Downstream investment arm of Oman Oil Company SAOC, Takamul Investment Company is leading the development of a 1,000 metric tonnes per day (MTPD) capacity ammonia venture in the Sultanate of Oman. The developers will build the plant adjoining the existing methanol scheme of Salalah Methanol Company, in which Takamul has 10 per cent ownership, an Oman Daily Observer (ODO) report says. Salalah methanol project will provide feedstock for the ammonia plant. Earlier this month, Takamul invited international engineering firms to prequalify for the contract to undertake the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning (EPCC) of its ammonia project. Project leaders have marked a 6-7 hectare site adjacent to Salalah Methanol Company for the construction of the ammonia plant within the Salalah Free Zone. Plans require the selected contractor to set up a plant with a capacity of 1,000 MTPD of anhydrous ammonia, complete with utilities and offsite facilities that include desalinated storage and remineralisation systems. The successful bidder will be required to enter into non-disclosure agreements with Linde and Haldor Topsoe, the process licensors for ammonia technology, as part of the prequalification process. Takamul plans a formal award of the EPCC contract for the ammonia project during the first or second quarters of 2015. The contract duration is about 28 months, the ODO report says.