Reuters reported that Saudi Aramco and US firm ConocoPhillips have again extended the deadline for bids for a solids handling unit at their Yanbu refinery JV.

2 sources close to the bidding process said that the deadline is now June 1 for bids on the construction of the unit at the 400,000 barrels per day refinery.

Sources said that Italy's Saipem, Argentina's Techint, Britain's Petrofac Limited, South Africa's Senet, ThyssenKrupp Robins, Flsmidth and South Korea's Daelim Industrial Company are bidding for the solids handling unit package.

The bidding's closing date, originally February 28th 2010 had been pushed to March 22nd 2010. The engineering, procurement and construction tender is split into 11 packages.

A source said that the extension of the bidding closing date is due to additional work requested by the client. The extension will give contractors more time to prepare proposals for the extra work or addendum 1 tender which will be issued on April 20.

(Sourced from Reuters)