MEED
Issue No 31 1 - 7 August 2008
View all stories from this issue.
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Abdullah Qassim al-Emir
Abdullah Qassim al-Emir is Oil consultant to the Prime Minister’s office, Iraq -
Algeria's trade-off plan is right move
The decision by Algerian Oil Minister Chakib Khelil and state energy company Sonatrach to seek upstream positions abroad in return for stakes in its own oil and gas concessions in Algeria is a novel strategy. -
Algiers offers oil licence trade-off
Firms bidding in state’s oil and gas auction will be required to offer stakes in overseas projects to Sonatrach. -
Al-Noor approaches local contractors for $300bn city deal
The developers of the Al-Noor City project to build a bridge crossing the Red Sea linking two new cities in Yemen and Djibouti are approaching local contractors to ascertain their interest in the $300bn project. -
Aramco offers flexibility on refinery upgrade deals
State oil giant Saudi Aramco is departing from its usual contracting policy to offer engineering firms flexible terms on the multi-billion-dollar scheme to cut the sulphur content of gasoline produced at four refineries. -
Aviation: Opening gateways to Africa
Countries of the Maghreb are investing heavily in expanding airport capacity in a bid to boost tourism and secure their status as the regional transport hub. -
Bank Muscat
The Omani bank is building on its London Stock Exchange listing with plans to expand overseas -
Bank Muscat: MEED Assessment
Strong dependence on the performance of the local economy makes the Bank Muscat vulnerable to market forces -
Construction industry needs partnerships
Clients and contractors are sharing the risk of rising prices and delays more evenly than before, and improving fractious relationships. -
Energy boom widens economic gap in North Africa
While high oil and gas prices are enabling hydrocarbons-rich North African states to cope easily with the rising cost of food on global markets, their neighbours are struggling. -
Energy: Riyadh pays price for going private
Amid speculation that there is little interest in the Jizan refinery, Riyadh is offering sweeteners to oil majors. -
Governance: Barriers to integration
With only limited ties between the major economies of the Maghreb, plans to create a ‘Union for the Mediterranean’ look as remote as ever. -
How Muscat can tackle inflation
Despite inflation reaching a record high in May, Oman has yet to act to bring it under control. Christopher Sell reports on how it could deal with the problem. -
Iraq energy - Six key people
The six key figures in the Iraqi energy sector: Hussein al-Shahristani, Ashti Hawrami, Natiq al-Bayati, Abdullah Qassim al-Emir, Manaa Abdullah al-Obaydi and Jabbar al-Luaibi. -
Jabbar al-Luaibi
Jabbar al-Luaibi is adviser to the oil minister -
Japanese credit agency offers $3bn finance for Ras al-Zour
Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC), the country’s export credit agency, is committing $3bn in loans to two of the three bids for the planned Ras al-Zour independent water and power project (IWPP). -
Jordanian projects run three times over budget
Spending on the 15 largest government schemes is expected to reach $2.4bn over the year. -
Koreans bid low for hospital work
A joint venture of the South-Korean Posco Engineering & Construction with the local Syed Hamid Behbani & Sons is the low bidder for the Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah hospital in Kuwait. -
Kuwaiti investors want greater clarity
The saga of capital gains tax for foreign investors is the latest example of regulatory uncertainty. -
Maaden board faces reshuffle following listing on Saudi bourse
Minister steps down to make way for representatives from the private sector. -
Manaa Abdullah al-Obaydi
Manaa Abdullah al-Obaydi is Director general, North Oil Company (NOC) -
Meeting rising power demand in North Africa
Electricity producers across North Africa are investing heavily in building new capacity, with coal-fired plants and wind power accounting for an increasingly large share of the market. -
Ministry postpones capital gains tax cut
Government levy of 55 per cent on share sales continues to deter international investors. -
Morocco’s success is key for North African region
The success of projects in Morocco will have a domino effect across the entire North African region. -
Morocco’s success is key for region
The success of projects in Morocco will have a domino effect across the entire North African region. -
Natiq al-Bayati
Natiq al-Bayati is Head of Contracts & Licensing Office, Oil Ministry, Iraq -
Opening up new finance frontiers in the region
Investment is pouring into the ‘frontier markets’ of the Middle East and North Africa as the rich rewards on offer and lack of correlation to the US attracts international interest. -
Q&A: Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah al-Khalili, Chairman, Bank Muscat
Rapid expansion will secure the Gulf bank’s position as a leader in the GCC -
Qasco enters talks to revive financing deal
Qatar Steel Company (Qasco) is holding preliminary negotiations with international banks over resurrecting a failed $1.3bn project finance deal designed to refinance existing debt and fund expansion. -
Quest Energy to build Iranian power plant
UAE’s Quest Energy to develop 1,000MW gas-fired plant despite sanctions. -
Ras Lanuf upgrade to go over budget
Rising engineering, procurement and construction costs set to increase refinery project’s $2bn price tag. -
Real estate: Investing in Europe’s next frontier
North Africa’s close proximity to mainland Europe is proving attractive to Middle East developers, with some of the Gulf’s biggest companies planning projects in the region. -
Riyadh offers incentives for oil majors to support Jizan
Kingdom to develop first refinery without the help of Saudi Aramco. -
Sewa awards contract to build Hamriya power plant
Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority (Sewa) has awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the Hamriya power plant, the largest in the emirate, to a team of the US’ GE and Canada’s SNC Lavalin. -
Sonatrach invites foreign contractors to bid for gas pipeline
State energy giant Sonatrach has invited selected internationalcontractors to submit technical and unpriced commercial bids by 24 August for a contract to build a gas pipeline between Hassi R’Mel and Skikda. -
Special Report: Maghreb - The drive for foreign investment
Nowhere else in the world will you find four neighbouring economies with so little in common. But Rabat, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli do share one thing: an urgent need for foreign investment. -
Special report: Maghreb - The drive for foreign investment
Nowhere else in the world will you find four neighbouring economies with so little in common. But Rabat, Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli do share one thing: an urgent need for foreign investment. -
Spreading the risk of Gulf construction
While partnerships are increasingly being used for Gulf projects, contractors remain sceptical over their benefits. -
The great hopes for oil and gas from Algeria and Libya
After years of under-investment, but with vast tracts of potentially hydrocarbons-rich land still unexplored, Algeria and Libya are attracting much attention from the energy majors. -
Tunis seeks open skies deal with Europe
Talks with European Commission to begin in September, with an agreement expected by the end of 2009. -
Western professionals to fill skills gap
Gulf boom attracts US and European construction executives seeking to flee slowing markets
