US-headquartered Fluor Corp has decided not to bid for a multi-billion-dollar project to build a petrochemical complex in Kuwait, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The US firm was among several local and foreign companies and consortia vying to construct the olefins complex near Al-Zour oil refinery in South Kuwait.

The Kuwaiti Arabic language daily Alrai said some local firms have also decided to quit while others have informed authorities that they would change alliance with some international firms competing for the project.

The Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC), the OPEC producer’s downstream investment arm, has notified the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) of “changes in alliances bidding for the project”.

“CAPT received a letter from KIPIC about Fluor’s decision to pull out of procedures by KIPIC to pre-qualify companies to bid for the olifens complex,” the paper said without mentioning reasons for the move or CAPT’s decision.

(Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon)

(anoop.menon@lseg.com