Sicilian job for Foster Wheeler

has been awarded a contract by

(ERGMED) for engineering, procurement assistance and construction management services for the expansion of ERGMED's IGCC complex in

.

The integrated gasification combined cycle complex (IGCC) is based in ERGMED's Priolo refinery, Sicily.

The terms of the contract award, which were included in Foster Wheeler's fourth-quarter 2006 bookings, were not disclosed.

Foster Wheeler, in a joint venture, designed and built the original IGCC plant, which transforms refinery residues into synthesis gas, which is burned to produce more than 550 megawatts of electricity. Completed in 2000, this was the first IGCC plant in the world to use asphalt as a feedstock.

As part of the expansion of the IGCC complex, a third gasifier will be added. The new gasifier will use gasification technology licensed by General Electric.

Associated facilities will be added to the existing gasifiers and new pressure swing absorption and membrane packages will be installed in order to produce 20,000 nominal cubic metres per hour of hydrogen. 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.