Bapco’s has recieved bids from international engineering and construction firms.on its estimated $5bn Sitra refinery project.

Consortia led by US-based Fluor, French group Technip, Japan’s JGC and US-based CB&I have submitted bids, according to a report.

Also known as Bahrain refinery - the kingdom’s sole refinery - is undergoing a modernisation programme to increase its refining capacity to 360,000 barrels a day (b/d) from 267,000 b/d at present. The following consortia submitted bids:

• JGC (Japan); and GS Engineering & Construction (South Korea)
• Technip (France); Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain); and Samsung Engineering (South Korea)
• Fluor (US); Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea); and Daewoo Engineering & Construction (South Korea) 
• CB&I (US); Petrofac (UK); and Mitsui and Company

The main contract for the refinery is expected to be awarded in the first half of 2017, with the modernisation programme set for completion by 2020.

The first units of the Sitra refinery was built six years after oil was discovered in Bahrain in 1932 and receives crude as feedstock from the Awali field as well as the offshore Abu Safa oilfield, which is shared with Saudi Arabia.