A contract for preliminary design of the planned methanol plant expansion at Tjeldbergodden in mid-Norway has been awarded by Statoil to Aker Kvaerner Netherlands.
Options have also been secured for detail engineering and site supervision support. If these are exercised, the total value of the contract will exceed NOK 100 million.
Statoil is planning a 35 per cent expansion in the methanol plant as well as the construction of a local gas-fired power station.
A final decision on the investment should be taken in early 2006, with the facilities due to be operational in the summer of 2008.
The pre-engineering phase will lay a basis for sanctioning the investment and for preparing the next stage, reports Karl Olav Jægtnes, project manager for the development.