LIGHTS on the boundary wall of the upcoming King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH) define the expansive extent of the site on the Muharraq night sky. These lights have been installed by Madan Electrical Trading and Contracting (Metco), a veteran electrical contractor that has been active in the Bahrain market for the past 20 years.

Nearly 300 light fittings were supplied and installed at the project’s entire boundary wall, which extends a total length of approximately 1,500 m. The scope of works also includes cabling and associated power distribution boards, with the lighting incorporating features such as timer control according to the setting.

Metco has already completed and handed over its BD20,000 ($53,000) project to the client, says V N Rengarajan, the manager.

Rengarajan says the challenges at the KHUH project involved scheduling and finishing work on time. However, he was impressed by the good coordination and planning at the project.

Rengarajan ... mission accomplished.

Metco undertakes various electrical contracting activities including supply, installation and commissioning of panels, distribution boards, light fittings and wiring devices, particularly for high-rise buildings and industrial projects.

“We also carry out installations of special systems such as fire alarm, security, CCTV (close circuit television), telephone, TV and building automation,” says Rengarajan, adding that the company has carried out electrical works for multi-storey buildings and villas for the ministries of housing, works and municipalities.

It has also carried out projects for Bahrain Islamic Bank and Eskan Bank.

Metco is currently working on several Ministry of Housing projects. These include 79 villas at Hamad Town with Saif Ajlan Contracting as the main contractor, 144 villas at Wadi Sail (with Almoayyed Contracting), 35 villas at Jasra (with Yusif Al Mannai Construction), and a 25-storey building in Juffair with Master Construction.

Commenting on Bahrain’s construction sector, Rengarajan says that the past year has been tough and the market will remain so over the next four to five months. However, he expects prospects to improve during the second half of this year (2011). Metco will use the opportunity to scout for larger projects despite the tough competition in its field of operations.

Over the past year, the company has exerted efforts to enhance its competitive edge in the market, and has been approved as an MTC (measured term contractor) contractor with the Ministry of Electricity.

“We are also planning to upgrade our licence to Grade One,” says Rengarajan.

Metco, which is headed by managing director Abdulla Madan, is backed up by its parent company Capital Electrical Equipment, a leading trader of electrical and telecommunications items such as conduits, cables, cable trays, wiring devices, cable joints, light fittings and transformers, among other products. Capital Electrical Equipment has a number of outlets in Bahrain with the main showroom being in Manama.

Metco employs include three engineers, a site foreman and more than 30 field staff.

 “We are committed to carrying out our activities in the field to the highest quality and within schedule and have the support of our group of companies,” concludes Rengarajan.