Nine global technology firms have been shortlisted for a $1.2 billion EPC contract to undertake the expansion of Oman’s flagship refinery at Sohar, said a project official at Oman's oil and gas ministry.

Oman was looking to add 60,000 barrels per day to the refinery's current capacity of about 116,000 bpd, he said.

A tender board official said the bidders included South Korea's Hyundai Engineering and GS Engineering , India's Larsen & Toubro, France's Technip , Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas, Japan's JGC Corp , London-based Petrofac and a joint venture of Japan's Chiyoda and an arm of South Korea's Samsung group.

"We are planning for an award in the first quarter of 2013 to the successful bidder. We expect the project to take 18 months to complete," the official added.

Sohar is Oman's second refinery after the 120,000 bpd Muscat refinery. The sultanate is planning another refinery at the eastern coastal town of Duqm. - TradeArabia News Service & Reuters