QAFCO 5


fertilizer plant

The Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO) has signed a letter of intent with GE’s Oil & Gas business to help make QAFCO 5 one of the world’s largest fertilizer plants. The expansion will increase QAFCO’s total production capacity from 2.8 to 4 MTPY of urea and from 2 to 3.1 MTPY of ammonia.

GE will supply four Frame 6B gas turbine-generators, five compressors, five steam turbines, heat recovery steam generators and related services. The equipment will be used to expand the site’s ammonia and urea plant and for a new 140 MW cogeneration plant producing up to 600 tons per hour of steam required by the ammonia and urea processes.

“GE has been in Qatar for 35 years and we have a long-term relationship with QAFCO. Their familiarity with our technology and service capabilities was a key factor in the decision,” said Mohammad Ayoub, GE’s Operations Leader and Region General Manager, Middle East. “With QAFCO 5 and the development of our new Regional Service Hub in Ras Laffan, it’s clear how committed GE is to providing the highest level of support in the country”.

Turbines and compressors are scheduled for delivery starting in early 2009. The gas turbines will be equipped with Dry Low NOx (DLN) technology limiting DLN emissions to 15 PPM, and will be customized to meet QAFCO’s specifications.

Teesside heavy oil upgrader

SONHOE recently named GE’s Oil & Gas business as a supplier of choice for a new heavy oil upgrader in Teesside, England. GE will provide reactors, centrifugal and reciprocating compressors, centrifugal pumps and air coolers – key equipment for the facility’s performance reliability and capital cost.

The new 200,000 bbl/day plant will come on stream in 2014, upgrading low-quality heavy oil into premium ultra low sulfur diesel, kerosene and petrochemical naphtha. The facility will include a 110,000 bbl/day hydro-cracking capability and a gasification complex to produce over 500 tons/day of hydrogen and 240,000 therms/day of synthetic gas.

“To say that SONHOE is delighted with this relationship with GE is very much an understatement,” said Mike True, Managing Director of SONHOE. “We value the technical capability, engineering quality and commercial integrity that GE brings. GE has a deep understanding of the fundamentals of the Upgrader project and we look forward to their continued support and contribution to its success.”

Claudi Santiago, President and CEO of GE’s Oil & Gas business, mirrored True’s enthusiasm. “We have a very strong relationship here, and an important infrastructure project for UK industry. 2014 will be a much anticipated year and we’re proud to be a part of it with SONHOE.”

“GE has worked on many great refineries around the world, so we are very excited to have these two new projects in our future,” concluded Santiago.