Three bidders vie for Shell's Australian petrol stations - paper

MELBOURNE, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Three consortia, including Middle Eastern funds, are bidding for Royal Dutch Shell's

RDSa.L Australian service stations in a A$3 billion ($2.67 billion) auction, the Australian Financial Review reported on Thursday.

Private equity firm TPG is bidding with Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and the Kuwait Investment Authority, the newspaper said.

Macquarie Group MQG.AX is bidding with Thailand's top energy firm, PTT PTT.BK , while oil trader Vitol VITOLV.UL is working with Abu Dhabi Investment Council.

Shell is looking to sell its refinery in Geelong, several import terminals and 900 branded service stations. A deal could be signed as early as next week, the newspaper said, citing sources close to Shell.

The oil giant is being advised by Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Wayne Cole)

((Sonali.Paul@thomsonreuters.com)(+61 3 9286 1419)(Reuters Messaging: sonali.paul.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: AUSTRALIA SHELL/BIDS