MEED
Issue No 43 23-29 October 2009
View all stories from this issue.
-
Abu Dhabi extends bidding on $1bn gas network deal
Contractors win more time to prepare proposals for pipeline construction -
Zadco to award dredging work at Zakum
Oil firm plans to create four man-made islands under scheme to increase production at offshore field -
Abu Dhabi’s feedstock U-turn
In a significant change in policy, the emirate is planning its first oil-fired power plant as its growing industrial sector puts natural gas supplies under increasing strain -
Abu Dhabi’s feedstock U-turn
In a significant change in policy, the emirate is planning its first oil-fired power plant as its growing industrial sector puts natural gas supplies under increasing strain -
Adma-Opco selects contractor for upgrade
National Petroleum Construction Company to carry out work after submitting lowest price for Lower Zakum -
Adnoc sets deadline for pipeline bidders
Contractors have until 5 November to submit technical bids for final major contract on gas scheme -
Al-Futtaim Carillion to build Adic headquarters
Sovereign wealth fund agreed $230m deal to build head office -
Al-Naboodah wins Dubai airport concourse deal
Local firm to build third concourse at international airport -
Aramco gives joint ventures more time
Contractors gain extension on bidding process for five-year deals -
Baghdad unveils plan to lift output
Oil Ministry hopes to raise output to 3.5 million barrels a day -
Bahrain delays Muharraq wastewater plant bid to 2010
Winning firm to build deep-gravity sewer network -
Bidders win extension on Bubiyan port deadline
Bid deadline put back by one month -
Bonds will bring transparency in the region
The value of bond issues in the Middle East so far this year is already more than double what it reached in 2008, and is well above the figures for 2006 and 2007. Next year looks likely to be even busier for debt markets -
Chiyoda and Technip renew partnership
Japanese and French firms renegotiate terms of joint venture as work on liquefied natural gas trains ends -
Contractors prepare bids for Dubai’s Al-Jalila hospital
Health authority plans to build 200-bed children’s hospital -
Doha should compromise over contracting model
Contractors must now press Qatar to show more flexibility in its contracting model -
Dubai International Capital appoints banks for loan
Dubai Holding subsidiary is seeking to raise $550m debt -
Emirates need better road links
As more people from Dubai travel to Abu Dhabi to work on projects, the traffic will get worse -
Emroc shortlists contractors for Bab al-Qasr hotel deal
Three groups vie for construction contract -
Filling the supply gap
Suppliers of portable generating equipment are enjoying booming business as electricity producers struggle to keep up with demand -
GCC project finance
The six key figures in the GCC’s project and structured finance markets are: Geoffrey Biron, Joseph Rodriguez, Irfan Said, Mansoor Durrani, Saad ur-Rehman and Hassan Ali -
Geoffrey Biron
A Geoffrey Biron is global head of project and structured finance, Arab Banking Corporation -
Groups line up for $150m Qatari wastewater plant
Ashghal is evaluating five bids for the project -
Gulf oil and gas construction costs plummet by 45 per cent
Prices have been on a downward trend since the market peaked in July 2008 -
Hassan Ali
A key figure in the GCC’s project and structured finance markets -
Image is key to Tripoli's energy strategy
Political relations between Tripoli and the international community remain strained. Libya’s image as a destination for foreign direct investment is poor -
Institutional borrowers turn to bond markets over banks
Region’s governments and companies have issued debt worth $31bn this year -
International Finance Corporation’s sukuk pricing revealed
Sukuk will be issued by 20 October -
Irfan Said
Irfan Said is head of project and structured finance, Samba Financial Group -
Islamic bank to double lending in face of crisis
Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Development Bank (IDB) plans to double the rate at which its lending is growing over the next three years in response to the financial crisis, according to Mohammad Tariq, head of treasury at the bank. -
Joseph Rodriguez
Joseph Rodriguez is head of leveraged finance, Al-Rajhi Capital -
Kuwaiti power plant bidders win extension
Kuwait’s Partnerships Technical Bureau, which oversees the state’s public-private partnership (PPP) schemes, has pushed back the bid deadline on the country’s first independent water and power project (IWPP) by two weeks. -
Libya’s ambitious energy plan
Tripoli hopes to attract international investors to turn the Gulf of Sirte into a $54bn energy hub as part of a wider programme to overhaul the country’s industrial sector -
Mansoor Durrani
Mansoor Durrani is vice-president and head of project finance, National Commercial Bank -
Morocco's power schemes must progress
Morocco’s plan to build a 100MW power plant using oil shale for fuel is another small step forward in the country’s bid to develop domestic energy resources and diversify its electricity generation portfolio. -
Mubadala receives prices for Sowwah Island hotel scheme
Contract covers construction of the five-star Rosewood Hotel and amenities -
Nakheel repays $1.2bn bond ahead of November deadline
Dubai developer settles debt one month early -
Rabat targets independent energy
Morocco is exploring the use of its oil shale and renewable energy sources to meet rising demand for electricity as its reliance on imports leaves it vulnerable to price fluctuations -
Reforms improve regional business climate
The World Bank’s Doing Business 2010 report praises the Middle East for making it easier to set up firms -
Restructuring the Saudi power industry
Riyadh has embarked on a bold scheme to boost the kingdom’s electricity generating capacity, with a huge programme of works using private finance to build new power plants and expand existing ones -
Saad ur-Rehman
Saad ur-Rehman is head of the structured finance division, Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) -
Saudi utility to seek proposals for city services
Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Nat-ional Water Company (NWC) is to issue a request for proposals in early December to manage the water networks of Mecca and Taif. -
Sipchem
Saudi International Petrochemical Company is having to find ways around feedstock shortages to expand -
Sipchem: MEED Assessment
Ongoing economic slowdown has softened demand in key markets, and resulted in lower profits for Saudi petrochemical producers -
Special Report: Power & Water - Gulf opts for oil-fired plants
Just seven months ago, in March, the Abu Dhabi government released a report saying that the economic and environmental cost of using oil as a fuel for power plants was too high to be considered -
Tehran struggles to fund rail schemes
With international sanctions making it difficult for Iran to secure financing for a series of much-needed rail plans, the Islamic Republic is being forced to prioritise some projects and put others on hold -
UAE to launch exchange-traded funds in early 2010
Esca has drawn up regulations in response to ADX request -
Utility seeks contractors for Ras al-Zour power plant
Saudi state-owned utility Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) is inviting contractors to qualify to bid for its planned Ras al-Zour power and water plant.
