$185m Hidd deals in the pipeline
Manama: Contracts worth BD70 million ($185.7 million) are to come into the market within the next two years, as part of Bahrain's Khalifa bin Salman Port and Hidd Industrial Area project.
The largest contract in the project, worth BD79.95 million, is currently being completed by US-based Great Lakes. The contract involves the preparation of land for the port and the industrial area as well as a 7 km causeway linking the two areas, says Works Ministry construction projects director Jameel Ahmed Khalfan.
"We will be offering another package of contracts within the next two years," said Khalfan.
These will include a BD2 million contract for a sewage treatment plant for the port and industrial area. Prequalification of contractors has already been completed and tendering is expected in June, with a 16-month completion period.
A BD34 million contract will come into the market in March next year for the port's infrastructure, including roads, sewerage and street lighting, said Khalfan.
This will be followed in November next year by a BD13 million contract for the construction of the port building. Khalfan said a BD16 million contract for the supply of port equipment will also come into the market around the same time, followed by a BD5 million contract for the supply of marine equipment, which is expected to be offered in January 2004.
Hotel to build 'African Village'
Dubai: Dubai-based Amusement Whitewater has won a Dh20 million ($5.45 million) contract to build an "African village" of up to 30 chalets for a UAE hotel.
The company specialises in themed construction and designing and building amusement water parks.
General manager John Cussen said his company was also building an African village resort on a private island off the UAE coast.
Amusement Whitewater has an annual turnover of more than Dh40 million. The company recently imported fifty 40-foot containers of grass from Africa to thatch roofs. The company plans to launch a range of handmade traditional African furniture and artifacts to meet the demand for the trend.
Kuwait to shortlist prequalifiers
Kuwait: Pre-qualifiers for the construction of the Jaber Al-Ahmed stadium in Kuwait City are likely to be shortlisted by the Public Authority for Youth & Sports.
The project, estimated to cost KD30 million ($97 million), calls for the construction of a 60,000-seat stadium to be built over 130,000 sq m. The local Project Analysis & Control Systems (Projacs) is the project manager. The consultant is a joint venture of Germany's Weidleplan and the local Seif Engineering.
Dutch firm wins $28m package
Abu Dhabi: The Netherlands' Interbeton has won the estimated Dh104 million ($28 million) seventh package on the Abu Dhabi convention centre project. The deal covers the superstructure works for the east and west hotels and related facilities. The contract is the second major superstructure package let on the estimated $400 million project.
Belgium's Six Construct was awarded the $40 million package 6 for the superstructure works for the convention centre and palaces.
In all there are 16 separate bid packages. The convention centre is being built to host the GCC summit in late 2004. The UK's Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WAT&G) is the project architect and the US' Turner International is the project manager.
Oman awards $7.7m road deals
Muscat: Oman has awarded 16 contracts worth RO3 million ($7.79 million) to a number of companies for the construction of internal road projects in the country.
The agreements were signed by Dr Khamis bin Mubarak Al Alawi, Minister of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources.
The total length of the internal roads to be built under these contracts was given as 138 km.
The sultanate has also signed new contracts worth a total RO19.56 million ($50.8 m million) for the maintenance of dirt and asphalt roads in various regions in the country.
The contracts were awarded to the Hasan Juma Baker Company, Desert Line Company, Khaleej Oman Company and Al Nahdha Al Omaniah Maintenance Company.
The roads are in the Batinah, Sharqiyah, Wusta and Dakhiliyah regions and Musandam governorate.
Bids invited for new air base
Muscat: The Defence Ministry has invited bids for the construction of a new military air base on Masirah island for the Royal Omani Air Force.
The $70 million project envisages the construction of runway facilities and assoicated works with the capacity to support fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
The UK's Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick has drawn up the masterplan.
Hyundai 'gets power boost'
Kuwait: South Korea's Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company has won a KD7.2 million ($23 million) contract to build three power substations in Kuwait, an industry source said.
The source said the 24-month contract has been finalised and Hyundai was hoping to sign it by next month. He did not give further details.
EC Harris wins two deals
Dubai: EC Harris' UAE-based team has won two contracts with the Dubai World Trade Centre and the Department of Civil Aviation.
For the first contract, the capital project and facilities consultant is responsible for cost management and quantity-surveying at a new airside floriculture redistribution centre at the Dubai airport. The client is the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation.
The 800,000-sq-ft centre will be chilled to 1.1 deg C all year round while outside summertime temperatures reach up to 50 deg C. The $105 million project, which will handle about 264,000 tonnes of flowers every year, is part of a major airport expansion scheme.
EC Harris is also the executive cost manager at a new convention centre which will host the IMF and World Bank meetings in September 2003.
Work on the $108.9 million project is due to be completed in January next year.
Venture to build fertiliser plant
Muscat: Technip-Coflexip in joint venture with Snamprogetti, has signed with Oman-India Fertiliser Company, a $770 million lumpsum turnkey contract for the design and construction of a fertiliser complex in Sur, 150 km south of Muscat.
The complex will consist of two 1,750 tonnes-per-day (tpd) ammonia plants as well as two 2,350 tpd urea plants and two granulation units.
The complex also includes associated utilities, offsites and marine works. It is expected to be the world's largest grassroots fertiliser complex. Under the terms of the contract, Technip-Coflexip and Snamprogetti, in a 50/50 joint venture, will supply engineering design, equipment and materials, construction management, start-up supervision as well as training of the client's personnel.
Works will be completed within 35 months once the contract comes into force. Financing of the project is currently being finalised which will enable the project to get under way soon.
Water projects get go-ahead
Muscat: Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, Shaikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Qatabi, has signed five agreements related to water projects in Oman.
The first contract worth a total of RO1.16 million ($3.01 million) covers development of Mirbat water supplies. The second agreement provides for operation and maintenance of Al Mazionah water purification station at a cost of RO240,000.
The third deal covers drilling a production well at Al Saadah district and will cost RO120,000.
The fourth and fifth agreements cover replacement of water tanks in the governorate and western area water supplies respectively and each project will cost RO100,000.
