The Italian subsidiary of Foster Wheeler has been awarded a contract by ERG Raffinerie Mediterranee (ERGMED) for engineering, procurement assistance and construction management services for the expansion of the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) complex at ERGMED's Priolo refinery in Sicily.
Foster Wheeler, in a joint venture, built the original 550 MW plant which transforms refinery residues into synthesis gas. Completed in 2000, this was the first IGCC plant in the world to use asphalt as a feedstock.
As part of the expansion project, a third gasifier will be added using technology licensed from GE. With the addition of the third train, the total gasification capacity will be 146.5 tonnes per hour. The project is expected to reach mechanical completion by the second quarter of 2009.
The terms of the contract were not disclosed.