31-05-07 Costa Rican state oil refiner Recope's $ 160 mm refinery revamp project has attracted the interest of five companies, a project official from Recope told.
The project is the second phase of the refinery's stage one modernization. The refinery is in port city Limon.

Companies that expressed interest in EPC for the revamp include Astra Evangelista, Dragados, Honeywell and Marubeni, the official said.
Recope has extended to July 20 from June 20 the bidding deadline for the project's EPC contract. A third site visit is also scheduled. Design work will take roughly eight months and construction 27 months.

The project aims to increase the refinery's processing capacity to 38,000 bpd from 25,000 bpd, in particular the production of lead-free gasoline and low-sulphur diesel. The 38,000 bpd figure represents 75 % of the country's consumption.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration has approved a $ 125 mm loan for the works.