GCC power grid to cost $3 billion
Riyadh: The planned GCC power grid will cost $3 billion, Saudi Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al Hussain, said at a joint meeting of the GCC water and electricity ministers and the GCC power grid authority in Riyadh, recently.

The power grid authority would sign 13 construction contracts this year to implement the first phase of the project, he said.
The power grid will start operating by the end of 2008, he said, adding that four countries – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait – will be linked in the first phase.
The UAE and Oman will be linked in the second phase and all six countries will be linked in the third phase.

Qatar eyes $110bn project financing
Doha: Qatar plans to raise some $110 billion in project financing by 2010 in loans of up to 30 years, the country's economy minister said. The country has launched a massive overhaul of its infrastructure, including a new airport and port, to keep pace with rapid economic growth. The government is also scrambling to develop roads and services in time for the Asian Games, which Doha will host next year, said a report.

Boskalis wins Bahrain deal
Manama: Boskalis has won a BD66.4 million ($176 million) contract for the first and second phases of dredging and reclamation work for Bahrain’s new Northern Town, which will include more than 15,000 homes.
The first two phases of the project, which will incorporate 10 reclaimed islands between them, is expected to help ease housing problems in the Northern Governorate with the first residents expected to move in by 2008.
The first phase of reclamation, which will be completed in 12 months, consists of two main islands with a combined area of 290 hectares, while the second phase, which will take another eight months, will include eight more islands with a combined area of 209 hectares. There is also a proposed third phase – which would include an additional 4,000-plus homes – that could be built at a later stage.

18 shortlisted for Cairo Metro
Cairo: Eighteen companies have been shortlisted from the intial 40 who submitted prequalification applications for the EGP6.2 billion ($1.078 billion) phase 1 and 2 of Cairo Metro third line project. They include Egyptian and international consortia of companies from Japan, China, South Korea, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Greece.

GCC power grid to cost $3 billion
Riyadh: The planned GCC power grid will cost $3 billion, Saudi Water and Electricity Minister Abdullah Al Hussain, said at a joint meeting of the GCC water and electricity ministers and the GCC power grid authority in Riyadh, recently.
The power grid authority would sign 13 construction contracts this year to implement the first phase of the project, he said.
The power grid will start operating by the end of 2008, he said, adding that four countries – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait – will be linked in the first phase.
The UAE and Oman will be linked in the second phase and all six countries will be linked in the third phase.

Qatar eyes $110bn project financing
Doha: Qatar plans to raise some $110 billion in project financing by 2010 in loans of up to 30 years, the country's economy minister said. The country has launched a massive overhaul of its infrastructure, including a new airport and port, to keep pace with rapid economic growth. The government is also scrambling to develop roads and services in time for the Asian Games, which Doha will host next year, said a report.

Boskalis wins Bahrain deal
Manama: Boskalis has won a BD66.4 million ($176 million) contract for the first and second phases of dredging and reclamation work for Bahrain’s new Northern Town, which will include more than 15,000 homes.
The first two phases of the project, which will incorporate 10 reclaimed islands between them, is expected to help ease housing problems in the Northern Governorate with the first residents expected to move in by 2008.
The first phase of reclamation, which will be completed in 12 months, consists of two main islands with a combined area of 290 hectares, while the second phase, which will take another eight months, will include eight more islands with a combined area of 209 hectares. There is also a proposed third phase – which would include an additional 4,000-plus homes – that could be built at a later stage.

18 shortlisted for Cairo Metro
Cairo: Eighteen companies have been shortlisted from the intial 40 who submitted prequalification applications for the EGP6.2 billion ($1.078 billion) phase 1 and 2 of Cairo Metro third line project. They include Egyptian and international consortia of companies from Japan, China, South Korea, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Greece.

Sparkling bathrooms event
Milan: Industry leaders and new entrants in the bathroom sector from Italy and overseas will take part in Expobagno, the international exhibition dedicated to the bathroom world, early next year.
Ceramic sanitary ware, taps and fittings and wellness facilities, coverings, mini-spas, marble, bathroom accessories and tiles will be the focus at the show, organised by Fiera Milano International at the new Fiera Milano exhibition centre in Rho-Pero from February 28 to March 4, 2006.
Four months from its launch, Expobagno has received enthusiastic response, securing the participation of more than 130 companies in the over 13,000 sq m of exhibition space.
Ideal Standard Italia (Ideal Standard, Ceramica Dolomite, Jado), the industry leader for ceramics, taps and fittings and the leader in terms of growth in wellness facilities and the Italian distributor of Oxygena, the first tile to purify the air, top the list of exhibiting companies that have chosen Expobagno to launch their new product ranges.
Expobagno will also host leading international companies operating in the tiles field, with particular emphasis on porcelain stoneware.

Woodshow set in Dubai
Dubai: Woodshow 2006, the only dedicated wood and wood machinery exhibition in the region, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from April 10 to12, 2006, will have a strong regional and international presence.
Firms from more than 40 countries are expected to showcase their products at the event.
The products and innovations to be displayed at the exhibition include MDF, plywood, hardwood, softwood, veneers, timbers, parquet, laminates, finished wood merchandise and paper products. The show will also feature moulding machines, woodworking machinery and tools, accessories, components and auxiliary equipment for the worldwide wood and woodworking industry.

Property show in Abu Dhabi, Dubai
Abu Dhabi: DSL Exhibitions, international property exhibition company, will host property shows this month in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The 28th Middle East Worldwide Property Show will be held in Abu Dhabi from November 14 to 15 and in Dubai from November 18 to 20.
The upcoming shows are claimed to be the largest event ever held in the show’s 10-year history. The event will showcase exciting international properties from over 30 countries including traditional log cabins on the snow-capped mountains in Lapland, Finland, villas on the glistening blue tropical beaches of Fiji and the Caribbean, to golf resorts and state-of-the-art high-rises in Dubai.

Jacobs evaluates Hidd IWPP
Manama: Jacobs Consultancy, the independent consultant for Bahrain’s Hidd independent power and water plant (IWPP) project, is currently evaluating the front-end-engineering-design (FEED)/engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) proposals based on guaranteed maximum price (GMP) received from principal contractors last July.
The project’s total cost is expected to be about BD565.4 million ($1.5 billion).
The IWPP site of approximately 790,000 sq m, allocated by Ministry of Industry and Commerce, is about 2 km north of Bapco wharf.
The project calls for the transfer of the existing Al Hidd Phase I and Al Hidd Phase II assets, which currently generates 1,000 MW of electricity and 30 million gallons per day (mpgd) of water, to the private sector and the construction of a new 50 mpgd desalination unit (Al Hidd Phase III) through the implementation of an independent water and power project, in order to meet the increasing demand for electricity and water.
The project will consist of transferring ownership, operating and maintaining the 1,000 MW power generating station, in addition to the enhancement, design and construction of the required expansion in energy produced to the desired 90 mpgd by 2008.
The FEED/EPC contracts are expected to be awarded during the first half of 2006 and the project is expected to complete in 40 months time from the date of awarding the contracts.
Environment consultant, Posford Haskoning Gulf is currently preparing the environment impact assessment (EIA) study for the project.

Harbour projects make progress
Manama: Development work on the first phase of three fishing harbours in Bahrain – Budaiya, Muharraq and Sitra harbour – has been completed.
“Main power connections by the Electricity and Water Ministry will be installed soon,” Works and Housing Ministry public relations and community services head Adnan Al Shaikh said.
Work on the three harbours, which started in December 2003, costs BD7.85 million ($20.82 million).
Development work was carried out based on directives from King Hamad to improve conditions for the kingdom’s fishermen. Al Shaikh said construction work on each site has been split into two parts.
The marine and civil work was carried out by Ahmed Mansour Al A’Ali and it included dredging, quay walls, stone protection and small boat jetties.
The building and external work was carried out by Habib Awachi, which included new lockers, workshops, offices for coastguards and fisheries personnel.