At least three international engineering firms have submitted bids for a $50m deal to improve the quality of the gasoline produced at the Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) refinery at  Ruwais.

Firms including Italy’s Saipem, Paris-based Technip and Germany’s Uhde handed in commercial proposals to the company on 14 March. Sources close to the deal say they expect Takreer to award the contract before the end of March.

The winning bidder on the engineering, procurement and construction contract will build facilities to process high-octane gasoline products. Takreer has called the scheme the isomerate quality improvement project.

Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas completed the front-end engineering and design on the project in late 2009.

Contractors value the deal at about $50m.