By LAURENCE ILIFF

Mexico's state-owned oil company Pemex said Wednesday it awarded a $135 million contract for engineering and management services to ICA Fluor Daniel for the first phase of a new refinery to be built near a current one in Tula, Hidalgo state. 

ICA Fluor Daniel is an industrial engineering firm jointly owned by Mexico's Empresas ICA and Fluor Corp.

Pemex said in a statement that the percentage of national content was among its criteria in determining the winner of the bid.

"It's important to note that this work will be done with 63% national content, with which Pemex is supporting the development of Mexican engineering," the oil monopoly said.

The contract to ICA Fluor Daniel and its partner companies will last 421 days, Pemex said, and go into effect March 12.

The other three bidders included consortiums led by Technip, Foster Wheeler and KBR, Pemex said.

A year ago, Pemex awarded a $7.5 million contract for the construction of a perimeter wall for the $10 billion refinery, which is slated to start up by 2016.

Mexico is a major importer of gasoline, diesel and other fuels, much of which comes from the US, as Pemex's six current refineries fail to keep up with rising domestic demand.

Empresas ICA shares traded on the local stock exchange were recently 3.1% higher to 23.04 pesos ($1.79) amid a mixed broader market.

Dow Jones Newswires