InterBuild India doubles in size
New Delhi: With over 60 per cent of the exhibition being occupied by international exhibitors, InterBuild India 2005 – India’s International Trade Exhibition for Building Construction and Interiors – has doubled in size, claim the organisers.

Organised by Montgomery International Limited (MIL) and Interads Limited, this year’s show will see the arrival of some of the bigger names including: Kronospan, Pergo, Kaban, Firat, Agrob Buchtal, Steuler, Stroher, and LG.

Maromacc turns forty
Verona: The 40th edition of Maromacc – the International Natural Stone Technology exhibition – will be held at Verona, Italy from September 29 to October 2.
The leading four-day event in the natural stone sector, is expected to welcome over 1,400 companies from 50 countries.
As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations the second floor of the PalaExpo will host a full-scale citadel of marble, art and culture with theme shows, meetings and special events dedicated to architecture and design.
The ninth edition of the International Biennial Stone Architecture Award will be held concurrently with the event.

Hanover gears up for key seminar
Hanover: A symposium on “Refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technology innovations for reducing CO2 emissions” will be organised by IZW at IKK 2005 Hannover – the International Trade Fair Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Ventilation at the Hannover exhibition grounds on November 1.
The symposium designed in co-operation between the Heat Pump and Refrigeration Information Centre (IZW), Germany’s representative at the International Energy Agency (IEA), and VDKF is devoted mainly to the question of energy-based reduction of CO2 emissions in cooling, air conditioning and heating.
The symposium presents international experts for each of the individual segments of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technology.

Three-day training in lighting
Manama: The Training Centre, Bahrain Society of Engineers, will organise a three-day training programme in Interior and External Lighting Design at the Crowne Plaza Hotel starting from September 26.
The programme is done in association with the Instituto Nazionale di Ot-tica Applicata, universities, members of major lighting design associations and professionals from Italian and international lighting companies.

Diar to finance Sur resort
Doha: Qatar’s Diar Real Estate Investment Company will finance the construction of a tourist resort in Oman’s Sur area.
The company and Oman’s Ministry of Tourism signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding for the financing and construction of the resort in Ras Al Hadd.
The project consists of a five-star hotel with chalets, an exhibition centre, a golf course and a club surrounded by residences, a coastal entertainment and sports club, restaurants and cafes and a market for local and traditional crafts.

Dredging work on NDIA complete
Doha: Most of the dredging work from the sea has been completed on the ongoing $5.5 billion New Doha International Airport (NDIA) project.
The airport construction work began in January and was on schedule for phase one to be completed by 2009.

BHEL lands two major power deals
Muscat: Bharat Heavy Electricals, India's largest power equipment maker, has won a Rs9 billion ($207 million) contract for two power projects in Oman.
The order has been placed by the government-run Petroleum Development Oman, BHEL said in a statement.
The order envisages setting up of two gas turbine based turnkey power projects with 2 by 126 MW power plant at Mukhaizna and 1 by 126 MW power plant at Qarn Alam.
The scope includes design, supply, civil construction, erection and commissioning of these power projects. While Mukhaizna site is situated around 600 km from Muscat, the Qarn Alam site is situated around 400 km from Muscat. Both the projects are to be completed in 23 months.
With this order, BHEL supplied generating sets will account for over 40 per cent of PDO’s installed generating capacity, demonstrating the confidence that PDO has in BHEL’s capabilities.

Tenders to resurface runway called
Manama: Bahrain International Airport has called for the pre-qualification for the resurfacing of runway and link taxiway, which is expected to start later this year.
A budget of BD10.6 million ($28.12 million) has been allocated for the project. Designs for the project are now being finalised by consultants Gibb of the UK.
The work, which will be undertaken in close co-ordination with Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) and airlines operating through our airport, will be completed in eight months. Most of the work will be carried out during late night and early morning hours, between 2 am and 6 am, when traffic is very low.

Gamuda, WCT win $500m contract
Doha: A consortium involving Malaysian construction firms Gamuda and WCT Engineering has won the right to build airfield systems and facilities worth $500 million in Doha, Qatar.

Tabuk airport awaits expansion
Tabuk: Tabuk airport will be expanded to receive more flights to cater to the increasing inflow of passengers from other parts of the kingdom.
Governor Prince Fahd said the bidding process for construction contracts of the new airport will begin in two months.
The expansion of the airport is expected to be on the west side on a 1,200 sq m site. After completion, the new two-storey airport building will have separate arrival and departure terminals. The expansion will also include a Royal Terminal and several public service facilities.

ZAC to cool Savola’s malls
Jeddah: Zamil Air Conditioners (ZAC) has been awarded a major contract by Savola Group to supply air conditioning solutions for two of the group's shopping malls in Jeddah.
More than 400 packaged, concealed, ducted splits and air handling units will be supplied to Roshan and Jamea Malls in a contract valued at SR6.1 million ($1.6 million).
The innovative climate control solutions being provided by ZAC will generate cooling capacities of 2,601 tonnes and 1,897 tonnes to Roshan and Jamea Malls respectively.
The main contractor for the Roshan Mall project is French firm, Fressaynet, while E A Juffali is the electro-mechanical contractor.
Qutaimi Company is the main contractor for the Jamea Mall project and Technical Electro Mechanical Works Company (Techno) is the electro-mechanical contractor.
United Properties began the development of the two malls in Jeddah last November.

Saudi Arabia scraps cement duty
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has decided to remove customs duty on import of cement for six months as part of a move to check the rise in cement prices.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Hashem Yamani said that it will be a short-term measure and cement duty would return to the existing level of five per cent after six months as in the other Gulf states.
There will be a 30-40 per cent additional increase in cement production from October this year till March next to overcome the shortfall.
The government had earlier slashed customs tariffs on cement imports from 20 to five per cent in an apparent move to bring down soaring prices in the market.