By Ahmed Awad

Kuwait – Mubasher: Kuwait’s central tenders committee announced on Tuesday awarding a tender worth KWD 3.5 billion ($11.53 billion) owned by Kuwait National Petroleum Co. (KNPC) for building Al-Zour refinery to three consortiums of global firms.

KNPC commissioned the first consortium including Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas , China's Sinopec and South Korea's Hanwha Engineering and Construction to build the main process units of the refinery. The 45-month contract is worth KWD 1.28 billion.

Meanwhile,  the second consortium including Daewoo Engineering and Construction, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Fluor Corp of the United States will build support units and extend infrastructure services for KWD 1.74 billion over 45 months.

The final consortium including Hyundai Engineering and Construction, SK Engineering and Construction and Italy's Saipem was awarded a KWD 454 million contract to build a marine export terminal over 45 months.

Al-Zour refinery is the largest project of its kind in the region, according to Kuwaiti official reports.