Indian multinational conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T), renowned for its engineering prowess, has a leading presence in the Gulf’s infrastructure sector. The company has successfully delivered several prestigious projects in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar over the last four decades.

These billion-dollar projects include high-rise buildings, hospitals, stadiums, airports, roads, bridges, flyovers, gold mines, renewable energy, offshore and onshore energy projects, as well as power and water infrastructure.

The company has achieved remarkable success in the renewables sector in the region. Last month, the company finalised mega orders with a leading developer in the Middle East to build two major solar photovoltaic plants which will have a cumulative capacity of 3.5 GW.

Subrahmanyan ... building a company of the future with next-gen technologies.

S N Subrahmanyan, Chairman & Managing Director – L&T, says: “The Middle East is far ahead in creating sustainable energy infrastructure and in providing a smart lifestyle. These orders are welcome additions to our green portfolio, as we build the company of the future with next-generation technologies.”

Beyond renewable energy, L&T has developed a section of the Riyadh Metro, critical substation and transmission line projects for entities like the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Saudi Aramco.

Engaged in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects, high-tech manufacturing, and services, L&T continues to make a significant global impact. In the Arabian Gulf region, the conglomerate has extended its expertise to major infrastructure and mining projects ranging from water and wastewater projects to the mega solar power plants such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) Solar Park in Dubai, UAE, and the advanced green hydrogen project at Neom, Saudi Arabia’s futuristic city on its northwestern coast.

Ad Dakhiliyah Water Transmission hub ... a key L&T project in Oman.

POWER GENERATION & RENEWABLES

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park: L&T’s Power Transmission & Distribution (PT&D) arm is currently executing Phase Six of the MBR Solar Park. In early 2024, its Renewable EPC arm was selected to construct an 1,800 MWac solar photovoltaic plant in Dubai.

To be completed in three phases, the project that spreads across 20 sq km, involves the construction of two gas-insulated substations, high-voltage underground cabling, and medium-voltage distribution networks and aims to reduce approximately 2.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The solar park, the world’s largest single-site facility of its kind based on the independent power producer (IPP) model, has a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030. Once completed, it will save over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. 

Renewable Energy Development at Neom: The PT&D business is developing the power and grid components for the world’s largest green hydrogen plant, being constructed by the Neom Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) at Oxagon in Neom, in a joint venture between Acwa Power, Air Products, and Neom. It aims to produce green hydrogen on a large scale for global export in the form of green ammonia, with a total investment of $8.4 billion.

Earlier, L&T was commissioned to establish the renewable energy generation, storage, and grid infrastructure by Air Products, the system-integrating EPC contractor, and exclusive off-taker of the green ammonia produced by the project. The contracts awarded to L&T are valued at $2.779 billion, under which L&T will engineer, procure, and construct a 2.2 GWac PV solar plant, a 1.65 GW wind generation balance of plant, and a 400 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) as part of the power elements package. This mandate includes the construction of three 380 kV switching stations, 306 km of 380 kV overhead lines and underground cables for the kingdom’s grid network, and an energy power monitoring system (EPMS) for the entire network.

Amaala: L&T is also building renewable energy generation and utilities for the Amaala, a luxury tourism destination being developed along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, involving the construction of a 250 MWp solar PV plant, a 700-plus MWh BESS, and related power and water systems.

Other key renewable projects in Saudi Arabia:  L&T is executing a number of projects under the Renewable Energy Project Development Office (Repdo) and the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) Round 3 Renewable Programme. The EPC contract for the 700 MW Ar Rass Solar PV IPP project is currently in the commissioning stage involving a 700 MW PV plant, a 33/132kV pooling station, and a transmission line to an electrical special facility (ESF).

L&T is also developing the Ar Rass-2 Solar PV IPP project that  is capable of powering approximately 750,000 homes. The scope of work includes the installation of a 2,000 MW PV plant and electrical interconnection through three 33/132kV substations, linked to the ESF via overhead transmission lines. This project is currently at an advanced stage of construction.

L&T has constructed and handed over a 1.6 GWac/1.8 GWp solar photovoltaic plant in Sudair, Riyadh province, the first renewable energy project under the PIF Renewable Energy Programme, that has the capability to power 185,000 homes and offset nearly 2.9 million tonnes of emissions annually. L&T is also working on a 300 MW floating PV project.

In Jeddah, L&T has completed a large-scale international solar project, including grid connection components such as a 33/110 kV PV substation, a 110 kV switching station, and a 110 kV fou-bay extension at the remote end.

Other power projects in the region: L&T has implemented 361 substations, over 6,200 km of transmission lines with voltages up to 400 kV, and more than 2,800 km of cabling projects. Currently, the company is executing over 75 substations, 2,152 km of transmission lines, and 41 km of cabling projects for utilities such as Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and Abu Dhabi Transmission & Despatch Company (Transco) in the UAE, Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Aramco in Saudi Arabia, Kahramaa in Qatar, and Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC). Other major partners include Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), Ministry of Electricity & Water & Renewable Energy and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) in Kuwait, as well as other reputed customers in the UAE and Qatar.

Water Management

L&T has a strong track record in the water infrastructure in the UAE, Oman, and Qatar, having completed more than 10 projects worth more than $1 billion. Notable projects include the Jebel Ali Sewage Treatment Plant in Dubai, the UAE’s largest wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 375 million litres per day.

L&T also executed Oman’s strategic Ad Dakhiliyah water transmission project, featuring 173 km of pipelines, 15 reservoirs with a total capacity of 440,000 cu m, and five pumping stations.

L&T has delivered projects for Ashghal in Qatar, Oman Water and Wastewater Service Company, Madayn, Salalah Free Zone (SFZ), Dubai Municipality, Dewa and Abu Dhabi Distribution Company.

Onshore and Offshore Projects

L&T Energy Hydrocarbon (LTEH) last month won two contracts from Saudi Aramco, worth a combined $3.9 billion, for the Jafurah unconventional gas development expansion project. These comprise a $2.9-billion deal for a gas processing plant and main process units; and a $1-billion package for gas compression units. LTEH has also received Letters of Intent for substantial offshore and onshore projects from the Gulf. These multibillion-dollar projects involve engineering, procuring, constructing, and installing a new large offshore platform, integrated with existing facilities.

In addition, L&T has developed major gas fields and processing facilities, such as the Hasbah offshore gas field in the Arabian Gulf, approximately 150 km northeast of Jubail, and the Midyan gas processing facilities, in Saudi Arabia.

To meet the regional demand, L&T Valves has opened a manufacturing unit in Jubail. Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, it enhances local production capabilities by manufacturing static equipment with complex metallurgy and heavy wall thicknesses using advanced machinery and robotics. Additionally, it will generate local employment, replace imports, and support critical needs in the oil and gas, power, and other process industries.

L&T’s Minerals & Metals (M&M) business, in collaboration with Outotec, successfully completed the Mansourah-Massarah gold project for Ma’aden, a Saudi state-owned mining company headquartered in Riyadh, comprising two open-pit mines and a plant processing four million tonnes of ore annually to produce up to 250,000 ounces of gold. It also features a hybrid power plant with a solar component.

Meanwhile, the M&M business has successfully wrapped up a project for Etihad Rail Company, in collaboration with Power China, which involved designing and constructing freight handling facilities at seven strategic locations across the UAE.

By delivering high-quality, innovative solutions across various sectors, L&T says it continues to contribute significantly to help the region achieve its economic and environmental goals.