The bidders on the estimated $400 million project are US-based Bechtel, JGC Corporationof Japan, Italy's Snamprogetti, and France's Technip. Six companies were prequalified to bid for the contract, which is expected to be awarded in the spring. The front-end engineering and design (FEED) package was prepared by Bechtel.

The project involves the addition of new facilities at Abu Dhabi's two existing refineries. At Ruwais, where the bulk of the work will take place, new units to be installed include two continuous catalytic reformers, each of 12,000 barrels a day (b/d); heavy and light naphtha hydrotreaters, with a total capacity of 31,700 b/d; a 15,000-b/d gas/oil hydrotreater; a sulphur plant; and utilities. At Umm al-Nar, new storage and blending facilities are planned.

US-based Foster Wheeler Corporationis the project management consultant.