By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 4 -- Société Anonyme Marocaine de l'Industrie de Raffinage (SAMIR) has awarded a contract to Foster Wheeler Italiana SPA, Milan, for project management of its $650 million Mohammedia refinery upgrade and expansion project near Casablanca, Morocco.
The program, which includes a new hydrocracking unit and updated environmental facilities, will enhance conversion capacity at the 125,000 b/sd refinery. It will maximize distillate production and improve product quality specifications to meet the distillate requirements of the Moroccan market by 2010.
New facilities include a 54,300 b/sd vacuum distillation unit, a 36,000 b/sd fuel hydrocracking unit, a 55,000 b/sd gasoil hydrodesulphurizer, a hydrogen production unit, and auxiliary units.
Completion is expected by June 2008.
Snamprogetti SPA, Milan, and the Turkish company Tekfen Construction & Installation Inc. were selected in May to design, construct, and commission the facilities.
Foster Wheeler's UK-based Global Engineering & Construction Group carried out the feasibility study and the front-end design and prepared bid invitation packages for the engineering, procurement, and construction phase.
The African Development Bank in June approved a loan of $85 million for the project.