Foster Wheeler has won the contract to manage the front-end engineering design (feed) phase of the Tacaamol aromatics chemicals complex in Abu Dhabi, marking a sign of progress on the delayed megaproject.

The US-based firm will provide project management consultancy (PMC) for the project’s client Abu Dhabi National Chemicals Company (Chemaweyaat).

The Tacaamol complex will convert over 3 million tonnes a year (t/y) of naphtha supplied by a pipeline from Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) refinery in Ruwais, west of the project’s site in Al-Gharbia.

Chemaweyaat plans to convert the naphtha to produce paraxylene, mixed xylenes and benzene. The scope of the project also covers supporting infrastructure including an export tank farm, jetty and loading berths.

Foster Wheeler said that the PMC contract also includes an option for the company to provide the same services for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) stage of the contract.

The Tacaamol project, which was initially expected to be completed in 2014, has hit several hurdles since its conception over four years ago. The aromatics complex was planned as part of a larger $11bn complex including polyolefins, polystyrene, polycarbonate plants and several other plants.

US/Finnish group Neste Jacobs signed a long-term frame agreement to provide the feed work on the project in May 2009. However, the Chemaweyaat is yet to announce a final feed agreement for the aromatics plant.

Australian engineering group WorleyParsons, which was initially providing consultancy work on the project, is reportedly no longer involved.

Chemaweyaat is a joint venture between UAE-based International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic), Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Abu Dhabi Investment Council (Adic).