Equate plans mega expansion
Petrochemical giant Equate is holding talks with an industrial bank on ways to finance a proposed multibillion-dollar expansion of its plant in Kuwait. The proposed $3 billion expansion will see output double by 2004.
The Equate II project will produce polyethylene, ethylene glycol, polypropylene and aromatics such as benzene, styrene and toluene.
The 1- million-tonnes-per-year Equate plant was launched at Shuaiba in 1997, in a joint venture between Union Carbide of the US and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC).
Nod for Iran-Kuwait pipeline
Kuwait City: Kuwait and Iran have agreed to build a $2 billion pipeline that will transport fresh water from northern Iran to Kuwait, a London-based company spearheading the project has said.
Multinational group Gulf Utilities said the Kuwaiti Cabinet had finally approved the deal after more than a year of talks on the pipeline, which would ship water from the Karkheh dam in northern Iran to Kuwait some 650 km to the south.
The pipeline will extend 330 km across Iranian territory and then via a 210 km pipeline under the Gulf to the Kuwaiti shoreline, thus avoiding Iraqi territory.
Dana Mall to open in August
Manama: Bahrain's new $37.1 million Dana Mall in the Seef District is promising visitors a visual extravaganza when it opens in late August.
More than BD2 million ($5.3 million) has been spent on the interior design and features of the shopping and entertainment centre alone, said commercial manager Muneer Andraos. The total cost of the complex, which has been designed around different themes, is BD14 million ($37.1 million).
The Dammam-based Giant Stores hypermarket will feature a huge range of goods.The mall's ground floor will have an 800-space car-park, a 2,600-sq m car showroom and an exhibition centre, including an arcade of service shops. The main activity areas will be located on the first floor, which will house the Gulf's largest movie theatre, featuring 3,000 seats, the hypermarket, 20-outlet food court and 76-shop retail shopping complex.
Pumping station approved
Dubai: A Dh56.78 million ($15.4 million) project to build a drainage pumping station in the Ghusais area of Dubai has received the green light. Dubai Municipality's director general Qassim Sultan said the contract for the project had been awarded to a local contracting company with a contract period of 609 days including 28 days' mobilisation period.
New Omani hotel to open doors
Muscat: The Al Sharqiya Sands Hotel, the first major hotel project in Ibra-Sur region in Oman, will open its doors soon.
Al Sharqiya Sands, promoted by Al Sawadi Beach Resort, is on the outskirts of Ibra, 180 km from Muscat and half way to the coastal town of Sur. The hotel, 90 minutes drive from the Seeb International Airport, will have 12 guest rooms and three suites.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry sources, plans are being drawn up for two more hotels in the interior - a four-star hotel in Daba and a three-star property in the Wilayat of Khasab.
It is also promoting the Al Sawadi project in the wilayat of Barka among specialised international investors. The Al Sawadi project has been allocated a total area of 34 sq km in Barka. The ministry has supervised a detailed feasibility report and master plan for the project. An area of 5,000 sq m has been allocated for the Daba project.
Hatta to get new resort
Geneva: Plans to develop an exclusive, multi-million-dollarArabian-style resort in Hatta, UAE, were unveiled at the European Incentive and Business Travel Meetings (EIBTM) exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland. The development would combine a state-of-the-art convention centre, a village plaza, traditional suq (marketplace), handicraft plaza and workshops as well as four food and beverage outlets.
Road project gets green light
Dubai: Dubai authorities have approved a Dh46 million ($12.52 million) project to develop the Hatta Highway in the UAE.
The 106-km highway, one of the oldest roads in Dubai, was built 15 years ago.
The project was approved by Dubai Deputy Ruler, Municipality Chairman and UAE Finance and Industry Minister Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Municipality director-general Qassim Sultan said the project involved resurfacing the road from Bu Kadra roundabout to the border of Oman beyond Hatta. He said the work involved the removal and replacement of asphalt in the slow lane of both carriageways, asphalt overlays, repair and resurfacing of road shoulders, minor drainage works, minor road protection works, road signs and lane marking.
Sharjah airport plans facelift
Sharjah: Sharjah International Airport is planning a Dh40 million ($10. 9 million) facelift to expand its arrival lounge. Sharjah Civil Aviation director-general Mohammed Saif Al Hajri also said the UAE airport would invest further sums to improve terminal facilities to handle more passengers.
Deal for Hidd expansion shortly
Manama: A contract will soon be awarded for work to be carried out on the expansion of Bahrain's Hidd power and water station, according to a Finance and National Economy Ministry source.
The bulk of the expansion is for the supply and installation of generating units to produce 630 MW of electricity.
The construction contract will shortly be awarded based on the results of the final evaluation of the tenders by the Electricity and Water Ministry.
The source added that several financial institutions and banks had submitted offers to organise a loan to finance the $345 million project.
Oman to build artificial lake
Muscat: Muscat Municipality has appointed a specialist company to construct an artificial lake in Oman's wilayat of Quriyat, covering an area of 75,000 sq m.
The project, to be carried out in two stages, will have an island in the middle of the lake, two pedestrian bridges, in addition to landscaping, a top municipality official said. The lake has been designed by the municipality which will also supervise the work on the tourism-oriented project, the official added.
The project will be commissioned in September, according to the official.
Facelift for Abu Dhabi network
Abu Dhabi: The busiest junction near the Cultural Foundation in the UAE capital is set for a facelift as part of a long-term redevelopment scheme to improve traffic network in the city.
Saeed Trais Al Mazroui, assistant under-secretary of the municipality and town planning department, said the only way to improve traffic flow is to redesign junctions and build additional lanes. He said this was being done in six separate projects including the junction of Zayed 1st and 2nd Streets with the Airport Road. He said work has already started to redesign and reshape the junction.
Green light for Dubai road
Dubai: Dubai authorities have given the go-ahead to build a 1.3 km scenic road along the Deira Corniche from Hamriya Market to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the UAE, a top municipality official said.
Municipality director-general Qassim Sultan said the road plan was part of a Dh4.75 million ($1.3 million) project approved by Dubai Deputy Ruler and Municipality Chairman Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who is also the UAE's Finance and Industry Minister.
The project includes widening of Khalid bin Waleed Street in Bur Dubai and setting up a new 222-slot parking lot at Deira Fish Market, Sultan added.