Foster Wheeler to study Ugandan refinery

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Feb. 2 -- The Ugandan government has let contract to Foster Wheeler AG’s Global Engineering & Construction Group for a feasibility study of a 150,000-b/d refinery, which would be Uganda’s first.

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development last year disclosed plans to study a 50,000-b/d refinery, saying production from recent Ugandan discoveries might reach 100,000 b/d (OGJ, Aug. 10, 2009, Newsletter). The country produces no crude oil at present.

The Foster Wheeler study will cover location and configuration of a refinery and options for oil-field development, crude transportation, and evaluation of alternatives to refinery construction such as pipeline export. Completion is due in midyear.