BECHTEL, a leading engineering, procurement and construction company, has set up a regional office in the UAE for its mining and metals business to better service its clients in the GCC countries.

The new regional office will draw upon Bechtel’s global experience and expertise and will offer services ranging from masterplanning studies through to engineering execution.

Bechtel, which is currently constructing one of the world’s largest greenfield aluminium smelter projects for the Ma’aden Alcoa joint venture in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia, has completed several major mining and metals projects and more than 1,000 studies across six continents. Projects have included 26 aluminium smelters, 42 major copper projects and 36 major coal projects.

The GCC mining and metals sector has been identified as one of the main pillars of industrial diversification in the region where awards made during the last 12 months were worth around $6 billion.

David Welch, President, Europe, Africa, Middle East at Bechtel, said: “We recognise the growing importance of the Gulf as a strategic hub for our business. The opening of a regional office for our mining and metals business is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to this region.”