Three major global vendors for Mazoon Dairy plant contract

MUSCAT, OCT 7 - Three leading international dairy plant manufacturers are in contention for a multi-million dollar contract to supply the central processing plant for the new Mazoon Dairy project under construction in Al Sinaina in Buraimi Governorate. In the race for the prestigious contract are Tetra Pak of Switzerland, SPX Flow of the United States, and GEA of Germany. State-backed Mazoon Dairy’s decision to tap only reputable, world-leading suppliers for the contract — the centrepiece of its RO 100 million investment — underscores its commitment to delivering a world-class dairy farm venture for the Sultanate, say experts. Bids for the package — covering the design, manufacture, supply and installation of end to end systems that make up the Central Processing Plant — are currently under evaluation, according to project officials. Plant capacity is envisioned at 360,000 litres per day in Phase 1 to be achieved over a four-year time. The plant will be equipped for the processing of fresh milk and processed dairy products, including fresh laban, yoghurts, cheeses, and ice-creams, along with fresh juices and drinks. In Phase 2, plant capacity will be incrementally ramped up to 760,000 litres per day over a further six-year timeframe. Competing for the Central Processing Plant package is Lausanne, Switzerland, headquartered Tetra Pak, the world’s leading processing and packaging solutions company whose products and services are available in over 170 countries around the globe. Credited with pioneering aseptic packaging technology that enhances the shelf life of dairy products, juices, drinks and other perishables, Tetra Pak has a global presence that generated revenues of around 12 billion euros in 2015. Also in the fray is North Carolina — USA based SPX Flow, billed as a global multi-industry manufacturing leader serving the processed foods and beverages industry, among other sectors. The company, which operates in more than 35 countries and has over 8,000 employees on its rolls, generates revenues of around $2.5 billion annually. Dusseldorf, Germany headquartered GEA specialises in the design, engineering and supply of complete plants, processing lines and equipment for treating raw milk and also for manufacturing, filling and packaging milk and milk-based products — from butter, ice cream, yogurt and cheese, to infant formula, milk powder and whey and its derivatives. Work on Mazoon Dairy’s integrated farm begins in earnest this month with local Omani contractor Al Adrak kicking off construction of the main components of the project under an RO 27.9 million contract awarded last month. Conrad Prabhu