Duqm Refinery has invited companies to bid on the two main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) packages on its project to build a refinery in Duqm, Oman.

Seven prequalifiers – including joint ventures, partnerships and sole bidders – have been asked to submit bids on the two packages. A total of 15 international companies are prequalified, the company told MEED.

Duqm Refinery, a 50:50 joint venture of Abu Dhabi-based International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic) and state-run Oman Oil Company (OOC), plans to establish a 230,000 barrel-a-day (b/d) refinery at the port on the sultanate’s central coast.

The company said the larger package consists of all the equipment and structures required to process oil. The second contract covers the facilities, utilities tankage and buildings that support the process.

Duqm Refinery was unable to disclose the deadline for bids on the tender or the names of the prequalified groups.

The refinery is the largest single-phase downstream oil project ever undertaken in Oman and is a key development of the government’s plans to establish Duqm as a regional energy and logistics hub.

In August, the Special Economic Zone Authority for Duqm (Sezad) invited companies to submit bids on a services corridor to support the refinery. It will connect the downstream oil facility to the liquid jetty.

The local Galfar Engineering & Contracting was earlier this year awarded the contract for site preparation work, which is set for completion in the second quarter of 2016.

Duqm Refinery told MEED earlier this year that the proposed petrochemicals project planned for the site is not a priority until the refinery is completed.