NAIROBI, April 2 (Reuters) - Kenya's government invited bids on Thursday to carry out a feasibility study into a proposed new transport corridor linking its northern coast with neighbouring nations.
The planned Lamu-Addis Ababa-Juba-Kigali corridor will include a standard gauge railway, a highway, an oil pipeline and refinery, three airports and three "resort cities" at Lamu, Isiolo and Lake Turkana, a Transport Ministry statement said.
It said the winning firm or consultancy would carry out a full feasibility study of the components of the project, which is part of Kenya's official economic blueprint, Vision 2030.
The winners are also expected to advise on regulatory issues and to propose at least three investment models, with costs and financing options. Bids must be entered by May 18.
Kenya said in December it was negotiating with Qatar for a $3.5 billion loan to build a new port at Lamu.
For years, east Africa's biggest economy has wanted to construct a second port -- after the main docks at Mombasa -- in the Lamu area on its northeastern coastline towards Somalia. (Reporting by Duncan Miriri; editing by Daniel Wallis)