Evergreen Energy Inc EEE

Carbon Capture

[no1coalking]

Four groups vie for Norway CO2 plant contract Wed Mar 5, 2008 10:03am EST OSLO, March 5 (Reuters) - Four groups from North America, Japan and Norway will compete for a contract to build a pioneering carbon capture system for a gas-fired power plant in Norway, state-owned Gassnova said. The four are a partnership of Canadian HTC Purenergy Inc (HTC.V: Quote, Profile, Research) and U.S. engineering group Bechtel, Norwegian Aker ASA's (AKER.OL: Quote, Profile, Research) and Aker Kvaerner's (AKVER.OL: Quote, Profile, Research) Aker Clean Carbon, U.S. group Fluor's (FLR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Fluor Daniel Construction Co and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Gassnova said. The four have been invited to provide front-end engineering and design plans for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) unit for a gas-fired power plant at the Kaarstoe gas-processing complex, Gassnova said, adding that the groups agreed to take part. CCS is a pioneering technology, and industry has big hopes that it can be commercialised to help tackle problems related to emissions of greenhouse gases blamed by scientists for global warming. "The suppliers who in the next phase are found to be most capable after an evaluation of the front-end studies will be competing for the contract to build the capture plant for the gas plant at Kaarstoe," Gassnova said in a statement. The government has decided that a full-scale CCS unit should be built at Kaarstoe and the oil and energy ministry assigned the project management in Gassnova at the beginning of 2008. Norwegian energy officials estimated in 2006 that the CCS unit could be in place by 2011-2012 and that it would cost roughly 3.5 billion Norwegian crowns ($676.3 million). Gassnova will provide further documentation to the government, including updated financial estimates, by autumn 2009 as a basis for a final investment decision, the company said. (Reporting by John Acher; editing by Rory Channing)