Aramco plans $4bn projects

Jeddah: Saudi Aramco plans to invite bids for 94 construction and engineering projects worth over SR15 billion ($4 billion) within the next 18 months, according to a report.

The projects include 26 building and infrastructure, three communications, eight pipelines, 38 plant upgrade, two offshore and 17 other major projects, the Saudi Commerce & Economic Review reported.

Isam A Al Bayat, vice-president for project management, disclosed this during a meeting recently held at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Chiyoda wins SIPC deal

Jubail: Japan's Chiyoda Corp has won the estimated SR1.5 billion ($400 million) main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) package on a methanol plant in Jubail for the Saudi International Petrochemical Company (SIPC).

The commissioning is expected in the first quarter of 2004. The plant, to be built in the Jubail Industrial City where SIPC is developing an integrated petrochemical complex, will have a capacity of 950,000 tonnes per year.

New roads get go-ahead

Riyadh: Acting Saudi Transport Minister Osama Shoboqshi has signed 10 contracts worth $189 million with several local companies for the construction of two roads.

The first road links the central province of Qassim with Hail in the north, a distance of 185 km.

The second project is set to widen the 282-km road connecting the kingdom's eastern border posts to Qatar and the UAE respectively.

$27m utility contracts awarded

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has awarded several contracts worth SR103.2 million ($27.52 million) for public utility projects across the country. Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Dr Mohammed Jarallah signed the contracts.

The projects cover areas such as Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Qassim, Jizan, the Northern border and Al Jouf.

New desal plants to open

Jeddah: Saudi Arabia will complete more desalination plants by the end of this year, raising the total number of operational units to 30.

There will be 29 pumping stations and 10 mixing stations in the kingdom after the completion of the current projects.

The total length of pipelines will then be more than 4,000 km.