Cemena plans major expansion

BAHRAIN-BASED Cemena Holding Company, a leader in building materials, has outlined plans to expand its business in the region.

The plans were revealed at an annual general meeting focused on Cemena’s profitability, returns and business diversification. Plans to expand the production capacity of its cement plant, Falcon Cement Company, to 3,500 tonnes were also discussed.

The meeting also highlighted the progress made on the expansion phase of Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company (Balexco), in which Cemena has a controlling stake. The project is expected to be completed soon with operations commencing this year.

“With the return of the growing demand for cement and building materials locally and in the region, Cemena successfully closed 2011 in profit,” Cemena chairman Hisham Alrayes said.

Driver Group wins two Oman deals

UK-BASED construction firm Driver Group has landed new contracts in the Middle East worth more than £2 million ($3.14 million).

The consultants, based in Rossendale, will undertake two new projects in Oman. They come on the back of a six-month contract awarded in April by Oman’s government to aid the development of Muscat International and Salalah airports.

Driver will work with the country’s Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) and the Ministry of Transport and Communications to provide consultancy and project management services over the next five years. It has also been awarded a project management contract on the roadworks between Al Hadshah and Al Hamra, which will last for 21 months.

DSI wins multiple contracts in Oman

DRAKE & Scull International (DSI) has been awarded a series of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) contracts across several sectors in Oman, collectively worth Dh96 million ($26 million).

The regional market leader in the integrated design, engineering and construction disciplines of civil contracting, MEP, water and power, rail and oil and gas, will oversee the complete MEP works, including design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning.

Oman has set forth significant plans to upgrade its housing and infrastructure over the next 10 years. The sultanate’s construction sector is expected to be worth $3.8 billion in 2012 and has the potential to grow to $5.4 billion by 2016.

“The future developments in Oman represent an ideal opportunity for DSI to use its proven engineering technologies and regional experience. Our latest contracts reflects our ability to serve multiple sectors and we are eyeing more ventures as Oman rolls out its development plans for the coming years,” said Khaldoun Tabari, CEO of DSI.

Budget prioritises key projects

BAHRAIN has unveiled ambitious development plans for the coming two years, with housing, education, health, infrastructure and social development projects topping the 2013-14 budget priorities. Details of the two-year roadmap were released during a recent work meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
The session discussed $10-billion worth of projects scheduled to be financed as part of the GCC aid package to Bahrain. In this regard, a high-level delegation representing the Saudi Fund for Development is expected to visit Bahrain soon, said Finance Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.

The Premier gave directives to prioritise projects relating most to citizens’ daily lives, urging a balanced approach in launching housing projects to cover all governorates, and stressing the importance of expediting development schemes.

Scottish Water wins drainage deal

SCOTTISH Water’s fledgling international arm has won a five-year contract to support the execution of Qatar’s drainage asset management programme.

The multi-million-dollar contract will be executed by Scottish Water as a sub-contractor to US-based consulting, engineering and construction services company MWH Global, which has been appointed by Qatar’s public works authority Ashghal as management contractor for the programme. The project is believed to be worth about £5 million ($7.6 million) in total.

Gord launches new eco standard

GULF Organisation for Research and Development (Gord) has launched the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) as the standard for excellence in sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

It also launched “Eco Villa”, described as a landmark project that will reinforce Qatar’s reputation as a leading advocate of sustainable development.

The green villa, says Gord, has been designed to achieve a score of four stars based on the GSAS, as it offers a genuinely sustainable, smart and healthy living environment for residents. Gord claims GSAS, formerly known as Qatar Sustainability Assessment System (QSAS), is the most comprehensive sustainability rating system in the world.

Meridian’s Proliance supports QPM

MERIDIAN Systems, a Trimble company, said that Qatar Project Management (QPM) has selected Proliance software to streamline its construction management processes on a wide variety of projects in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

Qatar-based QPM is one of the region’s premier project management companies. It selected Proliance for its robust cost and budgeting functionality.

Construction sector faces job losses

BAHRAIN’S construction sector could be devastated with the loss of more than 3,500 jobs because contractors have not been paid by a real estate developer.

Major international and local contractors are struggling to recover large sums of money owed to them by Riffa Views.

The major four lead contractors who have been working on the project since 2006, building luxury housing units together with associated infrastructure, are still allegedly owed in excess of BD20 million ($53 million) even three years after they have been certified as being owed the money.

The contractors say they have been informed by Riffa Views that there are no funds available to settle their accounts and that the main financing bank has refused to support the project any further.

This leaves Riffa Views unable to complete the project and the contractors facing the prospect of suspending operations. Around 250 villas and townhouses remain unsold on the project.

‘Downtown’ Muharraq planned

BAHRAIN municipal councillors have announced plans to create a “downtown” area in Muharraq – possibly in the suq area – to provide more localised services to residents.

Councillors led by Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Abdulnasser Al Mahmeed have submitted a blueprint for a central business and government district to rival Manama, which the Cabinet will now study in line with international standards.

Councillors say the proposal is long overdue as the area has a population of around 110,000 and residents should have comprehensive facilities on their doorstep.

Meanwhile, Al Mahmeed also said the Municipal Council has laid down certain criteria for new buildings in old Muharraq, which must be approved by the Culture Ministry and the municipality.

According to the rules, any building on commercial or busy roads can have only two storeys, with an overall height of up to 9 m. If a basement is built for parking, a third floor may be allowed and the overall height can go up to 10.5 m. A mezzanine floor can be added, but should not exceed 50 per cent of the ground floor. Buildings should also be 2 m away from old or traditional houses.

‘One in five’ Saudi projects stalled

UP to 20 per cent of projects sanctioned by the Saudi Arabian government have not been started during the past six years, according to an official report.

The Royal Court report, presented to the Council of Ministers, said only 39 per cent of the development projects were implemented by the government departments during the period, the Arab News said. It, however, said 41 per cent of the projects were under implementation.

The Royal Court report, presented to the Council of Ministers, said only 39 per cent of the development projects were implemented by the government departments during the period, the Arab News said. It, however, said 41 per cent of the projects were under implementation.

WorleyParsons opens new office

WITH an aim to deliver high-quality engineering and project management solutions to its clients, WorleyParsons Bahrain has opened a new office in the kingdom.

It was inaugurated last month (June 4) under the patronage of Dr Hassan Fakhro, the Minister of Commerce and Industry.

The office located at Gulf Hotel Executive Offices will accommodate more than 200 personnel enabling it to increase its service offerings across various phases of a project asset lifecycle.

WorleyParsons Bahrain is currently offering general engineering and consulting services to Tatweer, Banagas and Alba and is positioning itself to participate in some of the major upcoming projects in the kingdom in the infrastructure, petrochemicals and power sectors, it said.

WorleyParsons is a leading global provider of professional services in the fields of hydrocarbons, minerals and metals, infrastructure and power.

Saudi cement production to rise

SAUDI ARABIA’S cement production capacity is expected to surge above 66 million tonnes annually by 2015 from 47 million tonnes this year as the country gears up to meet demand for big infrastructure projects, a report from Al Rajhi Capital said.

“Construction activities have accelerated in 2011 and should continue in the same vein in 2012 and 2013. Consequently, the Saudi cement market has a positive undertone to it in terms of near to medium-term demand growth,” said the report, dated late May.

“Total cement capacity has risen from 31 million tonnes in 2008 to 47 million tonnes currently and is expected to increase to more than 66 million tonnes by 2015,” it added.

AHEC promotes sustainable hardwood

THE American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry, has underlined its determination to ensure that sustainably managed hardwoods receive full environmental recognition, amidst a growing green building movement in the Middle East.

This follows the first critical review meeting for the life cycle assessment (LCA) research into American hardwoods, which was held at the offices of PE International, a leading sustainability software, content and strategic consulting firm, in Stuttgart, Germany. PE International presented the goal and scope report to a very high-profile review panel, which is expected to have a positive bearing on the credibility of the research once the results have been approved and published.
The LCA study complements AHEC’s mission to promote the environmental credentials of American hardwoods in the face of emerging public and private sector procurement policies.