HOUSTON (Oct 28): Noble Group was awarded on Monday a tender to sell up to 2.88 million barrels of diesel to state-run company Petroecuador, traders told Reuters. 

Petroecuador has launched several tenders in October to buy and sell refined products on the open market while its 110,000-barrel per day Esmeraldas refinery undergoes a planned overhaul. 

Tenders included the purchase of 12 cargoes of diesel, 240,000 barrels each, with maximum 0.5% sulfur. 

First delivery must be made at Esmeraldas, La Libertad or Punta Arenas ports on November 10-12, according to the tender's terms.

Following shipments must arrive to the same ports at a rhythm of at least one per month. 

Noble Group won the tender with an offer of US$2.84 per barrel over the price of diesel number 2 at the US Gulf Coast, traders added. 

Trading and oil firms Delaney, Astra Oil, Arkham, Citizens Energy, Repsol and Lukoil also submitted bids.

Noble recently won a previous tender to supply Venezuela's PDVSA with two 300,000 barrel cargoes of reformate. 

Noble shares closed 1.6% lower at $1.245 yesterday.