Algeria's Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil Wednesday opened a bidding round to build a refinery in the Adrar region in the south of the country, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' news agency.
The refinery would be supplied by several small oil and gas fields in the Sbaa basin, which hold reserves of 600 million boe.
The contract to build the facility may be awarded to one company or a consortium which will either operate alone or in partnership with Sonatrach or the Algerian state-owned oil company's distribution and refining subsidiaries, Naftal and Naftec.
The winning company will be able to sell the refinery's products into national or international markets.
According to the report, the selection process will take place in two phases, the first covering technical proposals, and the second economic.
The minister set an Apr. 30 deadline for technical bids with "trade offers" due by Aug. 31. Contracts would be awarded by Sept. 30.