Australian mining and energy group BHP Billiton joined Norway's oil major Statoil and South Africa's PetroSA plan to take part in a tender for a $3 billion gas-to-liquids plant in Algeria, Statoil said on Monday.
Statoil and PetroSA delivered a technical proposal earlier this year for the project.
A final bid, including economic aspects, is due by end of June next year.
BHP said on Monday that it was in talks with Statoil and PetroSA over a joint bid.
Gas-to-liquids technology processes natural gas into oil products, including low-sulphur diesel that meets strict European Union and U.S. environmental rules.
It would be the first plant of its kind in Algeria and the first for Statoil.
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Statoil, BHP Billiton to Bid For LNG Plant in Algeria
Australian mining and energy group BHP Billiton joined Norway's Statoil