BAGHDAD- Iraq has invited foreign companies and investors to bid for the construction and operation of two new refineries in southern Iraq, the oil ministry said on Sunday.

One refinery is to be built in Wasit province with a production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day (bpd), and the other in Diwaniyah province with a capacity of 70,000 bpd, the oil ministry said in two statements.

Documents for the bidding process for both refineries will be available until April 29 and the bidding will close on June 14.

(Reporting by Raya Jalabi; editing by Jason Neely) ((Raya.Jalabi@thomsonreuters.com;))