Chinese contractors win Algeria port project

• China’s Shanghai Ports Group will be managing the planned trans-shipment port
• Port to feature 23 docks capable of processing 6.5 million 20-foot containers and 26 million tonnes of goods a year
• Contract is valued at an estimated $3.3bn
• The project has a seven-year construction timeline, with initial services to commence within four years

Algeria’s Transport Ministry has signed a contract worth an estimated $3.3bn with two Chinese contracting firms for the design-and-build of a major trans-shipment port located between the cities of Cherchell in Tipaza and Tnens in Chlef.

The port is envisaged to feature 23 docks capable of processing 6.5 million 20-foot contrainers and 26 million tonnes of goods a year.

The Transport Ministry expects annual port traffic in Algeria’s central region to peak to 35 million tonnes or 2 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by 2050.

Joint venture wins Bahrain airport construction deal

• Team of Arabtec and TAV wins Bahrain airport construction deal
• Existing airport accommodated more than twice its passenger-handling capacity in 2014
• Abu Dhabi Fund for Development is providing funding

A joint venture of Dubai-based Arabtec Construction and Turkey’s TAV has been awarded the contract to build a new terminal building as part of the $1.1bn expansion of Bahrain International airport.

Contractors have also been appointed for specialist systems. They are China International Marine Containers for the passenger air bridges; Venderlande of the Netherlands for the baggage-handling system; US-based L3 Communications for the security screening equipment; and Finland’s Kone for the moving walkways, escalators and elevators.

A contract was also awarded to France’s SETEC for the design of a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility.

Once completed, the expansion will increase the airport’s capacity to 14 million passengers a year.

GE wins Iraq power contracts

• Deal is worth $328.8m
• GE will install power equipment under fast-track programme
• US firm will install equipment at 10 sites around the country

The total value of the contracts signed was more than $1bn, with financing already in place for the first stage of projects, which are worth $328.8m. The projects will add an additional 700MW capacity to the grid, to boost electricity capacity in Iraq.

In August 2015, Iraq’s Electricity Minister Qassem al-Fahdawi said peak demand in the summer had reached 21,000MW while peak output was only 13,400MW.