A W?rtsil?-led consortium has won a turnkey contract to build a 573MW tri-fuel power plant in Jordan
When completed, the facility will become the world's largest tri-fuel power plant with the capability to use natural gas, heavy fuel oil and light fuel oil as its main fuels.
W?rtsil? will be joined on the US$552mn contract by South Korean-based Lotte Engineering & Construction and Japanese manufacturing giant Mitsubishi.
Young Jin Bae, CEO of Amman Asia Electric Power Company ? the firm that placed the order for the plant ? said, "W?rtsil? suggested the multi-fuel combustion engine technology solution to meet the requirements of the proposal, which was the critical success factor in the bid.
"We trust W?rtsil? to professionally and competently lead the EPC consortium for the successful completion of this major and important project."
W?rtsil? Power Plants group vice-president Vesa Riihim?ki, who described the contract as a landmark order for the firm, said, "The tri-fuel capability provides unmatched flexibility, and ensures that Jordan will have a safe, affordable and reliable energy supply.
"When the gas infrastructure is in place, the plant will switch to natural gas and its environmental footprint will be minimised," he claimed.
The plant, which will be powered by a total of 38 W?rtsil? 50DF multi-fuel engines, will supply electricity to the National Electric Power Company of Jordan (NEPCO) under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
It will be located in Al Manakher, 30km outside of Jordan's capital Amman, and will be delivered in three phases, with commercial operation scheduled to come online by February 2014 and the entire plant being fully operation by September 2014.
