Saudi Aramco’s latest contract award for its planned Jazan integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant suggests a return to the original planned 2.4GW capacity (MEES, 23 November 2012). Aramco has awarded Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas (TR) a $1.7bn contract for utilities and off-site facilities for the giant plant to be built at Jazan Economic City in southwest Saudi Arabia, where Aramco is already building the 400,000 b/d Jazan refinery. The announcement, which refers to a 2.4GW plant – in line with original capacity – suggests Aramco has abandoned hugely ambitious plans to expand capacity to 4GW.
Even at the lower capacity, Jazan will still be the largest gasifier-based power plant in the world. It will supply electricity to the refinery and, via a grid connection, the economic city and surrounding area. The IGCC will convert vacuum residue from Jazan refinery into synthesis gas (syngas – a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). The plant will incorporate Shell’s gasification technology, delivering syngas to fuel three 800MW combined cycle gas turbines. (CONTINUED - 632 WORDS)
