Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC)has signed an agreement with the developer, the local Al-Fada Trading & Contracting Company, to supply the plant with 380,000 t/y of calcined coke over 20 years, or 510,000 t/y of green petroleum coke if calcined coke is not available. Nearly all the plant's output will be in the form of short-term spot price contracts.

The planned plant, which will be built on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis, will cover 230,000 square metres near KPC's green coke storage facilities.

Incorporation is under way for the project company, called Gulf Carbon Industries Company (GCIC), Al-Fadawill take a 30 per cent stake in the new firm in partnership with the US' Aminco Resources. The remaining share will be held by a number of GCC investors. Incorporation is expected to be finalised by the start of December. The project promoter is looking to finance the scheme on a 50:50 debt/equity basis.

Canada's Alcan is the bake furnace technology provider. Technology for the paste plant will be provided by either France's Solios or Germany's KHD Humboldt Wedag. The plant's front-end engineering and design (FEED) has been carried out by the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor, the UK's K-Home Engineering.

The Public Authority for Industry awarded the 25-year concession to Al-Fada late last year. Construction is expected to start by the end of April once a contract has been signed with CCC. The plant is due to be commissioned in the second half of 2007 (MEED 17:10:04).