International Business

Jordan Proceeds With Refinery Project: The government will soon take foreign bids for building the refinery at an estimated cost of $2 billion, Energy Minister Samih Darwazah said. Companies will be asked for design and construction proposals for the plant, which will be located near the Red Sea port of Aqaba, he said. Darwazah said Jordan will select the firms by early October. Completion is expected in three to four years. Jordan has two serious proposals: one from a U.S.-Japanese consortium for a $2.5-billion unit of 250,000-barrels-per-day capacity and the other from a U.S. firm for a $1.7-billion unit producing 150,000 barrels of oil per day.