Upstate company gets Iraq contract

The Department of Defense has awarded a Greenville company a contract for Iraqi reconstruction services that could be worth up to $500 million.

Fluor/AMEC, an engineering construction company, will build, operate and maintain power generation facilities in Iraq. The company formed in April 2003 to pursue work in Iraqi reconstruction as a joint venture of Fluor Corp., a California-based Fortune 500 engineering company, and AMEC, a British engineering company.

The contract was one of two announced Thursday under the Coalition Provisional Authority Program Management Office. Washington International/Black & Veatch Joint Venture of Boise, Idaho, was awarded a contract for water resource projects that could amount up to $600 million.

While the company might add a few administrative and management employees in Greenville, the economic impact will be felt in Iraq, where the company might employ several hundred Iraqis, Fluor spokesman Jerry Holloway said.

“There is a great need and incentive to use Iraqi firms and labor as much as possible,” Holloway said.

The contract further increases Fluor/AMEC’s involvement in government work in Iraq, which began in fall 2003.

“We’re obviously pleased we were selected to take on additional responsibilities,” Holloway said.