The EPC prequalifiers for the estimated $400 million project are: Japan's Chiyoda Corporation; US-based Fluor Daniel; Foster Wheeler, also US-based, with South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction Company; South Korea's LG Engineering & Construction; Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas; and Paris-based Technip.

The contract is scheduled to be awarded in the first quarter of 2005. Bidders have been requested to provide details in their bid on the contract's schedule, which is likely to be in the range of 30-33 months. Technip has prepared the front-end engineering and design (FEED) package.

The client is a joint venture of Qatar Petroleum, France's Totaland the US' ExxonMobilCorporation. Total has technical responsibility for the project, while the facility will be operated by Qatar Liquefied Gas Company (Qatargas), which along with Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas)will provide the bulk of the condensate feedstock.

The refinery will produce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), naphtha, kerosine and diesel oil. It will be Qatar's second refinery: the existing one at Mesaieed has recently undergone an $850 million upgrade and expansion, carried out by LG and Germany's Lurgi.