29 Mar 2024
Wednesday 16 January 2013 - 17:34
Story Code : 17605

Tender for large gas grid nears amid Tehran claims

gas-pipelines-IranTurkeys privatization authority is once again set to sell off the natural gas distribution grid in the capital city of Ankara. A media report claims that an Iranian firm may also show interest


The tender for Turkeys second largest natural gas grid, Ba?kent Do?algaz, will be held on Jan. 18, with a Turkish daily quoting sources saying that Irans state-run NIGC is interested in the issue.

The Privatization Administration has been conducting final discussions with local and foreign potential buyers. Around 10 companies are expected to propose an offer, with some preferring to participate as consortia. Sources have hinted that there are Chinese and Spanish firms among the interested parties.

Claims over Irans NIGC

The authorities have denied claims from daily Zaman that NIGC has taken the tender documents and is interested in the tender, denying that there had been any contact with NIGC or any other Iranian company. They did, however, say that there may be an Iranian firm within one of the bidding consortia, daily Hrriyet reported yesterday.

Sabanc?, Akfen, Genpa, Zorlu, Limak and Eksim are among the companies named as potential participants, but last-minute surprises are anticipated.

Turkeys gas trade withIranlast year irked the U.S. officials, who increase the pressure on the Islamic Republic in a bid to stop its allegedly military nuclear program.

After three unsuccessful tender attempts, a number of regulations to enhance the allure of Ba?kent Do?algaz have been passed. The main concern for companies had been the 20 percent stake of the grid held by theAnkaraMetropolitan Municipality. The municipalitys share was not included in the tender but, through a regulation, the tender has been expanded to cover 100 percent of the shares in order to relieve companies.

Sector representatives are hopeful that such changes will mean that the tender will this time be successful this time, according to sector representatives. Up until today, $207.6 million tender guarantee have been wasted in Ba?kent Do?algaz tenders. In the first process, Global Investment couldnt pay its offer, $1.6 billion, wasting the $50 million guarantee, while the controversial Karamehmet-Kazanc? partnership failed to pay the $1.2 billion contract price, which sent a total assurance of $107.6 million down the drain.


By Hurriyet Daily News

 

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