Pakistan invites contractors for Iran gas

The pipeline will transport 1 Bcf/d of gas from an offtake point located near Gawadar at the Iran-Pakistan border to a point near Nawabshah, where gas will be injected into the national gas transmission grid in Pakistan. The pipeline route mainly follows the Coastal Highway in a West-Eastern direction for approximately 560 km, crosses the Kirthar Ranges in a North-Eastern direction, then crosses the Indus River before terminating at the tie-in point located near Nawabshah. The pipeline will be constructed from API 5L X70 steel, with wall thicknesses of 14.8 mm, 17.7 mm, and 21.3 mm. It will have a three-layer polyethylene coating as well as an internal epoxy flow coating. In addition to the pipeline, the contract includes engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) of: * Three compressor stations; * 26 mainline block valve stations; * Pig launching and receiving stations; * A cathodic protection system; * SCADA; and, * Pipeline crossings, including across the Indus River. Pre-qualification is open to EPC contractors and joint ventures registered with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in an appropriate category for construction of engineering works. Foreign contractors not registered with PEC will need to submit an undertaking to have themselves registered with PEC before being eligible for pre-qualification. Pre-qualification applicants are required to have an implemented quality management system that complies with the requirement of the latest edition of ISO-9000, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 certificates. The Inter State Gas Systems has already appointed a joint venture between ILF Beratende Ingenieure GmbH and National Engineering Services Pakistan as consultants for engineering and project management services. The pipeline is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2014.