MOSCOW (MRC) -- State-run Saudi Aramco has extended the bidding deadline for a clean fuels project at its biggest oil refinery in Ras Tanura, said Hydrocarbonprocessing.
The potential USD2-billion scheme to remove sulfur from refined products is part of a drive to meet stricter environmental standards. It has already had at least three bidding rounds.
The deadline is now July 17, one of the sources said, adding it had been extended from a May closing date because companies needed more time to prepare bids.
In an emailed response to Reuters, Saudi Aramco said it "does not comment on rumor or speculation". Saudi Aramco has been revamping its refineries to produce cleaner fuels.
The Ras Tanura clean fuels project, which includes a naphtha hydrotreater, was to be part of a second phase of upgrades and was originally due to go on stream in 2016.
Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said in March it was working on both its upstream and downstream projects, including the clean fuels developments, without any cancellations.
Global oil majors and Saudi Arabia have been paring back investments to cope with lower oil prices. The kingdom is the world's largest exporter of crude oil.
As MRC informed earlier, PKN ORLEN has signed a contract with Saudi Aramco for the supply of ca. 200 thousand tonnes of crude oil monthly to its refineries. The contract will be effective from May 1st to December 31st 2016, with an option of automatic renewal for successive years. The oil will be processed by all PKN ORLEN's refineries in Poland, the Czech Republic and Lithuania.
Saudi Aramco is an integrated oil and chemicals company, a global leader in hydrocarbon production, refining processes and distribution, as well as one of the largest global oil exporters. It manages proven reserves of crude oil and condensate estimated at 261.1bn barrels, and produces 9.54 million bbl daily. Headquartered in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, the company employs over 61,000 staff in 77 countries.
MRC