Oman prequalifies nine firms for Musandam highway

Oman has pre-qualified nine international consortiums to bid for a 65km motorway project in its Musandam governorate which overlooks the strategic Straits of Hormuz in the Gulf, an Omani newspaper reported on Sunday.

The Arabic language daily ‘Al Watan’ said 32 global companies had vied to bid for the project which involves the construction of the carriageway through mountains and wadis in Diba, Lima and Khasab in the governorate.

It quoted a statement by the ministry of transport and communication as saying the nine consortiums were selected after their financial and technical resources were evaluated by a joint team from the ministry, the project consultant and the tender board.

It said the ministry would tender the project’s designs, construction and operation to these nine alliances ‘in the next period.’

It did not mention a date for the tender or project costs but Omani officials said last year it could cost up to $1 billion, making it one of the most expensive roads in the Gulf country given the rugged nature of that area.

The project also involves the construction of the road as well as 17 tunnels and 18 bridges, the paper said.

 

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