Four foreign firms are in race for the second phase of Oman's airport construction contract, in a deal expected to be worth up to RO41 million ($106.5 million), a tender board official said on Wednesday.

'The second phase of the Sohar airport airfield work will include the construction of the runway, aircraft parking facilities, electrical works and lighting systems,' the tender board official, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters.

South Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries put in the highest bid of RO41.08 million, followed by Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC) for RO41.03 million.

India's Larsen & Toubro tendered for 30.3 million rials while Strabag of Austria bid RO 28.6 million.

There are also two bids from local companies. Galfar Engineering put in a bid for RO 29.5 million and Desert Line at RO 29.8 million.

The tender was closed on January 4 and the government is currently evaluating the submitted bids for the contract expected to be awarded in the second half of this year.

Oman is also building two other airports at Duqm and Ras Al Hadd while the Muscat airport is being extended. There are plans to build airports at Musandam and Sur. – Reuters