadi cuts on Al Hajr-Baat road in Ibri. The works involve construction of Irish bridges, drainage pipes and other measures to protect the road from wadi flows. Omani Contractors' Union Company (OCUC) was awarded the RO700,000 ($1.8 million) contract and will start work in July, for completion in three months.

The third deal, also was signed with OCUC, is valued at RO140,000 and covers similar protection works on the Bilad Al Shuhum road in Ibri. The work will take three months to complete.

The fourth agreement worth RO150,000 involves the supply of electric transformers and accessories for lighting purposes in the wilayats.

10 prequalify for water package

Kuwait: Kuwait has issued tenders for the first package of a major water storage and distribution complex project worth a total KD115.7 million ($380 million), executives said.

Some 10 firms have already been prequalified for this portion, including companies from China, Iran, India, Cyprus, and Kuwait. The estimated KD13.7 million package (Subiya C2) will link a proposed water desalination plant at Subiya to a main distribution centre. The deadline for submission of bids is July 7.

A separate tender for the desalination plant was set to close on June 9 and executives said it could be worth some KD50 million, rising by a similar amount if Kuwait opts for double the capacity to produce 50 million gallons per day.

The water complex project, which is separate from the desalination plant, involves three other parts - including a water treatment and pumping station centre possibly worth KD42 million and related distribution pipeline contracts worth KD42.5 and KD17.5 million.

French firm to design hospital

Manama: French consultant Ingerop and local partner Adel Ahmadi Engineering Consultants have been awarded a BD1.74 million contract to design and supervise the BD30 million ($79.8 million) Muharraq General Hospital in Bahrain.

Ingerop was chosen by the Works and Agriculture Ministry from among seven other multi-national companies which had submitted tenders.

The design of the hospital is expected to take 16 to 18 months and the hospital itself is expected to take two years to build. The 300-bed hospital, to be built on a 227,000-sq-m plot of land, is expected to be open towards the end of 2005.

Two ports to be expanded

Muscat: The local Galfar Engineering and Contracting has an RO11 million ($28.57 million) contract to expand the Khasab and Kumzar ports in the governorate of Musandam. The project is expected to be completed in early 2004.

Work at the Khasab port covers extension of a breakwater to a length of 560 m; construction of 440-m-long fish harbour breakwater, construction of 330-m-long quay wall; dredging the harbour basin to -8.5 m CD; reclamation of 60 hectares area using dredged and imported materials; installation of pontoons and access bridges and provision of navigational aids.

Work at the Kumzar Port includes the construction of a breakwater and two-storey building and associated works; installation of pontoon and access bridge; and provision of navigational aids.