Qatargas is set to finalise its preferred bidder within weeks for a lucrative multibillion-dollar deal to provide the liquefaction facilities required for the second phase of the North Field expansion project.

The operator is presently weighing commercial bids submitted by two leading contracting groups and could select the winner as early as this month, multiple people familiar with the development told Upstream.

“Commercial negotiations have begun and we expect a decision very soon,” one person said.

Price bids were recently submitted to the Qatari state giant for the North Field South (NFS) development after being delayed on a few occasions, another one said.