Twelve international and local groups purchased tender documents. The companies are understood to include a joint venture of Australia's WorleyParsonswith the UAE's Dome International, Chiyoda Corporationand Mitsubishi Corporation, both of Japan, US-based Foster Wheeler, Czech-based Techno-Exportsand the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Several unidentified local firms have also purchased documents.

According to SCOP, the bid deadline has been extended to finalise an agreement with the US' UOPto license technology for the refinery. The ministry is also understood to be considering altering the location of the refinery, as a result of the ongoing insurgency to the south of the capital. Political wrangling in Baghdad has also seen the Shia majority push for the refinery to be located closer to Najaf.

The scope of works includes engineering, procurement and supervision of erection, and commissioning and testing of the process units, tank farm, offsites and utilities and pipelines. The project, which will cost at least $1,000 million, also includes the installation of the instrumentation, control and communications systems. The successful bidder will have the option to carry out construction work on the facility. The initial front-end engineering and design (FEED) work has already been completed by SCOP, the Oil Ministry's engineering arm.