The Italian contractor signed a contract for the main package, covering the construction of central processing facilities including a gas-oil separation plant, in the first week of July.

It was awarded the contract ahead of Japan’s JGC Corporation, Spain’s TR, South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company, France's Technip, Japan's Chiyoda Corporation and Italy's Techint.

It follows a deal signed between Aramco and JGC on 3 July covering the utilities, storage and shipping at the central processing facility.

It competed against Techint, Snamprogetti and Hyundai Engineering & Construction for that contract.

TR secured the smallest package, worth $500m, covering power generation and the main substation, ahead of bids from South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries and Italy's Tecnimont.