Port planned for Eastern Province
Ras Al Zour: Saudi Arabia plans to build a new port in Ras Al Zour, in the Eastern Province, for exporting minerals, Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry said.
The port will increase the total number of seaports in the Eastern Province to four. The land-bridge project linking the kingdom's east with west was progressing well and tenders would be called shortly to carry out the landmark project, he said.
Work to start on PIC’s $1.2bn plant
Kuwait City: A consortium comprising South Korean builder SK Engineering and Construction Company (SKEC) and Italian builder Tecnimont will soon start construction work on a KD350.4 million ($1.2 billion) chemical plant for Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC).
The project, expected to complete in January 2009, calls for the setting up of an aromatics production plant in the Shuaiba industrial area, 40 km south of Kuwait City. The consortium is 45 per cent owned by SK and 55 per cent by Tecnimont. The chemical plant is projected to have an annual capacity of 1.9 million tonnes of paraxylene, benzene and naphtha.
Hadi Haider lands $104m contract
Jubail: The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) has awarded the local Hadi Haider Company (HHC) the SR391 million ($104 million) Southern sector power plant switchyard and substation supply contract in the Yanbu 2 Industrial Area.
The lump-sum turnkey contract involves the design, procurement, installation, test and commissioning of one 380-kV switchyard along with one 115-kV substation and one 115-kV switchyard for the expansion of the distribution network to new industrial area.
The contract is expected to be completed in three years. Kuljian Corporation of Philadelphia is the consultant for the project.
Asteco, Hokair to manage Buildex
Al Khobar: Regional property services leader Asteco has partnered with Saudi Arabia-based developer Al Hokair and Sons Group to lease, sell and manage a unique building and design centre, Buildex.
Representing an investment of $40 million, Buildex will be located in the heart of the Eastern Province in the city of Al Khobar and will serve the growing construction industry in the region.
Due for completion in the first quarter of 2007, the new five-storey development will cover an area of 80,000 sq m with a total leasable area of 50,000 sq m. This unique development will consist of an office floor and will house design, architecture, gardening and building trade companies serving both wholesale and retail markets. Buildex can accommodate up to 200 tenants and will employ more than 600 people.
Bahrain plans three new flyovers
Manama: Three new flyovers could be built in Bahrain to help ease traffic congestion on some of the country's main roads following the approval by MPs during the last parliament session. The proposed flyovers would go over roundabouts near Bahrain Gas, Salmabad, the Labour Ministry, Zayed Town, and the Al Alawi Shopping Complex in Nuwaidrat. A fourth flyover was suggested as a possibility over the clock roundabout in Riffa. The proposal for the flyovers is being forwarded to the Cabinet, which will take a decision based on its budget and timeframe.
Edicomsa, Intec to build tall tower
Manama: Edicomsa International and Intec Bahrain have signed an agreement with Le Papillon Promotions to build the tallest residential building in Juffair, Bahrain.
Under the terms of the agreement, Intec Bahrain is responsible for all of the architecture and design for the Le Papillon Tower. Edicomsa International is responsible for the engineering and construction of the luxury residential development project.
Intec will also liaise with Best Italian Interior Design (BIID) for the interiors of the project.
Bahrain plans $5m central market
Manama: Bahrain’s government has earmarked about BD2 million ($5.31 million) for a new central market in the Southern Governorate. The new 16,000 sq m market, proposed for the Hanninyah Valley, will also include a shopping mall similar to the Marina Mall in the Manama Central Market.
Once complete, the new market project will replace the current dilapidated East Riffa Central Market. The project is still under discussion by the Southern Municipal Council's technical committee, which believes that the cost could be more than that originally allocated.
Designs for the new market have been prepared by the Southern Municipality and work on the project will begin once it is approved by the council and granted the budget by the government.
Dulux records $52m in sales
Dubai: Dulux of ICI Paints achieved sales of over Dh192 million ($52.27 million) during the last year. It has projected sales volumes to reach Dh640 million by 2010. In 2005, the decorative paint market made up 90 per cent of ICI Paints' global turnover of Dh15.3 billion. 'The total decorative paints market for the GCC, Levant and Yemen is estimated to be 485 million litres and, with the ongoing boom in construction and private property ownership, we expect to see year-on-year growth of more than 15 per cent,' said Tony Myers, managing director of ICI Paints decorative licensing and export business.
