Egypt bumps Bechtel from project to build up to 11 nuclear reactors
CAIRO — Egypt has dropped a leading U.S. company for the Arab
nation's nuclear energy project.
The Egyptian Electricity Ministry said it has ended a contract with the
U.S. firm Bechtel. Bechtel had been a primary consultant in Egypt's project
to build up to 11 nuclear energy reactors.
On May 3, the ministry said Bechtel would be replaced by Australia's
WorleyParsons, Middle East Newsline reported. The ministry said WorleyParsons would help develop Egypt's
nuclear project over the next decade.
Bechtel had been working with the Egyptian government to design and
build power facilities in a program titled PGESCO.
Bechtel, the Electricity
Ministry and the Commercial International Bank of Egypt incorporated PGESCO
in 1993 to develop, manage, engineer, build and operate power generation
plants in Egypt and the region.
Officials said the Egyptian nuclear project would cost up to $1.8
billion. The project was revived in 2008 amid soaring crude oil prices.
WorleyParsons has been a consultant for energy and petrochemical
projects in several countries, including Saudi Arabia. In 2006, the company
was awarded a $35 million contract for design engineering for a
petrochemicals complex located in the Saudi port of Jubail.
