Mexican state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, said Monday it awarded a $345 million contract for two gasoline-desulfurizing plants to Italian firm Saipem.

In a press release, Pemex said the offer from Saipem to build the plants for its refineries at Tula and Salamanca in central Mexico, was chosen over offers from Samsung and ICA-Fluor, a joint venture between Mexican construction firm Empresas ICA (ICA) and U.S. Fluor Corp. (FLR).

Samsung submitted a bid of $357 million, and ICA-Fluor put in a bid $369 million, Pemex said.

The three companies were invited to submit bids after a tender process for the contract was declared void in May of last year on technical grounds. All three subsequent offers met the technical requirements, Pemex said.

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