State-owned downstream operator Adnoc Refining is preparing to tender the estimated $500m contract for its planned Gasoline and Aromatics Project (GAP).

The invitation to bid is expected to be issued after Ramadan, which is expected to end on 14 June.

Under current plans, the new facility will have the capacity to produce 4.2 million tonnes a year (mt/y) of gasoline and 1.6 mt/y of aromatics.

The scope of the project includes:

• Light and heavy naphtha hydrotreaters units
• Light naphtha isomerisation units
• Two heavy naphtha reformer units
• Aromatics extraction unit
• Paraxylene and benzene production units
• Associated facilities

According to industry sources, the following companies, amongst others, have expressed interest in bidding for the contract:

• JGC International (Japan)
• GS Engineering (South Korea)
• Dodsal (India)
• Hyundai E&C (South Korea)
• Petrofac (UK)
• TechnipFMC (France)
• KBR (US)
• Saipem (Italy)

In 2016 the front-end engineering design (feed) contract was awarded to UK-based Amec Foster Wheeler, which has since been acquired by UK-based Wood.

US-based Jacobs Engineering provided project management consultancy (PMC) services during the feed phase.