Contract Awarded for Coleson Cove

Babcock & Wilcox Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Babcock & Wilcox Company ("B&W"), has been awarded a contract valued in excess of $280 million (CDN) as part of the refurbishment of Coleson Cove Generating Station in New Brunswick, a part of NB Power.

The upgrades are required to meet new environmental standards ensuring the operation of Coleson Cove beyond 2005. Coleson Cove will become the second power plant in North America to use Orimulsion, a liquid fossil fuel consisting of 70 per cent bitumen and 30 per cent water. The conversion to the more economical Orimulsion will fund the environmental upgrades at the plant. The New Brunswick government granted environmental approval for the refurbishment in October.

The B&W Canada contract involves engineering, modifications and additions to existing boilers and components, as well as the design, supply, erection, and commissioning of flue gas desulphurization equipment and a wet electrostatic precipitator. The modifications and the new equipment will significantly reduce emissions from the plant.

"We are very excited about the Coleson Cove project," says Rich Reimels, president of B&W Canada. "This partnership with NB Power is the result of our experience and leadership in this field. When the refurbishment is complete, our customer will own the largest wet electrostatic precipitator in a utility service application in North America, and a state-of-the-art combustion system, utilizing B&W technology, to minimize NOx emissions."

B&W Canada's regional office in Saint John, NB, will coordinate all of the construction and field engineering. Manufacturing of the additions and modifications to the boilers and components will be completed at B&W Canada's Cambridge, Ontario and Melville, Saskatchewan facilities. Design and supply of the flue gas desulphurization equipment will be handled from B&W's Barberton, Ohio headquarters. The project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2004.