Iraq to tender $1.3 billion dollar contract for Grand Faw Port project
Iraq is preparing to hand over a $1.3 billion dollar contract that will signal the delivery of a marine works component for the start of the first phase of Grand al-Faw Port.
This was told in the annual MEED Arabian World Construction Summit (AWCS) as the project’s first phase pre-qualification entries are currently being evaluated.
Asaad Rashid, project director for Grand Faw Port stated that there are 18 consortium pre-qualification documents being evaluated for the project. A shortlist will be issued towards the end of May or early June and that the contract is to be signed by year end, added Rashid.
With an ultimate capacity of 3.5 million 20-foot-equivalent unit (TEUs), the Grand Faw Port development is situated at the Shatt- al-Arab’s entry opposite Kuwait’s Boubiyan Port. Being completed currently is phase one of the project, capacity of which is said to be at 2 million TEUs containers and general cargo.
The grand project will help address the persistent congestion in the port of the Iraqi Gulf as Rasid told the AWCS that the port’s capacity will ultimately be at 20 million TEUs. As such, the government of Iraq is swift in pressing on with the development.
Placed for two construction contracts are:
- An 8-km breakwater to be situated in $280m design. The 18-month building contract due for completion by the summer is under Greece’s Archirodon.
- A 16-km $700 million design western breakwater completed towards the end of 2013 was done by South Korea’s Daewoo Engineering & Construction.
The first phase of the port has two elements. One is land-side facilities that include railway line, roads, utilities and other unites. Contract bidders are being pre-qualified. The second element is a concession to operate the port.
The marine works contract is the port’s first phase largest and will deal with all of the port’s land-side facilities requirements.
Once completed, the grand project is said to be a vital gateway for seaborne imports into Iraq and regional markets.
