Gail (India) received seven bids for construction of the Dahej-Uran gas pipeline project when bidding closed on 17 September 2005.

The seven bidders include four Indian companies - Jindal Saw, Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren, Man Industries and PSL - while the international bidders are Leman Commodities of Switzerland, Sumitomo of Japan and Liaoyang Steel of China.

Gail (India), it might be mentioned, had first floated tenders for the project in 2004. However, the tender was countermanded and the Union government ordered fresh tendering in November 2004 following controversy over the technology specified in the earlier tender. Fresh bids were subsequently invited in July 2005. Trachtebel SA of Belgium is project management consultant to the project, while Mayalsia-based Velosi Certification Services is rendering independent quality assurance services.

Steel Suppliers: The indicative list of steel suppliers to the project include Thyssen Krupp (Germany), Mannesmann Salzgitter Roehrenwerke (Germany), Riva Group (Italy), Azovstahl (Ukraine), Posco (Korea) and Voest Alpine (Austria). Among Indian companies, Essar Steel is dubbed as a potential source for supplying rolled coils.

Background: The Rs.1,830 crore Dahej-Uran gas pipeline project involves setting up of a 474-km pipeline to supply 12 mmscmd of natural gas (regasifed LNG) from Petronet LNG's Dahej terminal and Shell's Hazira LNG terminal to consumers in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The contract value of the tender is around Rs.973 crore. The project is expected to be completed by February 2007, after a delay of one year from the earlier envisaged date.