Iraq’s Ministry of Oil has signed two contracts with US-based Shaw Group’s Energy and Chemicals Group to provide feasibility studies and front end engineering and design (FEED) for two grassroots refineries.

The two refineries with a capacity of 150,000 barrels per day will be situated near the cities of Maissan and Kirkuk in Iraq.

The FEED work includes all process units, offsite facilities and utilities for both refineries. The new refineries are part of Iraq’s development programme and will address the country’s demand for fuels, alleviate domestic shortages and reduce imports.

The value of Shaw’s contracts, which will be included in the company’s fourth quarter fiscal year 2009 backlog of unfilled orders, was not disclosed.

“This is the first significant project for Shaw’s Energy and Chemicals Group in Iraq and will further enforce Shaw’s commitment to the Middle East region,” said Lou Pucher, president of Shaw’s Energy and Chemicals Group.

In March 2009, Shaw, a Fortune 500 company and a global provider of technology services in the energy sector among others, a  opened a new office in Abu Dhabi, UAE to support its increasing activity throughout the Middle East. Shaw has operated an ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) certified pipe fabrication facility in Bahrain since 1994. – TradeArabia News Service