$300m Bahrain-Saudi pipeline on way

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have signed contracts worth around $300 million to lay a new 350,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) oil pipeline between the two countries, with the link due to be operational in 2018.

The new pipeline will replace an ageing 230,000 bpd link and enable Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) to expand the processing capacity of its 267,000-bpd Sitra refinery.

First building opens at Msheireb

A QR20-billion ($5.5 billion) project to redevelop the Downtown Doha area has made headway with the opening of its first building, the Qatar Academy Msheireb, a report said. The school, which has a 12,754-sq-m campus and can accommodate up to 450 pupils, has been described by developers Msheireb Properties as a “significant milestone” in the construction of the Downtown Doha project, which is running behind schedule but expected to open in phases over the next few years, said the Doha News report.

Bidders vie for Kuwait IWPPs

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water and the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) have shortlisted seven consortia for the second phase of the Az Zour North Independent Water and Power Producer (IWPP), according to reports.

The consortia include Abengoa; International Company for Water and Power (ACWA) and Al Mulla Group Holding Company; Korea Electric Power Corporation; Marubeni Corporation and Fouad AlGhanim & Sons; Sumitomo Corporation, Osaka Gas, and National Industries Group Holding Consortium; Mitsubishi Corporation; and Mitsui & Company.

On completion, the second phase of the gas-fired Az-Zour North power and desalinated water plant will have an initial capacity of 1,500 MW and 102 million gallons per day (mgd) of desalinated water.

In August, reports indicated that the same seven consortia had been shortlisted for the first phase of the 1,800 MW Al Khairan thermal steam power plant, which will also have a capacity of 125 mgd of water.

Kipco plans $5bn real estate project

Kuwait Projects Company (Kipco), the country’s largest private sector investment firm, is planning a $5-billion real estate scheme on the outskirts of Kuwait City, the company’s vice-chairman said.

The 380,000-sq-m project is planned for the Al Daiya area where several foreign embassies are located, Faisal Al Ayyar told the Al Qabas newspaper.

It is set to include both residential and commercial spaces, as well as infrastructure such as roads, parks, walkways and electricity network.

GS wins Kuwait water project

GS Engineering & Construction, the construction arm of GS Group, has secured a $306-million deal to build a water treatment plant in Kuwait.

The company won the bid for the state-run Kuwait Oil Company’s (KOC) new water centre project, reported the Korea Times.

As per the deal, GS Engineering will build water treatment facilities and pipelines in the North Oil Field, 90 km north of Kuwait City.

The turnkey project will take three years to complete, the report added.

Earthmoving machines sector to grow

The earthmoving equipment market in Qatar is set to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 10.77 per cent over the next four years as the country gears up for the biggest sporting event Fifa World Cup 2022, said a report.

The market is shifting from renting to owning earthmoving equipment, stated the report entitled “Earthmoving Equipment Market in Qatar 2015-2019”.

With the rise in the number of long-term infrastructure projects in the country in preparation for Fifa World Cup in 2022, construction companies prefer to own heavy earthmoving equipment rather than rent it, it stated.

The 2015-2019 report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the earthmoving equipment market in Qatar.

It also includes the historical sales of earthmoving equipment in the construction equipment market in the country. The major players in the market are Caterpillar, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Komatsu, Volvo Construction Equipment besides JCB and Liebherr Group, the report added.

Nama eyes green energy projects

The Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco) of Oman, a subsidiary of The Electricity Holding Company (Nama Group), plans to launch seven small-scale solar and wind energy projects in the sultanate, a report said. Tenders for the new initiatives are currently under preparation, added the Oman Observer report, citing Bin Salim Al Maghderi, chief executive officer.

“There is a target to reduce diesel-based generation by around 25 per cent and replace this capacity with solar and wind capacity within five years,” he said.

The utility will begin construction work this month (October) on the country’s first large-scale wind power project at Harweel in Dhofar Governorate.

The 50 MW capacity venture is being jointly developed by Raeco and Abu Dhabi’s renewable company Masdar, with an investment of about $125 million, the report said.

$1.25bn Place Vendome on target

Qatar-based United Developers said work on its $1.25-billion Place Vendôme  leisure development coming up on Lusail City is making significant progress, particularly in its hotel components and its retail space.  The project is due for completion by the third quarter of 2017.

Place Vendôme is anticipated to become the luxury, lifestyle and leisure destination for the region on completion, reported The Peninsula.

Enabling works have been completed with the excavation of two million tonnes of earth, the installation of 5,300 foundation piles and the pouring of 250,000 cu m of concrete, said the report.

The 800,000-sq-m project, which broke ground in March 2014, features two five-star hotels, serviced apartments, up to 400 retail outlets, a central entertainment component showcasing permanent attractions, and technologically advanced installations, it stated.

Misr Italia plans New Cairo project

MISR Italia, a diversified real estate developer in Egypt, is set to buy 500 acres of land at 6th Of October City in New Cairo for a key residential project aimed at the medium and high-income groups, said a report.

The upcoming development will include administrative and commercial projects, reported Daily News Egypt, citing Hany Mohamed Al Assal.

The developer is constructing the first administrative compound in New Cairo comprising 42 administrative buildings spread over 90,000 sq m, while the commercial buildings will cover an area of 20,000 sq m.

This comes in addition to a car park, a 120-room hotel, and a conference hall accommodating 1,000 people, it added.

The real estate developer also owns the Italian Village project, which is built on 36 acres, consisting of 1,700 residential units, of which 1,250 units have been handed over. Al Assal said the company plans to build 2,000 tourist units in Mousa Coast and another 500 in Ain Sokha next year.

Al Hassan wins $20m energy deals

Oman-based Al Hassan Engineering Group has won construction contracts worth $20 million in connection with energy-related projects from the Gulf region, said a report.

Its subsidiary Al Hassan Engineering Company has won a $12-million deal from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) for the implementation of the Mabrouk Pipeline Construction Project, said the Oman Observer.

Also, its Abu Dhabi unit has clinched a major deal worth $7.2 million from Korean GS Engineering & Construction for civil works at Rumaitha/Shanayel oilfield located 50 km southwest of the UAE capital.