MEED Middle East Economic Digest articles from June 2006

MEED Middle East Economic Digest archives from June 2006

Growing the gateway.(Jeddah, in its beauty)
June 2, 2006... In his wry account of life as a junior British diplomat in Jeddah in the 1920s, Laurence Grafftey-Smith's abiding memory is of the suffocating heat and humidity of life on the Red Sea before the advent of air-conditioning. Every waking moment...

Al-Maliki talks tough as killings continue: new prime minister seeks to quell growing unrest in Basra.(Nouri al-Maliki, talks to control violence in Basra)
June 2, 2006... Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pledged on 31 May to wield an "iron fist" in a crackdown on violence and crime during a visit to the southern city of Basra. Al-Maliki's comments came amid continuing violence in late May. Al-Maliki travelled...

Looking back ...(calendar)(Calendar)
June 2, 2006... 3 June 1966 Prime Minister Shaikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber is named crown prince when the National Assembly unanimously endorses his nomination by Amir Shaikh Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah 31 May 1991 The deposits of eight Middle East...

On the record.(investigations)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... "There is a limit to the acceptable excuses. Yes a mistake may happen but there is an acceptable limit to mistake. We are worried about this increase in mistakes" Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after the US pledges to investigate and...

Haniya forced into salary pledge.(opinion of Ismail Haniya)
June 2, 2006... Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said on 30 May that 40,000 public employees will receive one month's salary. The pledge came in the face of the PA's financial meltdown as a result of a freeze on its binding from...

Truce is in force, says UN.(United Nations)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... UN officials say that a truce has been agreed between Tel Aviv and Beirut after skirmishes on the border in late May. Katyusha rockets were fired at an Israeli base on Mount Miron, 20 kilometres inside Israeli territory. Israeli jets...

Moscow confirms Tehran arms deal: 26 May.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Russia confirms that it will honour an agreement to supply up to 30 surface-to-air missiles to Iran. The $700 million deal, signed in 2005, has been condemned by Washington, which has lobbied for the cessation of all arms sales to the Islamic...

Jihad leader killed in bomb attack: 26 May.(death of Mahmoud Madjoub)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... A Palestinian militant leader is killed in a bomb attack in the southern Lebanese town of Sidon. The bomb, planted in a car, kills Mahmoud Madjoub, the leader of the Islamic Jihad group, and his brother as they walk through the town. Jihad...

Beirut urges Hezbollah to disarm: 29 May.(surrender arms)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Lebanese Telecoms Minister Marwan Hamadeh calls on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to surrender its arms to the government. He says that he does not support the dismantling of the group, but that the government should hold the monopoly on...

Sudan parties disagree over Darfur force: 30 May.(deploy a peacekeeping force)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The two ruling parties in Sudan are in disagreement over plans by the UN to deploy a peacekeeping force in Darfur. After three days of talks, the northern-dominated Khartoum government remains opposed to a proposal for the UN to take over the...

Iran in new talks offer: 30 May.(uranium enrichment)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Tehran is prepared to begin new talks with the EU over its atomic programme, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says. Mottaki says that Tehran is prepared to negotiate with the UK, France and Germany "without preconditions"....

Bahrain women line up for vote: 30 May.(elections of women )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Bahrain's Supreme Council for Women says that 21 women will run for office in parliamentary and municipal elections later in 2006. The candidates will also have 62 female assistants, all of whom took part in a government political empowerment...

US allies push for peace negotiations: 31 May.(United Sates)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Pro-US Arab leaders launch a diplomatic effort to avoid a unilateral settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian borders. "I do not think that any meaningful development can be expected, especially as far as negotiations are concerned," a senior...

US considers Iran talks: 31 May.(United States)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that Washington would be willing to join negotiations over Iran's atomic programme if Tehran halts uranium enrichment. Rice says the move shows the US' commitment to a diplomatic solution.

Blazing a trail: the rapid expansion of Jeddah has created huge challenges for Saudi Arabia's traditional commercial centre. Now, as the city seeks to address the problem of inadequate infrastructure, it is turning to the private sector for help.(management of terminals to build infrastructure)
June 2, 2006... When it was designed and built in the late 1970s, King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah was a state-of-the-art facility. Today, in the era of high-tech, mall-style terminals, arriving at KAIA feels more akin to landing at an...

A reformist tradition: Jeddah is proud of its reputation for pioneering change.(description of Jeddah)
June 2, 2006... For many first-time visitors to Jeddah, the sight of hundreds of families, including women in abayas, enjoying the public beaches and amusement parks of the city's corniche is at odds with the common perception of a restrictive country where...

Taking the media lead: Dubai was one of the first Gulf states to open its doors to the international media, and others are watching developments in the emirate with interest.(Dubai Media City)
June 2, 2006... In just four years, Dubai Media City (DMC) has established itself as the location of choice for regional and international media companies seeking a base to serve the booming Gulf market. There is a queue for office space and plans for major...

From ships to shoes: Dubai-based Istithmar is becoming increasingly ambitious and diverse in its investments, as CEO Muneef Tarmoom tells Clare Dunkley.(chief executive officers)(Istithmar)
June 2, 2006... On 20 May, Dubai-based investment house Istithmar announced the acquisition of US clothes retailer Loehmann's Holdings from fellow regional private equity investor Arcapita. The $300 million purchase adds cut-price American designer wear to an...

Aramco presses ahead with Manifa causeway: PQs invited for first main construction contract.(pre-qualifications)
June 2, 2006... Saudi Aramco has invited international companies, along with local partners, to submit pre-qualifications by 18 June for the first major construction contract on its Manifa oil field redevelopment project in the Eastern Province. Manifa, the...

First contract let on Al-Shaheen.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Abu Dhabi-based National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) signed in late May the first major construction contract on the $5,000 million Al-Shaheen oil field development project. The estimated $150 million engineering, procurement,...

Umm al-Lulu field study moves ahead.(contracts of Umm al-Lulu oil field development project )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... At least four companies submitted technical and commercial bids on 27 May to Zakum Development Company (Zadco) for a conceptual study contract on the Umm al-Lulu oil field development project in offshore Abu Dhabi. The bidders include the US/...

Technical bids in for Tiaret refinery.(petroleum contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Technical bids are under evaluation at state-owned energy company Sonatrach for a concession to take a 35 Der cent equity stake in a new project company to build a 300,000-barrel-a-day grassroots refinery at Tiaret. Sonatrach will take the...

NIOC LNG tank award up in the air.(Liquefied natural gas)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Uncertainty looms over the award of the tank package on the NIOC LNG project, following the expiry of the bid validity bond in early April. Three companies priced the estimated $200 million engineering, procurement and construction (EPC)...

Atsco bids lowest for Al-Ahmadi contract.(contracts of Atsco and al-Ahmadi)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The local Almeer Technical Services Company (Atsco) is the lowest bidder at KD 12.9 million ($44.5 million) for the phase 2 contract to upgrade control systems at the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery, following the opening of bids in late May. Atsco's...

Sohar refinery expansion gets going.(crude distillation unit at Sohar Refinery Co.)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Sohar Refinery Company (SRC) is evaluating bids for a feasibility study for an additional crude distillation unit (CDU) at its 116,600-barrel a day, grassroots refinery at Sohar industrial port. The front-end engineering and design (FEED) plus...

Japanese buy into Qalhat.(acquisitions)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Itochu Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and Osaka Gas, all of Japan, have each taken a 3 per cent stake in the Qalhat LNG protect company, which is undertaking the construction of a third liquefied natural gas (LNG) train at Sur. All three...

PTTEP delivers regional first.(PTT Exploration & Production)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Thailand's PTT Exploration & Production (PTTEP) expects to start delivering its first natural gas and condensates in July. It plans to deliver 50 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of natural gas and 4,000 barrels a day (b/d) of condensate from...

Bids in for new Pearl GTL packages.(gas-to-liquids)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Bids were submitted on 28 May for six subcontracts, worth a total of $750 million, covering the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation (MEI) and civils works on the core element of the Pearl gas-to-liquids (GTL) project in Ras Laffan. The...

Nakilat places mega tanker order.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Qatar Gas Transportation Company (Nakilat) has been awarded a 25-year time charter by Qatarsas 3 for seven Q-Flex and three Q-Max liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers. The Q-Max ships will each have capacity of about 265,000 cubic metres and...

DURP bids invited.(Doha urban pipeline relocation project)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Qatar Petroleum (QP) has invited contractors to submit bids by 6 July for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract on the Doha urban pipeline relocation project (DURP). Estimated to be worth $100 million, it involves the...

SPC signs equipment agreement with Chinese.(Syrian Petroleum Co.)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) has signed an agreement with China Petroleum Technology & Development Corporation (CPTDC) for the supply of oil field services equipment. Under the terms of the agreement, Beijing will extend an estimated $67...

KNPC outlines refinery plan.(Kuwait National Petroleum Co.)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... At least 14 engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors attended on 29 May a meeting with Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) where it outlined the contracting strategy and tender schedule for its planned fourth gas and...

Russians set for gas plant.(Petroleum & Mineral Resources Ministry contracts )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The Petroleum & Mineral Resources Ministry is in negotiations with Russia's Stroytransgas for the contract to build a gas treatment plant with capacity of 105 million-140 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) as part of the North Middle Area Gas...

BG still on track for third train.(BG Group )
June 2, 2006... The UK's BG Group is moving ahead with plans to use natural gas from its offshore Gaza marine field as feedstock for a third liquefied natural gas (LNG) train at the Idku site of the Egyptian LNG (ELNG) project, in which it is a shareholder....

Price falls ahead of OPEC meet.(Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Oil prices fell slightly in the last week of May, as the market awaited OPEC's 1 June meeting in Caracas and the late release of US stock data. Spot Brent was trading at $66.60 a barrel on 31 May, compared with $67.54 a barrel a week earlier....

Madalena signs up for Peleagian block.(contracts of Madalena Ventures and Storm Ventures International)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Canada's Madalena Ventures announced n late May the signing of a seismic option agreement with Aberdeen-based Storm Ventures International for the Hammamet exploration block in the offshore Pelagian basin. Under the agreement, Madalena will...

Mitsubishi farms in Chaal.(acquisitions)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation has announced that its 100 per cent-owned subsidiary MCX North Africa Company has signed a farm-in agreement with Toronto-based Candex Energy to acquire a 20 per cent interest in the Chaal block. The onshore...

Drilling completed at Mubarak H2.(contracts of Sky Petroleum )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The US' Sky Petroleum announced in late May the drilling of its first exploratory well at the Mubarak H2 concession in offshore Sharjah. The well was drilled to a depth of 15,020 feet at the Ilam/Mishrif reservoir with reserves of 275 million...

Pets bidders named: June awards for Skikda ethane cracker and Arzew methanol plant.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Further details have emerged of the companies and groups which submitted in mid-April technical bids to take an equity stake in the planned Skikda ethane cracker and Arzew methanol plant. The client, Sonatrach, says it plans to open commercial...

Technology bids in for Qapco LDPE.(low density polyethylene)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The local/French Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco) is planning to make a technology selection in the third quarter for its planned high-pressure polyethylene project, which will involve the construction of a 250,000 tonnes-a-year (t/y) low...

Dywidag, Mushrif take cooling tower work.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... A German/local team of Dywidag International and Mushrif Trading & Contracting has been awarded the seawater cooling tower package on the Olefins II petrochemical complex in the Shuaiba industrial area. Worth $53.6 million, the 24-month...

Vos signs up for Qatofin.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Vos Logistics of the Netherlands has been awarded the final major package, covering product handling, on the estimated $450 million polyethylene project, under way by the local/French Qatofin at Mesaieed. The build-operate-transfer (BOT) type...

PQs in for Borouge O&U.(prequalifications)(offsites and utilities)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Companies submitted prequalifications to Abu Dhabi Polymers Company (Borouge) on 30 May for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract covering the offsites and utilities (O&U) package on the $3,500 million expansion of its...

Awards near on melamine.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) is expected to award by the end of June two engineering and procurement (EP) contracts on its long-planned melamine project at Mesaieed. The company is also pushing ahead with its Qafco 5 project, which will...

Petrokemya contract let.(SAUDI ARABIA)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Stone & Webster, part of the US' Shaw Group, has been awarded a contract by Arabian Petrochemical Company (Petrokemya) to conduct a feasibility study on the debottle-necking and expansion of cracker units 1 and 3 at its Jubail petrochemicals...

Temporary bridge to reduce Maktoum jams: lanes crossing creek to reach 45 by 2008.(construction of Maktoum bridge)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority plans to build a temporary floating bridge across the creek to reduce congestion on Maktoum bridge. The project is part of a broader scheme to increase the number of lanes crossing the creek from 19 to 38 by...

Turks awarded Mirdif Villas contracts.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Local developer Dubai Properties, part of Dubai Holding, has awarded TAV Gulf, part of Turkey's TAV, an estimated AED 580 million ($158 million) contract on a major residential project in Mirdif, known as Mirdif Villas (MEED 24:2:06). The...

Nurol wins Jumeirah deal.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Turkey's Nurol Group has been awarded the first construction package at Jumeirah Village 1 (JV1). The estimated AED 305 million ($83 million) contract covers the development's infrastructure, and includes the installation of services and the...

New Dead Sea resort planned.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Amman-based Ajial Company for Real Estate Investment & Tourism has appointed the local Sigma Consulting Engineers as the design consultant on an estimated $100 million resort and spa to be located on the Dead Sea. "The project is still in a...

Hill, SDPM win Ardiya campus role.(System Development & Project Management)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The US/local team of Hill International and System Development & Project Management (SDPM) has been selected for the project management and construction management (PM/CM) contract on the Ardiya campus development planned by the Public...

Small islands development cancelled.(prequalification process cancelled)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The Mega Projects Agency (MPA), part of the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), has cancelled the prequalification process for the build-operate-transfer (BCT) development of the state's five small islands. The decision to cancel the project came...

Locals win faculty design.(contracts of Nabil Gholam Architecture & Planning)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The local Nabil Gholam Architecture & Planning has been awarded the contract to carry out the masterplan for the Faculty of Engineering & Architecture District, part of the estimated $85 million building programme on the American University of...

Projacs wins Palm job.(contracts of Projacs International)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Bahrain-based Projacs International has been awarded the project management contract on the Palm City scheme, which calls for the construction of a mixed-use complex on the outskirts of Tripoli. The estimated Eur 60 million ($76.5 million)...

Bids studied for air base.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Bids are under evaluation from at least six companies for the contract to expand the airbase at Al-Musanaah on the Batinah coast. The include Bahwan Contracting Company, Galfar Engineering & Contracting Trading & Contracting Company, all local,...

Tenders issued for UAE University campus.(United arab Emirates)(Al-Hikma Development Company)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Bids have been invited by 5 August for the main construction package on the UAE University campus project in Al-Ain. The package covers phases 1-3 and involves the construction of the majority of the buildings. The client, Al-Hikma Development...

Bids in for Al-Gurm homes.(contracts of Aldar Properties)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Local real estate developer ALDAR Properties has received bids from three companies for the residential component of its Al-Gurm project on the western edge of Abu Dhabi island. The bidders are the local/Lebanese Arabian Construction Company...

Award due on Navigation tower.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... A contractor selection is awaited on the Navigation tower project after three short-listed companies submitted revised prices for the estimated $110 million contract. The three companies invited for the repricing were Lebanon's SEG. the...

Two in for Pearl tower.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Two bids are under evaluation for the estimated $110 million-120 million contract to build a residential tower for Kuwait's Global Investment House on the Pearl-Qatar development in West Bay. The bidders both local, are Tadmur Contracting &...

Khandama designers down to 10.(Jabal Khandama Development Co. )(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The local Jabal Khandama Development Company has, shortlisted 10 firms for the urban masterplan contract to develop the Jabal Khandama area in Makkah. The firms have now been invited to submit initial proposals by the 22 June and final detailed...

Malaysians awarded DIFC tower job.(Dubai International Finance Centre)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Malaysia's Peramba Construction (PECD) has been awarded the estimated AED 400 million ($109 million) main construction package on a twin-tower, mixed-use development in Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). Located next to The Gate...

Ruwais housing awarded.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has awarded the local Pivot Engineering & General Contracting the estimated AED 225 million ($61 million) contract to build bachelor accommodation in Ruwais. The project involves the construction of eight...

Shinsung heads for JLT.(Jumeirah Lake Towers)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... South Korea's Shinsung Corporation has been awarded the AED 131 million ($36 million) main construction contract on the O2 residences project at Jumeirah Lake Towers. The contract calls for the construction of a 41-storey residential tower. A...

Bids in for ministry road projects.(contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The Ministry of Public Works & Housing (MPWH) has received bids for two major new road schemes in the northern emirates. The packages cover the first contract on the proposed Dubai-Fujairah freeway, and the latest phase of the outer bypass...

Falcon City Eols out.(expressions of interest)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Requests for expressions of interest (Eols) have been issued to selected contractors for a site levelling package on the $1,500 million Falcon City of Wonders project in Dubailand. The local Salem al-Moosa Group is promoting the project (MEED...

Planned cement price increases overturned.(no hike in cement prices)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The Economy & Planning Ministry has overturned a decision by cement factories to increase prices by AED 10 [$2.70] a tonne from 1 June, according to the official Emirates News Agency (WAM). "We have contacted representatives of these companies...

Turner takes tallest tower.(construction of the Doha Convention Centre & Tower)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The US' Turner Construction International has been appointed project manager on the construction of the Doha Convention Centre & Tower (DCCT), set to contain the capital's tallest building. The estimated $600 million project, being handled by...

Education City tender out.(Education City project)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Qatar Petroleum, on behalf of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science & Community Development (QF), has issued tenders for another major package on the Education City project. Bids are due on 25 June for Carnegie Mellon University's college...

Airport plans take off.(King Abdulaziz International Airport)
June 2, 2006... Tendering activity is gathering pace on a host of airport projects throughout the kingdom. Bids have been submitted for design consultancy and construction supervision on four upgrades, while a tender has been issued for the terminal facilities...

Ras al-Zour port PQs in.(prequalification)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) has received prequalification applications for the construction of a new port to serve Ras al-Zour industrial zone in the Eastern Province. The facility will initially be built to import bauxite, process...

Sohar berth work awarded.(contracts to build Sohar Industrial Port)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The team of Interbeton and Van Oord, both of the Netherlands, along with Belgium's Six Construct has been awarded the RO 94.9 million ($243.3 million) contract for phase 3 berth work at Sohar Industrial Port. The client, the Transport &...

Muscat concert hall prequals invited.(contracts to build New Concert Theatre Muscat project)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Applications for prequalification have been invited by 10 June for the main construction contract on the New Concert Theatre Muscat project, which will see a concert hall and opera house built close to the Intercontinental Hotel in Al-Khuwair....

Rethink for Tartous quays: scope of original BOT contact may be expanded.(build-operate-transfer)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The Transport Ministry is considering retendering the 35-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract to build and operate two new quays at Tartous port. "The ministry may include marine services as part of a new contract to build and...

UAE-led team wins TangMed contract.(MOROCCO)(Tangier-Mediterranean)(Horizon Terminals Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... A consortium led by the UAE's Horizon Terminals Limited, a subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company, has been awarded the 25-year concession to develop and operate the 110-metre-long hydrocarbons terminal on the Tangier-Mediterranean...

New railway firm established.(Saudi Arabian Railways)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The Council of Ministers (cabinet) has approved the establishment of a new railway company to operate and manage the proposed 2,400-kilometre minerals railway project. The new firm, Saudi Arabian Railways, will have a paid-up capital of SR...

Air Arabia begins flights to Istanbul.(UAE)
June 2, 2006... Shariah-based Air Arabia has begun twice-weekly passenger services between Sharjah International Airport and Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

Renault project gets into gear: first production to begin this year.(contracts of Automotive Industry Development Company)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... France's Renault has signed the final contract with the local Automotive Industry Development Company (AIDC) to produce L90 Logan cars in the country The two sides resolved nagging disagreements over exports to conclude the deal by 24 May The...

Five line up for Kaavian.(Kaavian Steel Company, contracts)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The local Kaavian Steel Company has completed technical evaluation of five bids to increase capacity at its existing plant. The company says it plans to open commercial envelopes in August and hopes to start work on the project in October. The...

GCC plant gets ready to roll.(Gulf Cement Company)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The recently established Gulf Cement Company (GCC) is planning to appoint a consultant by the end of June for its grassroots cement plant at Umm Bab. The appointment is expected to be swiftly followed by the release of tender documents for the...

Pharma factory planned.(Al-Dar al-Arabia)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The local Al-Dar al-Arabia is developing a $50 million pharmaceutical factory in Sidi Abdallah city, 30 kilometres southwest of Algiers. The new factory will cover a total built-up area of 21.657 square metres and has a planned production...

Cemag takes cement work.(contracts of Cemag)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Germany's Cemag has been awarded an estimated SR 1,100 million ($295 million) contract to build a greenfield cement plant at Jalajil, 160 kilometres north of Riyadh. The plant will have capacity of about 3 million tonnes a year (t/y). The...

JV group to build aluminium fluoride plant.(joint ventures)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The local Al-Zamil Group and Tunisia's Industries Chimiques du Fluor (ICF) have announced plans to set up a joint venture company to develop a new aluminium fluoride facility in the Eastern Province. The plant's capacity, location, and...

Abener wins solar hybrid scheme: Spanish firm to build NEAL's Hassi R'Mel plant.(New Energy Algeria)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... Spain's Abener Energia has been awarded the build-own-operate (BOO) contract to develop the 155-MW solar hybrid power plant at Hassi R'Mel following the public opening of commercial offers on 28 May The client on the project is New Energy...

Bids invited for conveyor.(SAUDI ARABIA)(supply of uncoated steel pipe and its installation, together with the construction of pumping stations, storage tanks and reservoirs)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) has invited local and international contractors and suppliers to bid by early October for six packages on the Shuqaiq water conveyance project. Comprising more than 900 kilometres of pipe, the...

AMA to build pumping stations.(Ahmed Mansour al-A'Ali)(Brief article)
June 2, 2006... The local Ahmed Mansour al-A'Ali (AMA) has been awarded the BD 20.5 million ($53.9 million) contract to build new pumping stations at Hidd, Satmabad and Buqawah and modify several existing pumping stations. Four companies submitted revised...