Five consortiums of engineering and construction firms have placed bids for a project to double capacity at Mexico's Cangrejera petrochemicals complex, said Petroleos Mexicanos on Thursday.

Pemex expects to invest $63 million in 2009 and a total of $504 million over the next three years to build three plants and double paraxylene capacity to 488,000 tons a year at Cangrejera. Pemex said it will announce a winner on May 25.

The consortiums include ICA Fluor, a joint venture of Mexico's Empresas ICA (ICA) and Fluor Corp. (FLR). The Cicsa construction unit of Mexican conglomerate Grupo Carso SAB (GCARSO.MX) also teamed up with SNC-Lavian Inc. to place a bid.

Spanish construction company Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA (ACS.MC) also placed a bid through its Dragados Industrial subsidiary. Local firm Senermex Ingenieria joined this consortium.

OHL Industrial and Inelectra North America teamed up to place a bid. Tecnimont and its local unit, Tecnimont Mexico, also placed a bid.

-By Peter Millard; Dow Jones Newswires; 5255-5001-5724; peter.millard@dowjones.com