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News
Algeria has enough water for shale gas says ministry
The water resoruces are in place for full scale production of world’s third largest shale gas reserves
Morocco issues tender for Casablanca cruise terminal
Documents are available to collect until 2 July
MSCI could downgrade Egypt if foreign exchange market worsens
Investors may not be able to repatriate funds from Egypt due to foreign exchange shortage
Algeria issues new railway tenders
Algeria awards contract for new railway line to Portuguese group
Jordan approves region’s first shale oil-fired power plant
Proposed plant will have a capacity of 500MW
Libya signs oil deal with Tunisia
Deal follows Tunisia’s successful funding agreement with IMF
Morocco considers redevelopment options for Kenitra port
Morocco port agency also issues tender for Mohammedia port development
Joint venture wins Saraya Aqaba contract
CCC, Arabtec and Drake & Scull win work in Jordan
Algeria invites bids for major solar programme
North African state is planning to provide 2,000MW of solar power by 2021
France claims Syria has used chemical weapons
UK also finds evidence that nerve agent Sarin has been used in conflict
Algeria invites bids for solar projects
Contractors invited to bid on three photovoltaic solar schemes
Jordan wind farm to reach financial close in June
Financing for Jordan’s first renewables energy project nearing financial close
Jordan invites consultants to bid for groundwater study
Work will involve providing a groundwater-flow model of the Dead Sea basin
Local contractor wins Marsa Zayed residential work in Jordan
Al-Raha Village will have 500 residential units
Arabtec wins Jordan hotel construction deal
Client is Abu Dhabi-based Al-Maabar
Jordan breaks ground on themed tourist destination
Jordan development includes a Star Trek theme park
Casualties rise in Lebanese sectarian conflict
Violence in Tripoli continues to escalate
Jordan’s Aqaba extends cruise ship terminal bid deadline
Request for proposal covers design and tender document preparation for cruise ship terminal
Algeria plans nuclear power plant
Government aims to have first nuclear plant in operation by 2025
Algerian delay forces Petrofac to defer revenues
Work ceasing at its $1.2bn In Salah project in Algeria forces UK contractor to push back profit estimates
Analysis
A contrasting 2012 for Middle East oil producers
Drops in crude output from Iran, Syria and Yemen offset by record year for other producers
Remittances surge in Middle East
The Middle East and North Africa region experienced the fastest growth in remittances in 2012
Renault to start Algeria production in 2014
New Renault car plant will produce 25,000 cars a year by 2015
Top 50 hydrocarbon EPC contractors
An interactive chart on the biggest contractors working in the oil, gas and petrochemicals sectors in the Middle East over the past year
Infighting divides ruling coalition in Morocco
Disagreements between the two largest parties in power is threatening to derail Morocco’s government
UAE driving Mena oil and gas spending
Spending in second quarter looks likely to outstrip first as major offshore deals are awarded
Syria war stokes Iraq sectarianism
Rising violence in Iraq leads to fears of new sectarian conflict between Shias and Sunnis
Visitor slump hits high-end hotels in Lebanon
Political uncertainty is deterring Gulf Arabs from visiting Lebanon, hurting high-end hoteliers and retailers, but refugees from Syria are mitigating the impact on the economy
Algeria looks beyond Bouteflika
Poor health may hasten the long-time Algerian president’s departure from power, fuelling speculation about a successor
Interview: Ki-Seok Park chief executive officer of Samsung Engineering
A joint venture with Arabtec Holding follows a string of successes in the Middle East. The man at the helm of the South Korean giant outlines his future strategy for the company
Syphax Airlines: MEED Assessment
Syphax must ensure it has built up a substantial market share to compete with other low-cost airlines
Comment
South Koreans still dominate
European contractors have enjoyed a resurgence this year, with the UK’s Petrofac finishing in first place
Iraq’s rising sectarianism
Civil war in Syria likely to affect the delicate Shia-Sunni balance in Iraq
Can a country buy its own security?
Defence spending in the region is on the rise, but amassing an arsenal is not the best way to run a country
Syria opposition losing its way
The rebels’ credibility as a political force ready to run Syria after Bashar al-Assad is being eroded due to internal squabbles
Stability needed over stimulation
A crisis at home and on its borders may nullify Lebanon central bank’s laudable economic stimulus plan
Dialogue key to avoiding unrest in Yemen
Yemen’s government needs to plan contingency measures to prevent another outbreak of civil unrest
Secession pushes Sudan's economy to brink
With an ever-weakening economy, the cost of secession is mounting for the Sudanese government
Compromise is way forward for Tunisia
The move by Ennahda to give up four key ministries to non-partisan figures is a step in the right direction for restoring stability in Tunisia
Oil industry in the spotlight after Algeria attack
The Algeria siege has highlighted the deep-seated security issues facing the oil and gas industry
Polls unlikely to solve problems in Jordan
Little sign the election will lead to a breakthrough in addressing Jordan’s economic or political woes
