Seven pre-qualified applicants have been invited to submit tenders for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for building the Duqm Refinery in Oman, a report said.

The refinery will have the capacity to process 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day, reported Times of Oman, citing a press release from Duqm Refinery.

The applicants include a combination of joint ventures, alliances, and sole entities capturing a total of 15 international companies, according to the report.

The tender is likely to comprise two EPC contracts, the publication said, noting that the larger contract will consist of all the equipment and structures required to process the crude oil, while the second contract will comprise of facilities, utilities, tankage and buildings.

“The release of the invitation to tender (ITT) documentation to these tenderers is another key milestone in the refinery project lifecycle and a significant achievement for the project team,” Jacobus Nieuwenhuijze, director, Duqm Refinery Project was quoted as saying.

“The tender process has been well established and shall remain the focus of much of the team for the next year. Our aim is to achieve success on an international level by insisting on high standards for design, construction and operation and by adding value to an area that is considered to be the new economic hub of Oman and that shall become a major player in the region.”