Construction contract worth $24m awarded for Oman’s mega Khazaen project

Oman’s new mega project, Khazaen Economic City (KEC), has awarded its first construction contract worth $24m, it was announced on Tuesday.

The contract has been awarded to Galfar Engineering and Contracting, a statement said.

Galfar will be responsible for developing 10km of asphalt roads, a streetlight network, 15km of storm water channels, and a 22km potable water network including the main water transmission line and storage tanks.

Construction work is expected to begin in October this year and the project is scheduled for completion within 12 months.

The largest public-private partnership project in Oman, Khazaen is coming up in Barka, located to the north of the capital, Muscat.

The detailed masterplan for the first stage of the integrated economic city, which will cover 52 million sqm, was unveiled last month.

Read: Pics: Masterplan approved for first phase of Oman’s mega economic city Khazaen

The first phase of the project will include facilities such as the first dry port in Oman, a free zone, logistics and industrial complexes as well as social infrastructure, residential, commercial and entertainment components.

Khazaen also offers access to international maritime routes and preferential market entry under Free Trade Agreements with the GCC, Singapore and the US.

Khalid Awadh Al-Balushi, CEO of KEC said: “The first phase of development will represent a major investment opportunity in one of the sultanate’s key infrastructure initiatives.

“We encourage all interested parties, both foreign and domestic, to submit investment applications at the earliest available opportunity.”

The city’s masterplan for the first phase was developed by Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin group, the lead consultant for Khazaen’s planning and design work.