Iraq government-owned Midland Refineries Company (MRC) has issued a tender for the design and construction of a steel drum manufacture and filling plant at the Daura refinery near Baghdad.

Technical and commercial proposals are due on 5 November. Tender documents are available for ID1.5m ($1,288). Proposals are subject to a bid bond of 1 per cent of the total bid value. 

The refinery requires a new 200-litre steel drum production line and filing system. This will come in a number of parts, with units to make cylinder drums, end covers and perforators. An automatic printing, filing and capping system for the barrels, with a maximum capacity of 150 barrels a hour is also required.

The winning contractor will provide basic and detailed engineering designs, as well as the procurement and supply of equipment and material. It will also carry out all engineering work, including construction, erection and installation, while supervising any civil work required. The firm will also carry out commissioning and start-up activities, and training Daura refinery’s personnel.

The Daura refinery is designed to process more than 100,000 barrels a day (b/d) of crude oil, but was built in 1955 and is running well below capacity. It is now estimated to be running at only 45,000 b/d due to insufficient supplies of crude feedstock.

The Oil Ministry has budgeted a number of refinery upgrade projects up to 2015, including the addition of a residue fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) plant and gas oil hydrotreater at the Daura refinery.