Dominion Virginia Power has awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract to Fluor to develop a 1,600MW combined-cycle, natural gas-fired power station in Greensville County, Virginia, US.

The plant is claimed to be largest and efficient natural gas-fuelled power station in the US state. It will involve an estimated investment of more than $1bn.

The combined-cycle facility will comprise of three gas-fired combustion turbines and a steam turbine, which will be designed to power nearly 400,000 US homes at peak demand.

Construction of the facility is expected to begin in mid- 2016, which is subject to approvals from Virginia State Corporation Commission and environmental approvals.

"The plant is claimed to be largest and efficient natural gas-fuelled power station in Virginia."

Texas-based Fluor will design the facility at its engineering office in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Fluor power business president Matthew McSorley said: "Fluor is proud to be selected by Dominion to build the largest and most efficient natural gas asset in Virginia.

"Fluor has a proven track record supporting Dominion in their goal to provide clean, reliable, and low-cost energy to their Virginia customers."

The power station will be built on a 1,143-acre site on the Greensville and Brunswick County line in the southern parts of the state.

Commissioning of the natural gas-fired facility is likely to happen in 2019.