Foster Wheeler AG announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a contract by JSC Novo-Ufimsky Refinery, a subsidiary of Russian oil company Bashneft, for the engineering and material supply of a new Terrace WallTM steam reformer heater and air preheating system for the Ufa refinery in the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia.

The value of Foster Wheeler's contract was not disclosed and was included in the company's fourth-quarter 2010 bookings.

The Terrace WallTM steam reformer will be part of the 420 tonnes per day hydrogen production unit being built by JSC Novo-Ufimsky Refinery and will be one of the largest steam Terrace WallTM reformers for hydrogen ever built by Foster Wheeler. The plant is based on Foster Wheeler's hydrogen technology and Foster Wheeler's process design package. Foster Wheeler's scope of work is scheduled to be completed in mid-2012. The balance of the hydrogen plant engineering and construction will be undertaken directly by the client.

Foster Wheeler's Terrace Wall(TM) reformer is characterized by a firing arrangement and sloped-wall radiant section design that, together, enable long catalyst tube life (often in excess of 100,000 hours) and deliver the flexibility to extend a reformer's operating envelope. This often allows production of hydrogen in excess of the design capacity of the hydrogen production unit, which may in turn deliver additional economic benefits. Foster Wheeler's reformers can operate with ultra-low-NOx burners to meet tightening environmental emission standards worldwide. Foster Wheeler has supplied over 200 Terrace Wall(TM) steam reformers to the refining and petrochemical industries in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Bashneft is one of the largest producers of oil products in Russia. The company operates 140 oil and natural gas fields in Russia and owns three oil refineries located in Ufa with a combined capacity of 820,000 barrels per day, and 100 petrol stations.