MEED Middle East Economic Digest articles from March 2006

MEED Middle East Economic Digest archives from March 2006

Metal working.(aluminium market )
March 3, 2006... From aircraft wings to foil for wrapping food, aluminium has become an integral part of the modern world. Lighter, more flexible and more durable than steel, the properties of this metal were first put to commercial use in 1888, when the first...

Al-Askari aftermath leaves hundreds dead; government attempts to curtail violence fail.
March 3, 2006... Sectarian violence triggered by the destruction of the Shia Al-Askari shrine in Samarra on 24 February continued throughout late February, killing and injuring hundreds of Iraqis. Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari vowed not to allow the bloodshed...

Looking back ...(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... 4 March 1966 Plans are being made to set up a date syrup factory in Karbala. The participants in the venture will include the Iraqi Dates Administration and the Dates Co-operative 1 March 1991 Oil prices fall by more than $2 a...

On the record.(seeking land back from Jews)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... "We do not have any feelings of animosity toward Jews. We do not wish to throw them into the sea. All we seek is to be given our land back"

Plotters give market jitters.(Al-Qaeda killed when they tried to attack oil facility)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Four suspected Al-Qaeda operatives were killed on 27 February by Saudi forces following an attempted attack on the Abqaiq oil facility. The attack was the first after a period of relative quiet in the kingdom. The four men suspected of...

Last-ditch Russian talks as Iran faces new IAEA report.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Iranian negotiators visited Moscow in early March to seek a solution to the nuclear crisis that is likely to be discussed by the UN Security Council later this month. Tehran and Moscow agreed to set up a joint venture to enrich uranium in late...

Ministers boycott Lahoud's cabinet session: 24 February.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Ministers boycott a cabinet meeting in Beirut after the meeting is rescheduled to take place in the presidential palace. Ministers associated with the 14 March coalition, a group demanding the resignation of pro-Syrian President Lahoud, refuse...

Iranian oil cities attacked: 27 February.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Two bombs explode in the offices of the city governors of Dezful and Abadan. No serious casualties are reported. The bombings follow a number of attacks in the oil-rich Khouzestan province, which is home to 2 million ethnic Arabs.

Israel lands sponsorship deal at Emirates Stadium: 27 February.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... London football club Arsenal announces that it has signed a sponsorship deal with the Israeli Tourism Ministry. It is understood that the UAE government gave its permission for the deal to go ahead. The UAE in 2004 bought the naming rights to...

EU agrees emergency funds for PA: 27 February.(Palestine National Authority)(European Union)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The EU agrees to provide an emergency sum of Eur 120 million ($140 million) to keep the Palestinian Authority (PA) running. On the same day, James Wolfensohn, the international envoy to the territories, tells mediators that the PA faced...

Yemeni officials execute missionary killer: 27 February.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... A man found guilty of killing three US Christian missionaries in 2002 is executed by firing squad in Ibb prison. Sanaa officials said the killings had been politically motivated and Kamel may have had links to the Al-Qaeda network.

Lahoud claims opponents are pro-Israeli: 27 February.(Lahoud Emile)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Lebanese President Lahoud refuses to step down, saying that the political campaign to oust him is inspired by foreign powers. "Today, the supposed majority in parliament is trying, with the help of foreign powers allied to Israel, to divide the...

Cairo frees UK prisoners: 28 February.(NEWS DIGEST on MEED.com this week)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Egyptian authorities release three British Islamists, jailed in 2004 for their membership of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organisation banned in Egypt. "These men were prisoners of conscience who were never accused even by the Egyptian authorities of...

Policemen taken hostage in Jordan.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Riots break out in several Jordanian jails and prisoners take a number of policemen hostage. The clashes were triggered when police tried to move two Islamic militants sentenced to death from Al-Juwaida prison. Reports that one man had died are...

Paradigm shift: Gulf producers are gearing up for a fivefold increase in aluminium production, as the GCC prepares to lead the global industry into a new era. But questions remain about feedstock availability and the timing of the increase.(Cover story)
March 3, 2006... The aluminium industry was caught off guard on 18 February when Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development Company signed a joint development agreement with Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) to build one of the world's biggest aluminium smelters at...

London calling: a hunger for international credibility and a deeper pool of investors is driving regional firms to trade on the London Stock Exchange.
March 3, 2006... When the London Stock Exchange (LSE) opens on 1 March, trading is likely to be dominated by a Middle East heavyweight. The world's fourth richest man, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, will add excitement to the daily mix when shares in his...

The standoff continues; the anti-Syrian block in Lebanon has renewed its attempts to oust President Lahoud, but the populist general is determined to keep his grip on power.(Emile Lahoud)
March 3, 2006... It's tough at the top. Ensconced in the Baabda palace in Beirut, Lebanese President Lahoud faces growing calls for his resignation. Nothing new, perhaps--a similar clamour was heard back in September 2004 when Damascus successfully engineered a...

Bids invited for South Pars 19-22; POGC looking at an early 2007 bid deadline.(Pars Oil and Gas Co.)
March 3, 2006... Pars Oil & Gas Company (POGC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), has invited international contractors and joint ventures to prequalify by 1 April for the buyback contract to develop phases 19-22 of the South...

Iranian Salman gas deal is binding, says Crescent.(Crescent Petroleum Company International Ltd.)(National Iranian Oil Co.)
March 3, 2006... The deal to supply gas from Iran's Salman field via subsea pipeline to Sharjah is "internationally binding", Sharjah-based Crescent Petroleum Company, the importer of the gas, told MEED in late February. The comments followed media reports...

Sinopec closes in on Yadavaran field development.
March 3, 2006... A Chinese delegation is expected to visit Tehran in March to finalise development rights for the Yadavaran oil field and to sign a sales and purchase agreement (SPA) for Iranian liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to Chinese press reports....

POGC seeks new rigs for offshore work.(Pars Oil and Gas Co.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Pars Oil & Gas Company (POGC) has issued a tender for the construction of two offshore jack-up rigs, valued at about $150 million each and is seeking to hire two other rigs for a five-year period. The engineering, procurement and construction...

Bredero Shaw wins pipe coating deal.(from Hyundai Heavy Industries Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Bredero Shaw Middle East, a subsidiary of the US' ShawCor, announced on 23 February that it had received a letter of intent for a contract to provide pipe coating services for the crude export facilities project. Worth about $44 million, the...

Parker/Al-Rushaid team to drill deep.(Parker Drilling Company International Ltd.)(Abdullah Rasheed al-Rushaid Co.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Houston-based Parker Drilling Company has announced the establishment of a 50:50 joint venture with the local Abdullah Rasheed al-Rushaid Company to carry out a land drilling contract awarded by Saudi Aramco. The value of the contract was not...

Daewoo to build Vela VLCCs.(very large crude carriers)(Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Company Ltd.)(Vela International Marine)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Vela International Marine. the shipping arm of Saudi Aramco, has announced that it has placed orders with South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Company (DSME) to build six very large crude carriers (VLCCs). Under the estimated...

New distillation units for Homs.(Homs Refinery Company )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Bids have been invited for the $20 million turnkey contract to supply and install six atmospheric and vacuum distillation units (VDUs) at Homs refinery. Prequalifiers, which include Prague-based TechnoExport (TEX) and Iran's Namvaran...

Three in for EPCM contract.(engineering, procurement and construction management )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Three of the four prequalifed contractors--the UK's AMEC, Australia's WorleyParsons and the US' Fluor Corporation--submitted bids on 28 February for the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract covering the gas oil...

Sabriya GC 24 goes for bid.(Kuwait Oil Company KSC's contracts)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... State upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has issued invitation to bid documents for the contract to build gathering centre (GC) 24 at its Sabriya field in the north, near the Iraqi border. Fifteen international contractors have been...

Prequals in for Abu Dhabi gas scheme.(Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for Distribution)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Prequalifications were submitted on 28 February to ADNOC Distribution for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operation and maintenance (O&M) works contract covering the first phase of the Abu Dhabi gas distribution network...

Adma-Opco locks in engineering capacity.(Abu Dhabi Marine Oil Operating Company )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Abu Dhabi Marine Oil Operating Company (Adma-Opco) has awarded its first general engineering services (GES) contract to Australia's WorleyParsons. The two-year deal--with an option for a one-year extension--is part of Adma-Opco's effort to book...

Firms line up for Ruwais sulphur expansion.(Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Co.'s bids)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... About 10 local and international companies submitted prequalifications in late February to Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract covering the proposed third-phase expansion of...

ETAP wanders upstream.(Entreprise Tunisienne des Activites Petrolieres)(Rigo Oil )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... State oil company Entreprise Tunisienne des Activites Petrolieres (ETAP) has signed up international partners for two prospection permits and an exploration permit as part of its drive to accelerate the development of its upstream oil and gas...

Algiers plans new bid round in late 2006.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The seventh international oil and gas licensing round is now due to be launched in late 2006, more than a year after its original launch date. The bid round had been expected to follow the signing of the new hydrocarbons law in July 2005, but...

Abqaiq prompts spike.(OIL ROUND-UP)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Oil prices rose in late February on the back of a foiled attack on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure and continued tension in Nigeria. Spot Brent was trading at $59.95 a barrel on 1 March, compared with $57.52 a barrel a week earlier. The...

GCC producers form industry association; founders include Sabic, Borouge, Equate, GPIC and Qapco.(Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association formed)
March 3, 2006... Eight GCC petrochemicals producers signed on 1 March a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association (GPCA). The new association will identify, advance and manage its members' common interests by...

EMethanex prepares shortlist, targets new shareholders for methanol plant.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... At least three contractors are seeking prequalification for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build a greenfield methanol plant in Damietta port for Egyptian Methanex Methanol Company (EMethanex). The joint venture...

Equate lets non-process packages.(Equate Petrochemical Co.)(French Shuaiba Oxygen)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Equate Petrochemical Company has awarded the air separation unit (ASU) and seawater pumping plant packages serving its planned Olefins II petrochemical complex in the Shuaiba industrial area. The two contracts are the largest two...

PetroRabigh costs spiral.(Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Company)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Total project costs for the Rabigh Refining & Petrochemical Company (PetroRabigh) integrated refining and petrochemicals complex have increased further to $9,900 million. "Inflation of both materials and EPC [engineering, procurement and...

APPC picks Nasser.(Advanced Polypropylene Company)(Nasser al-Hajri)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Nasser al-Hajri Corporation has started mobilising on an estimated $40 million subcontract covering civil, mechanical and electrical works on the integrated propane dehydrogenation (PDH)/polypropylene (PP) facility at Jubail, planned...

Bemco lands NDIA utility deal; passenger terminal package is next on list.(New Doha International Airport )(Arabian Bemco Contracting Company )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Jeddah-based Arabian Bemco Contracting Company has been awarded the utility package on the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) project. Worth an estimated QR 1,460 million ($401 million), the design and build contract is the largest package,...

Al-Arrab lands Pearl work.(Al-Arrab Contracting Co.'s contract )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local office of Saudi Arabia's Al-Arrab Contracting Company has been awarded the main contract to build seven 20-storey residential towers at Porto Arabia on the Pearl-Qatar island development (MEED 25:11:05). Each tower will have a...

Strabag to build Marina tower.(German Strabag Dubai)(DEC Towers in Dubai Marina)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local/German Strabag Dubai has been awarded the main contract on the AED 300 million ($82 million) DEC Towers in Dubai Marina. The project will overlook the marina and involves the construction of a 25 and 21-storey twin-tower residential...

Atkins takes a trip to Dubai Zoo.(Atkins Holdings Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Dubai Municipality has appointed the UK's Atkins to provide design consultancy services on the phase 1 masterplan of the estimated $54.5 million new Dubai Zoo project. The scope of services includes architecture, structural, mechanical,...

Tameer, DP plan to build up Business Bay.(Dubai Properties and Saudi Tameer Holding )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local/Saudi Tameer Holding and the local Dubai Properties, part of Dubai Holding, have announced plans to build office towers in Dubai's Business Bay district. Tameer plans to build an estimated AED 350 million ($95 million) tower...

Petals flower.(Projects Construction Co.'s contract to build villas)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Projects Construction Company has been awarded a BD 6.9 million ($18.3 million) contract to build 83 residential villas on the Durrat al-Bahrain resort. Construction of the villas on the Petal 1 island is expected to take one year and...

More Bubiyan delays.(Bubiyan seaport project)
March 3, 2006... The bid deadline has been extended by a further two months to 18 April for the phase 1 infrastructure works package on the Bubiyan seaport project, The client, the Mega Projects Agency, now part of the Ministry of Public Works, has received the...

Hourie wins BCD work.(Beirut Central District)(Clemenceau Medical Centre )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Entreprises AR Hourie has been awarded two contracts in the Beirut Central District (BCD). The first involves building the Beirut HQ of the Bank of Kuwait & the Middle East on Foch street With a built-up area of 16,000-square-metres,...

CCC takes road works.(Muscat Municipality's contract to Consolidated Contractors International Company)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC) is close to being awarded two road contracts by Muscat Municipality. The larger of the two, worth an estimated RO 9.8 million ($25.1 million), covers a 4.5-kilometre stretch of...

Gate envelope Eols out.(expressions of interest)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Selected contractors have been invited to submit expressions of interest (Eols) for the concrete envelope package on the Gate project in Doha's West Bay area, The work is phase 1 of the development and will be implemented in two stages. The...

Al-Sraiya takes ASD job.(Al-Sraiya Contracting)(American School of Doha)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Al-Sraiya Contracting has been awarded the QR 100 million ($27 million) main construction contract on the expansion of the American School of Doha (ASD). US-based Hill International is the project manager; Hillier, also of the US,...

New ready mix company formed.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... A new ready mix company has been formed by the local United Development Company (UDC), two local investors and Belgium's Six Construct, The venture will initially supply concrete to the $2,500 million Pearl-Qatar development, which is being...

New hospital for Jeddah.(Khatib & Alami gets contract)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Saudi Consolidated Engineering Company (Khatib & Alami) has been selected to provide design and construction supervision services for a new hospital in Jeddah. The 160-bed general hospital will have a built-up area of about 45,000 square...

Almabani moves on Al-Khobar.(Almabani General Contractors)(Shurouq al-Hada hospital's building)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Almabani General Contractors has started mobilising on the new Shurouq al-Hada hospital in Al-Khobar. The estimated $16 million project will see construction of a general hospital with a built-u o area of 11,000 square metres. The...

Tallest building tender planned.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... A tender for the mare construction package for the tallest building in the kingdom is expected to be issued by August. The work is estimated to cost $250 million. The building, to be located on King Fahd street in Riyadh will be 352 metres high...

Bids in for Shaybah buildings.(Shaybah oil field expansion development)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Bids were submitted on 28 February for the estimated $40 million contract to build residential facilities in the Shaybah oil field expansion development. The 30-month project covers construction of two building blocks, access roads, fencing,...

Surouh awards villa contracts.(Surouh Real Estate Company)(Ewan Architectural Engineering Consultancy)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Local property developer Surouh Real Estate Company has awarded three contracts for a residential district near to Khalifa City in the Sas al-Nakheel area of Abu Dhabi, The local Al-Ghafly General Contracting Company has been awarded an...

Falcon City swoops for Hyder.(Falcon City of Wonders project)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The UK's Hyder has been awarded the infrastructure design contract for the $1,500 million Falcon City of Wonders project in Dubailand. The protect comprises villas, apartments, shopping malls, hotels and structures based on the architectural...

MPW speeds up roadworks.(Ministry of Public Works)
March 3, 2006... The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) is pushing ahead with plans to overhaul and modernise the state's road system. Bids were recently submitted by international consultants for a roads advisory support services contract, while a tender has...

PAAAFR builds up park life.(Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs & Fish Resources)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs & Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has invited interested companies to prequalify for a 20-year concession to build and operate a new national park and entertainment project at Jahra. The deadline for...

Consultants swot up for Shadidiyah university work.(Kuwait University)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Kuwait University is drawing up terms of reference for one of the largest design consultancy contracts on its planned $3,000 million new campus at Shadidiyah. The tender for the contract, covering the project's overall infrastructure, is...

Consultants dock at UAQ marina.(Umm al-Qaiwain)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Local property developer Emaar Properties has appointed three UK-based consultants for its AED 3.300 million ($900 million) Umm al-Qaiwain (UAQ) marina project. K Home International is the project manager, Hatcrow is the infrastructure and...

Dutch dig in at DHCC hotel project.(Dubai Health Care City)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Dutch Foundations has started piling work on the estimated AED 860 million ($235 million) hotel tower project in Dubai Health Care City (DHCC), The project involves the construction of a five-star hotel tower and one apartment tower....

Japanese in negotiations for Trump tower.(Trump International Hotel Tower)
March 3, 2006... Local property developer Nakheel is in negotiations with two Japanese firms for the main design and build contract on the Trump International Hotel Tower on Palm Jumeirah. The companies are Shimizu Corporation and Taisei Corporation. Located on...

Wade Adams bids for Al-Qudra upgrade.(Khansaheb Civil Engineering )(Wade Adams Contracting )(Bab al-Shams )(Arabian Ranches )( Bin Hafeez General Contracting & Transport)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Wade Adams Contracting is the low bidder at AED 65 million ($17 million) for the improvement of Al-Qudra road, running from the Bab al-Shams resort to the Arabian Ranches roundabout, The other bidders are the local Khansaheb Civil...

Bids in for new exhibition halls.(Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... At least two companies have submitted bids for the main contract on the extension of Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre (DICEC), The bidders include the local/UK Al-Naboodah Laing O'Rourke and the local Khansaheb Civil...

Ajman steps up its game with Al-Zawra project.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The government of Ajman is planning a 9 million-square-metre mixed-use development near Al-Zawra. The estimated $900 million development will consist of a number of hotels and upmarket villas. The project is expected to be developed in phases,...

Golden Riyadh plans Fujairah Paradise.(Golden Riyadh Establishment for Trading )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Saudi-based Golden Riyadh Establishment for Trading is planning an estimated $800 million resort in Fujairah. Known as Fujairah Paradise, the project will be built next to the Le Meridien Al-Aqah Beach Resort and will comprise 1,000 five-star...

Buyers sought for Burj Dubai contractor.(Schmidlin LLC)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Three groups have expressed interest in Schmidlin after its Swiss parent company filed for bankruptcy on 22 February, Schmidlin LLC UAE has the cladding package on the Burj Dubai tower and receivers believe the huge order will attract buyers....

Chinese take Sanaa T3.(Sanaa International Airport contract awarded by Civil Aviation and Meteorotogical Authority)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Beijing Urban Construction Investment Development Company has been awarded the $114.7 million contract to expand Sanaa International Airport by the Civil Aviation & Meteorotogical Authority. The Chinese company was the lowest bidder for the...

OHL scoops rail contract.(Obrascon Huarte Lain )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Spain's Obrascon Huarte Lain (OHL) has been awarded the Eur 248 million ($296 million) contract to upgrade and rehabilitate a 95-kilometre rail link between Annaba and Ramdane Djamel in the northeast. Mobilisation is under way on the...

Bonyan gets first approval for $15bn development.(Bonyan International Investment Group)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... UAE-based Bonyan International Investment Group and a private local investor, Shaher al-Taqi, have received preliminary approval from the Higher Council for Investment for a $15,000 million multipurpose real estate project in the Jabal...

Amman-Zarqa $100m rail project to be retendered; government likely to offer a subsidy to developers this time around.(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The estimated $100 million build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) contract to build a 26-kilometre light railway between Amman and Zarqa will be retendered, according to officials at the Public Transport Regulatory Commission (PTRC). "We are...

SATS lands at DIA.(Singapore Airport Terminal Services)(Doha International Airport)(Qatar Aviation Services Company)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Qatar Aviation Services Company (QAS) and Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) have signed an agreement for ground handling operations at Doha International Airport (DIA). Under the terms of the agreement, SATS will provide QAS with...

Virgin to make maiden regional voyage.(Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The UK's Virgin Atlantic will begin services between Dubai and London on 28 March. The airline is likely to operate four non-stop flights a week before commencing daily flights from June. Virgin is the UK's second largest long-haul operator and...

Airbus establishes Middle East subsidiary.(Dubai International Airport Free Zone)(Airbus Middle East)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Europe's Airbus has established Airbus Middle East. The new subsidiary will be headquartered at the Dubai International Airport Free Zone, and will oversee all commercial activities, including marketing, sales, contracts and customer relations,...

Neighbour plans new plants.(Arabian Cement Co. and Jordan Cement Co. go for new plants)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Saudi Arabia's Arabian Cement Company (ACC) is conducting a feasibility study into building two cement plants in the kingdom. "We are considerin8 one plant which will produce grey cement and one which will produce white cement." says a company...

Local/Chinese JV cements ties.(Nesma & Partners Contracting Company, Northern Region Cement Company )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... A team of the local Nesma & Partners Contracting Company and China National Building & Materials Equipment Import & Export Corporation (CNBM) has been awarded the estimated SR 1.200 million ($320 million) contract to build a greenfield cement...

ZIIC breaks into fibreglass.(Zamil International Investment Co. acquires Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Zamil Industrial Investment Company (ZIIC) has bought a 51 per cent stake in the local Arabian Fibreglass Insulation Company (Afico) for SR 65 million ($17.3 million). ZIIC purchased the stake from the local Amiantit Company; the US'...

BENA signs concrete deal.(German Emirati Company, Masa Henke AG)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local German Emirati Company has signed an agreement with Germany's Masa Henke to build an automated precast autoclaved concrete (PAC) plant in Mussafah at a cost of AED 100 million ($27 million). The plant's daily production capacity will...

AES/Mitsui ranked first for Almanakher IPP; team front running for preferred bidder status.(AES Oasis, Mitsui and Company Ltd., independent power project)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The developer team made up of Dubai-based AES Oasis and Japan's Mitsui & Company has been ranked as the first bidder for the kingdom's inaugural independent power project (IPP) at Almanakher, following the opening of commercial bids in late...

Spanish/Polish group wins Deir al-Zor.(SYRIA)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... A Spanish/Polish joint venture (JV) of Iberdrola and Alstom Poland has been selected for the estimated $520 million engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build the 750-MW combined cycle power plant at Deir al-Zor. The...

Tunis plans $1.2bn export power project.(Gestore della Rete di Trasmissione Nazionale, Societe Tunisienne de l'Electricite et du Gaz)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Plans are under way for an estimated Eur 1,000 million ($1,192 million) project to develop a 1,200-MW combined cycle power plant at El-Haouaria that will supply electricity to the domestic market and by undersea cable to Italy, a senior source...

Bids due for Ghannouch power plant.(Tunisienne du l'Electricite & de Gaz )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... Bids are due by 17 March for the contract to build and operate a greenfield combined cycle power plant with capacity of 380-450 MW at Ghannouch, near Gabes on the southeast coast. The bid deadline, originally set for the end of January, has...

$22m irrigation project for East Azerbaijan.(East Azerbaijan & Ardabil Water Corporation )(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... East Azerbaijan & Ardabil Water Corporation (EAAWC) has issued the tender for a $22 million irrigation and drainage network to carry water from the Aidoghmoosh dam to neighbouring agricultural areas. The 12.3-kilometre water conveyor and...

Spectrum selected to supervise pumping.(Spectrum Engineering Consultants, Council for Development & Reconstruction)(Brief article)
March 3, 2006... The local Spectrum Engineering Consultants has been awarded a $9 million construction supervision contract for three coastal collector and pumping stations in South Beirut. The contract involves supervising the construction of three...