Eight international companies submitted bids by the early February deadline. They include Snamprogetti of Italy, Paris-based Technip and Fluor Daniel, Foster Wheeler, CBI Howe Baker, Bechtel, Mustang Engineering and Stone & Webster, all US-based.

The successful FEED contractor will also prepare a detailed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender, develop the overall project schedule and monitor the total project cost.

At present, Takreer operates a 46,000-barrel-a-day hydrocracker unit at Ruwais, which was built in the mid-1990s under a technology licence provided by the US-based UOP.