Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry has prequalified companies to develop natural gas distribution networks in five industrial cities in the kingdom on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis.

The industrial zones earmarked are Al-Kharj Industrial City; Sudair City for Industry and Business; and the First, Second and Third Industrial Cities in Jeddah, the Energy Ministry said in a statement.

The contractors prequalified to bid for the natural gas transmission grids BOO scheme include eight standalone firms and seven consortiums:

• East Gas (Egypt)
• Natural Gas Distribution Company (Saudi Arabia)
• Egyptian Kuwaiti Advanced Operation and Maintenance (Saudi Arabia)
• Modern Gas (Egypt)
• Saab Energy Solutions (Saudi Arabia)
• Sergas Contracting (Saudi Arabia)
• Bharat Petroleum Corporation (India)
• UniGas Arabia (Saudi Arabia)
• Best Gas Carrier / Khazeen / Mubadra (Saudi Arabia)
• Al Sharif Contracting (Saudi Arabia) / Anton Oilfield Services Group (China) China Oil and Gas Group
• Hulul (owned by Saudi Arabia’s National Gas and Industrialization Company) /Al-Fanar Gas Group (UAE)
• Indraprastha Gas (India) / Masah Contracting (Saudi Arabia)
• Expertise Contracting / PGL Pipelines (UK)
• National Gas Company (Egypt) / Egypt Gas (Egypt)
• Taqa Arabia (Egypt) / Taqa Group (UAE)

The Energy Ministry has set a deadline of 23 April for these prequalified contractors to submit technical bids.

The ministry added in its statement that it has identified a total of 36 industrial cities in Saudi Arabia for gas infrastructure development.