Estimated to be worth $1,600 million, the contract will involve increasing capacity to 250,000 barrels a day (b/d) from 150,000 b/d. The 26-month contract will also entail the supply and installation of an 80,000-b/d crude distillation unit and a new 28,100-b/d merox unit, as well as hydrotreater units.

Bidders are likely to be requested to team up with an offtaker for the product, with financing to be arranged on a buyback basis. Japan's JGC Corporationwith Tomen Corporation, also of Japan, has carried out the front-end engineering and design (FEED) package.