The invitation is open to international companies, which have carried out at least one contract worth $1,500 million in the past 10 years outside their country of origin.

The EPC contract will cover the construction of a 650,000-tonne-a-year (t/y) paraxylene and benzene plant. The plant will use 2.5 million t/y of naphtha as feedstock to be supplied by refinery operator Kuwait National Petroleum Company. The US' Bechtel is the project management consultant (PMC).

The project will be owned by PIC and local private investors. The aromatics complex will also involve the construction of a 300,000-t/y styrene unit. Both projects are targeted to be commissioned by early 2007. International law firm Ashurst Morris Crispis acting as legal adviser to PIC for the proposed projects.