Saudi Arabias PetroRabigh has extended bidding for building parts of an estimated US$6-8 billion expansion project at its giant petrochemical plant.
Bidding for some of the packages that are being tendered is now due to close on October 19, instead of the October 1 deadline set when the firm - a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Japan's Sumitomo Chemical - launched the tender.
The bid extension involves the main process units and two utilities projects. Bidding for another utilities package, UO1, is due by October 31st.
The award of the new deals is expected early next year and the Rabigh II project is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2015.
The Rabigh II project is split into seven process units and three associated utilities projects. Bidding has started but a final investment decision is not expected until the end of this year.
PetroRabigh plans to build a number of petrochemical plants including an aromatics complex consuming around three million tonnes per year of naphtha and a 30 per cent increase in ethylene production capacity.
