MEED Middle East Economic Digest articles from January 2002

MEED Middle East Economic Digest archives from January 2002

The general people's congress has appointed Shukri Mohammed Ghanem as the new economy & trade minister. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The General People's Congress has appointed Shukri Mohammed Ghanem as the new economy & trade minister. Ghanem, who has previously worked as director of research for OPEC in Vienna, replaces Abdul Salam Ahmed Juweir. No details have given on...

Iranian Majlis (parliament) speaker Mehdi Karrubi's eight-day visit to Saudi Arabia has highlighted a growing warmth between the largest countries on the Gulf. (News in brief).
January 4, 2002... Iranian Majlis (parliament) speaker Mehdi Karrubi's eight-day visit to Saudi Arabia has highlighted a growing warmth between the largest countries on the Gulf. King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah led the talks with the Iranian delegation, which...

5 January 1962. (Time was).
January 4, 2002... The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development is formed to provide loans for projects in Arab countries

3 January 1987. (Time was).
January 4, 2002... An Italian consortium led by Impregilo submits a $182 million low bid for the Esna barrage project in Egypt

3 January 1997. (Time was).
January 4, 2002... Donor countries pledge more than $3,000 million in aid for the Beirut government at a Friends of Lebanon meeting in Washington

GCC brings forward customs unity schedule. (Seven Days).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... At its annual summit in Muscat, the supreme council of the GCC approved a new unified economic agreement which will accelerate the introduction of a regional customs union. "The council studied the steps taken for the establishment of the...

Khamenei stays aloof as MP is jailed. (Seven Days).
January 4, 2002... Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei is holding back from any direct involvement in the escalating conflict between the Majlis (parliament) and the judiciary. The crisis took a fresh turn on 25 December with the jailing of Hamedan member of...

Zinni heads back to revive US peace moves. (Seven Days).(Anthony Zinni headed back to the Israeli-Palestinian frontline)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... US envoy Anthony Zinni headed back to the Israeli-Palestinian frontline on 3 January in an attempt to revive his peace mission that was aborted in mid December after weeks of bloodshed. Zinnis arrival followed two weeks of relative quiet...

Winning back confidence. (Cover Story Regional Prospects).(impact of Sept. 11th on the Middle East)
January 4, 2002... The impact of the 11 September crisis on the Middle East has not been as severe as some had feared. Political stability has not been affected, and the economic fallout has, with some exceptions, been limited. David Butter looks at the region's...

Term sheet due for Omifco debt. (Banking & Finance).(Oman India Fertiliser Company)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Syndication of the $325 million commercial debt financing for the Oman India Fertiliser Company (Omifco) project is expected to start in the coming weeks. Bankers involved in the deal say the term sheet will be issued before the end of January....

Oman LNG deal takes shape. (Banking & Finance).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... The general syndication of a $1,300 million refinancing package for Oman LNG is due to be launched on 10 January, bankers involved say. "We are on schedule for drawdown on 7 January and a commemorative signing of the facility on 9 January...

Hidd financing race in final lap. (Banking & Finance).(Hidd power complex)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The award of the lead arranging mandate on the $300.4 million financing package for the Hidd power complex expansion is expected to be made within weeks, following clarification meetings scheduled to be held by the Finance Ministry with...

Union Fenosa signs EPC contract for Damietta LNG. (Oil & Gas).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The project to build Egypt's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal, in Damietta, took a decisive step forward on 19 December with the signing in Madrid of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract. The developer,...

Dolphin gathers pace. (Oil & Gas).(Agreements with Qatar Petroleum)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Qatar Petroleum and Jeresy-registered Dolphin Energy (DEL) signed in late December two agreements for the Dolphin gas project, covering the upstream development of gas resources in Qatar and the transportation of the gas to the UAE (MEED...

OPEC steadies market nerves. (Oil & Gas).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... OPEC's 28 December decision to accept an output cut of 462,500 barrels a day bid) by non-OPEC producers and cut production itself by 1.5 million b/d has somewhat strengthened the market. However, poor quota compliance has dulled the bullish...

Fresh start for Ahmadi expansion. (Oil & Gas).(oil field expansion planned by Kuwait Oil Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... International contractors have received a fresh invitation from Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to express interest in the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build new oil storage and export facilities at Ahmadi. The move...

Margham award imminent. (Oil & Gas).($40-50 million project in Dubai)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... An award is expected by the end of January for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract on the Margham field development project in the emirate of Dubai (MEED 26:10:01). The US' Solar Turbines International Company and a...

VECO to examine Marib upgrade. (Oil & Gas).(VECO Corp,; Yemen)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The US' VECO Corporation is to prepare a feasibility study for the upgrade of the Marib refinery, northeast of Sanaa. The study will be used as a document for financing the expansion, which is to double capacity at the plant. The project is one...

Jubail olefins moves ahead. (Petrochemicals).(Jubail United Petrochemical Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... Jubail United Petrochemical Company (JUPC), a subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), is moving forward with its plans to develop a $1,500 million olefins complex. The company has issued a mandate to the Arab Petroleum...

Aromatics project takes shape. (Petrochemicals).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The local Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) has invited four international companies to bid for the post of project management consultant on the proposed Shuaiba aromatics project (MEED 9:11:01). The companies are Fluor Daniel, Foster...

State energy company Sonatrach signed in late December an agreement with Italy's Enel and Germany's Wintershall for the European companies to carry out feasibility studies for a new gas export pipeline. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... State energy company Sonatrach signed in late December an agreement with Italy's Enel and Germany's Wintershall for the European companies to carry out feasibility studies for a new gas export pipeline. The estimated $2,000 million project will...

The local Middle East Tankage & Pipelines Company (Midtap). (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The local Middle East Tankage & Pipelines Company (Midtap) has agreed to form a venture with Emarat of the UAE to set up 69 petrol service stations in Egypt by 2007. Midtap is an affiliate of Midor (Egypt), whose refinery in Alexandria started...

The government has extended the bid deadline for the construction contract on the gas transmission pipeline project to 22 February, to accommodate growing international interest in the $300 million scheme. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The government has extended the bid deadline for the construction contract on the gas transmission pipeline project to 22 February, to accommodate growing international interest in the $300 million scheme. Some of the world's largest oil and...

South Korea's SK Engineering & Construction is the low bidder for a contract to install two desalter units at gathering centre 27 in Ahmadi. (News in brief).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... South Korea's SK Engineering & Construction is the low bidder for a contract to install two desalter units at gathering centre 27 in Ahmadi. SK's offer of KD 5.1 million ($16.4 million) is about 18 per cent lower than the next price of KD 6.2...

The government announced in late December that it would sign agreements in March with the international consortia developing the three core ventures of the gas initiative. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The government announced in late December that it would sign agreements in March with the international consortia developing the three core ventures of the gas initiative. "The two sides affirmed their commitment to continue negotiations to...

Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (Gasco). (News in brief).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... Evaluation of bids is under way at Ahu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (Gasco) for a contract to supply and install a new gas pipeline between Ruwais and Shuweihat, the site of the Abu Dhabi's third independent water and power project (IWPP)....

Dubai's Department of Civil Aviation has invited contractors to prequalify by 16 January for four packages on the $2,500 million Dubai International Airport expansion project (MEED 9:11:01). (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Dubai's Department of Civil Aviation has invited contractors to prequalify by 16 January for four packages on the $2,500 million Dubai International Airport expansion project (MEED 9:11:01). The biggest contract out for prequalification covers...

Bids in for third crossing. (Construction).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Evaluation of bids is under way at AbuDhabi's Works Department for the largest package on the third crossing project (MEED 17:8:01). Four groups of international companies submitted bids by the end-December deadline. Geneva-registered...

Al-Habtoor wins resort contracts. (Construction).(Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises )(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The local Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises has been selected for two contracts, worth a total of about AED 165 million ($45 million), covering the third and fourth packages on the Al-Raha beach development project in the emirate of Abu Dhabi...

Kampsax International. (News in brief).(construction contract data)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Some 25 international and local companies applied for prequalification by the end-December deadline for the first package on a project to develop new harbour stations and related facilities for the coastguard. The client, the Ministry of Public...

The Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development (AFESD) has extended a KD 16 million ($51.7 million) loan to finance a major new road project in Mauritania. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development (AFESD) has extended a KD 16 million ($51.7 million) loan to finance a major new road project in Mauritania. The project aims to improve land communications between Nouakchott and the port of...

The local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing has confirmed the award of an estimated AED 120 million ($32.7 million) contract to build two hotels as part of the Dubai convention centre development. (News in brief).(construction contract information)(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing has confirmed the award of an estimated AED 120 million ($32.7 million) contract to build two hotels as part of the Dubai convention centre development. The contact calls for the construction of a 440-room,...

Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (Gamco) has issued a letter of intent to the local Al-Hamed Development & Construction for a contract to build a hangar. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (Gamco) has issued a letter of intent to the local Al-Hamed Development & Construction for a contract to build a hangar. Al-Hamed was the low bidder, at AED 36 million ($9.8 million), when...

Evaluation of bids is under way at UAE University for a contract to build an IT college in Al-Ain. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Evaluation of bids is under way at UAE University for a contract to build an IT college in Al-Ain. The local Al-Homed Development & Construction is the low bidder at AED 129 million ($35.1 million). Its offer is about 5.4 per cent lower than...

Developers sign up for Ajman wastewater concession. (Power & Water).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The Middle East's first wastewater concession for an urban area was signed on 19 December by the Ajman government and an international group made up of the US' Black & Veatch International and the UK's Thames Water. Under the 27.5-year...

Umm al-Nar IWPP moves ahead. (Power & Water).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA) issued at the end of December the request for qualification to developers for the Umm al-Nar independent water and power project (IWPP - MEED 30:11:01). Companies have been given until 18...

Bids in for water projects. (Power & Water).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The Ministry of Public Works is evaluating bids for two contracts covering the construction of water distribution complexes and related facilities at Abdali and Mushrif (MEED 9:11:01; 2:11:01). The local Mushrif Trading & Contracting is the...

Electricite de France wins Shuweihat consultancy work. (Power & Water).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Electricite de France (EdF) has been selected as consultant for the dispatch and settlement special facilities associated with the Shuweihat independent water and power project (IWPP). Awarded by project company Shuweihat CMS International...

State-owned Sonelgaz has awarded Italy's Enelpower a Eur 75 million ($66 million) contract to erect 410 kilometres of high-tension electricity transmission lines. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... State-owned Sonelgaz has awarded Italy's Enelpower a Eur 75 million ($66 million) contract to erect 410 kilometres of high-tension electricity transmission lines. The project is broken down into two sections, the first between Touggourt and...

Sonatrach and Sonelgaz. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Parliament has passed new legislation that will allow private investment into the domestic power generation sector. The law, passed in late December, will end the monopoly of state-owned institutions Sonatrach and Sonelgaz over the local power...

A close contest is in store for a contract involving the renovation of about 150 kilometres of wastewater network in Rumathia and Salmiya. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... A close contest is in store for a contract involving the renovation of about 150 kilometres of wastewater network in Rumathia and Salmiya. The local Mohamed Abdulmobsin Kharafi & Sons is the low bidder for the three-year contract at KD 29.9...

The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company has invited bids by 26 January for a contract to supply 32 220/66-kV transformers (see Tenders).

The local Arabian Construction Company (ACC) has been awarded a subcontract for the civil works package for the power unit at the proposed Shuweihat independent water and power project (IWPP). (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The local Arabian Construction Company (ACC) has been awarded a subcontract for the civil works package for the power unit at the proposed Shuweihat independent water and power project (IWPP). Estimated to be worth $51.7 million. the contract...

The World Bank has approved a $250 million loan to finance structural reform of the local private sector. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... The World Bank has approved a $250 million loan to finance structural reform of the local private sector. The economic competitiveness adjustment loan will also support the liberalisation of the telecommunications and financial sectors, which...

Unified exchange rate used in new budget. (Economy).(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... President Khatami on 23 December presented to the Majlis (parliament) the budget for the financial year starting 21 March, which, for the first time, will incorporate a single exchange rate for the rial. The rate applied in the budget is $1=IR...

Muscat forecasts budget deficit. (Economy).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... The budget is expected to show a deficit of RO 380 million ($987 million) in 2002, according to figures announced by Economy Minister Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki on 1 January. This shortfall is 20 per cent higher than that budgeted for in 2001....

Qatar wins top stock spot. (Companies & Markets).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... Brokers on the DOHA SECURITIES MARKET (DSM) will be banking their bonuses following a bumper year of trading. The DSM index closed at 169.22 on 31 December, 37 per cent up on last year's close. Qatar was the top regional performer in 2001,...

Fighting the Russian bear: OPEC has its back to the wall. Prices are low and there is a lack of consensus among producers over the best course of action. Angus McDowall asks how the organisation is likely to respond. (Special Report Oil & Gas).(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... Across the icy wastes of northern Siberia and on the shores of the Caspian Sea, oil executives are getting excited. Their counterparts by the warmer waters of the Gulf, however, are growing nervous. With production now edging dose to that of...

Databank: Economic forecasts, 2001-2002.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... Databank: Economic forecasts, 2001-2002 Real GDP growth Current account (%) ($ million) 2001 2002 2001 2002 Algeria 3.5...

Currency exchange rates. (Databank).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 4, 2002... Currency exchange rates $ [pounds sterling] 1 0.69 Algeria (AD) 76.86 111.87 Bahrain (BD) ...

Databank: Economic indicators, 2000.(Brief Article)
January 4, 2002... Databank: Economic indicators, 2000 ($ million) GDP Population GDP per GDP Imports Exports 2000 capita growth (million) ($) (%) Algeria...

Sport.(Cricket matches between Pakistan and the West Indies)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... * UAE After holding 180 one-day international cricket matches, Sharjah will be getting a taste of test cricket for the first time when it hosts February's series between Pakistan and the West Indies. This will be the first test series held at a...

Arafat in the dock over arms shipment.(Yasser Arafat)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has been severely embarrassed by the interception by Israeli forces of a ship laden with weapons in the Red Sea. Israel has claimed that the ship, seized on 3 January, was carrying 50 tonnes of Iranian-supplied...

The recently improved relations between ran and the UK have come under strain amid reports of a row over the appointment of a new British ambassador. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... The recently improved relations between ran and the UK have come under strain amid reports of a row over the appointment of a new British ambassador. Two local newspapers associated with the conservative camp opposed to President Khatamil's...

Emir Shaitly Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah is due to return to Kuwait City on 15 January after three months of medical treatment in London. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Emir Shaitly Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah is due to return to Kuwait City on 15 January after three months of medical treatment in London, according to the official Kuwait News Agency (Kuna). "The emir has made a full recovery." Kuna said in early...

Lebanese police raided the Virgin Megastore in downtown Beirut on 5 January, seizing some 650 videos and DVDs. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Lebanese police raided the Virgin Megastore in downtown Beirut on 5 January, seizing some 650 videos and DVDs. The Surete Generale. which is in charge of censorship, said the films were smuggled goods containing material which "slandered...

The Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (Lafico) has expanded its diverse investment portfolio. (News in brief).(acquires Juventus football club)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... The Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (Lafico) has expanded its diverse investment portfolio with the acquisition of a 5.3 per cent stake in Turin-based Juventus football club. Juventus, one of the biggest clubs in Italy. Is controlled by...

The Middle East's love affair with the coffee bean has found a new go-between. (News in brief).(Madison Coffee and Costa open Middle East coffeehouses)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... The Middle East's love affair with the coffee bean has found a new go-between. UK chains Madison Coffee and Costa have unveiled plans to open coffee bars in the region, following the lead of Seattle-based Starbucks, which already has outlets in...

Baghdad seeks Arab support as US debates next move.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... The Iraqi regime has launched a diplomatic offensive aimed at garnering support from a wide range of Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as the US weighs up the merits of extending its military campaign against terrorism to Iraq....

Push and Pull. (Cover Story Middle East wealth).(Cover Story)
January 11, 2002... They can only be viewed as high-quality problems. But those holding the fabled offshore private wealth of Arabia are confronted by a growing number of difficult issues. Some are practical. In a low interest rate environment, their...

NBK revives Eurobond: Kuwait issue to be the first of its kind out of the Gulf. (Banking & Finance).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has resurrected plans for what will almost certainly be the first corporate Eurobond to be issued from the GCC. "The events of 11 September forced us to put our previous plans on hold as global spreads...

More time on Ras Laffan. (Banking & Finance).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... The date set for completion of syndication of the $570 million debt package for the Ras Laffan independent water and power project (IWPP) has been extended beyond the original deadline of 4 January. "The syndication has been kept open in...

Fair results from Investcorp in tough market. (Banking & Finance).(financial results for 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... Bahrain-based Investcorp has posted a full-year net profit for 2001 of $50.1 million, a 28 per cent contraction on the previous year, but a comparatively strong performance in the context of difficult global financial conditions. "During...

Oman LNG deal gets on the road. (Banking & Finance).(impending syndication)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Details of the revised schedule for the impending syndication of the $1,300 million refinancing package for Oman LNG have been worked out and the launch date has been moved to 21 January, bankers close to the deal say. Roadshows are to be...

Cross-shareholdings between Bahrain-based Ahli United Bank (AUB) and Bank of Kuwait & the Middle East (BKME). (News in brief).
January 11, 2002... Cross-shareholdings between Bahrain-based Ahli United Bank (AUB) and Bank of Kuwait & the Middle East (BKME) were strengthened on 8 January by the Kuwaiti bank adding another $6.8 million-worth of AUB shares to the $25.8 million, or 4.6 per...

CSFB appointed Dolphin adviser: Next step to be selection of a midstream FEED contractor. (Oil & Gas).(Credit Suisse First Boston hired by Dolphin Energy Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Jersey-registered Dolphin Energy (DEL) formally appointed on 7 January Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) as the financial adviser on the estimated $3,500 million Dolphin gas project. The appointment came six months after 11 banks submitted...

Bu Hasa project moves ahead. (Oil & Gas).(Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations seeking bids)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (Adco) has invited four groups of companies to submit technical and commercial bids by 25 February for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to upgrade surface production...

Sofregaz closes in on storage deal. (Oil & Gas).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... France's Sofregaz is poised to sign the estimated $50 million contract to set up a gas storage facility near the city of Qom. It is understood that company officials are preparing to travel to Iran to sign the agreement by mid February....

New award on IGAT scheme. (Oil & Gas).(Oil Industries Engineering & Construction awarded contract)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... The local Oil Industries Engineering & Construction (OIEC) has beaten off international competition to win an estimated $106 million contract to supply six compressor stations to be installed on the third Iranian gas trunkline (IGAT 3). The...

Bids due for Umm al-Qaiwain gas scheme. (Oil & Gas).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Three international companies have been prequalified to submit bids by 24 February for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build natural gas-processing facilities at Umm al-Qaiwam. The prospective bidders are the UK's...

Gasco selects FEED contractor. (Oil & Gas).(Tebodin Middle East awarded contract)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... Tebodin Middle East, part of Tebodin of the Netherlands, has been selected for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract on the project to increase gas supplies through the Abu Dhabi-Jebel Ali pipeline. Two international companies...

Bids in for Qatif pipelines. (Oil & Gas).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Bids have been submitted for the estimated $55 million pipeline package on Saudi Aramco's Qatif incremental oil and associated gas project. The Netherlands' Suedrohrbau and Turkey's Tekfen are understood to be frontrunners for the contract...

Poor demand dents OPEC price. (Oil & Gas).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... The price of the OPEC basket of crudes in early January was recovering from its 11 December low of $16.62 a barrel, reaching $19.59 on 7 January., The late-December deal agreed between OPEC and non-OPEC producers for a total output cut of...

Riyadh refinery attracts contractor interest. (Oil & Gas).(Al-Suwaidi Industrial Services Company awarded contract)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Saudi Aramco is moving forward with the upgrade of the Riyadh refinery with one contract let and two more about to go to bid, industry sources say (MEED 26:10:01). The local Al-Suwaidi Industrial Services Company in early November was...

KNPC to expand storage capacity. (Oil & Gas).(Kuwait National Petroleum Company)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has invited international firms to submit bids by 20 March for the consultancy contract on a scheme to increase the storage capacity and related facilities of its three oil refineries at Mina al-Ahmadi,...

Sohar refinery to include topping unit. (Oil & Gas).(Japan's JGC Corporation awarded contract)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Japan's JGC Corporation has been commissioned to draw up the front-end engineering and design (FEED) for a topping unit to be built as part of the Sohar refinery project. The decision by the client to include a topping unit will mean that...

Iran Marine Industrial Company (IMICO) has the contract to build a gas platform for phases 4 and 5 of the South Pars offshore gas field development project. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Iran Marine Industrial Company (IMICO) has the contract to build a gas platform for phases 4 and 5 of the South Pars offshore gas field development project. The client on the scheme is a partnership of Italy's Eni and Virgin Islands-registered...

Apache Corporation. (News in brief).(discovery in Western Desert)(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Apache Corporation of the US has made two fresh oil and gas discoveries in the Western Desert. The Ozoris-1X well in the Khalda block flowed at 2,504 barrels a day of 38.5" API oil and 750,000 cubic feet a day (cf/d) of gas. Apache has also...

Oman Refinery Company. (News in brief).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... Oman Refinery Company (ORC) expects to complete its evaluation of bids in March for the contract to build a diesel hydro-desulphurisation (DHDS) unit at the Mina al-Fahal refinery. Six international companies are competing for the engineering,...

Saudi Aramco is letting a contract for infrastructure work on the Khuff fractionation plant now under construction by Italy's Snamprogetti. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Saudi Aramco is letting a contract for infrastructure work on the Khuff fractionation plant now under construction by Italy's Snamprogetti. Seven local and international contractors were expected to bid for the estimated SR 150 million ($40...

Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) has extended the deadline for commercial offers on its proposed unleaded gasoline (ULG) project to 9 February. (News in brief).(Brief Article)
January 11, 2002... Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) has extended the deadline for commercial offers on its proposed unleaded gasoline (ULG) project to 9 February. Technical bids were submitted by four contractors in late November for the engineering,...

Qatar and Bahrain signed on 8 January a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the delivery of North field gas to Manama. (News in brief).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... Qatar and Bahrain signed on 8 January a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the delivery of North field gas to Manama. The MoU provides for the two parties to carry out a joint gas utilisation study and conclude a heads of agreement. The gas...

Israel gears up for gas. (Oil & Gas).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... Israel has made a major commitment to gas for its future energy needs, unveiling plans for an extensive supply network linking offshore natural gas reserves to combined-cycle power stations on the Mediterranean coast. Gas supplies will...

Bids in for Sohar fertiliser project: Ammonia, urea plant to begin production in 2005. (Petrochemicals).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 11, 2002... The local Bahwan Trading Company received in late December three bids for the contract to build a fertiliser plant in Sohar. The bidders for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract are Japan's Toyo Engineering Corporation,...