Contractors submitted expressions of interest (EoI) in the estimated $200m engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer’s) carbon black plant in Ruwais on 20 February.

Firms in Abu Dhabi say there has been strong interest in the contract. “All the South Korean and European firms will have submitted documents,” says a source at a South Korean construction company.

Among the contractors who have submitted are GS Engineering & Construction, Samsung Engineering and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, all of South Korea, and

Italy’s Saipem.

Takreer awarded the front-end engineering design (feed) contract to Australia’s WorleyParsons. It is expected to complete the design work in August 2011. US-based Bechtel is the project manager.

The EPC contract is expected to be awarded in the first quarter of 2012, and the project is earmarked for completion within the first three months of 2014.

The project includes the construction of an integrated delayed coker unit and hydrogen processing facilities.

The scope of the carbon black facilities encompasses the construction of refractory lined reactors, a hydrogen scrubbers and recycle system, burners and control system, spray coolers, bag filter units, and a storage and packing plant.