Gulf Construction Online

UAE Focus

In brief

01 April 2020

Brooge to expand storage capacity

Brooge Petroleum and Gas Investment Company (BPGIC) has signed a land lease agreement for the oil storage and services business to expand storage capacity and refinery operations in Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ).

The 450,000 sq m of land will be used for Phase Three expansion of BPGIC, which is developing terminals in Fujairah in stages. Construction on Phase Two is expected to be completed by Q3 of 2020. Once Phase Three is ready, the company said it will become the largest oil storage and services business in Fujairah.

Phase Three should add storage and services capacity of 3.5 million cu m – 3.5 times the size of its projected operations post-Phase Two. Construction on the land will commence in 2020.

Caterpillar unit wins rail deal

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway, said it has awarded a contract to Chicago-based Progress Rail Locomotive to supply locomotives for the country’s nationwide rail network.

Progress Rail Locomotive is a unit of leading construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar. This strategic supply will help Etihad Rail expand its fleet to 45 locomotives, over six times of its current fleet strength of seven locomotives, said the Emirati group.

Etihad Rail said as per the deal, Progress Rail will design, manufacture, test, and ship 38 EMD locomotives especially designed to withstand the high temperatures and humidity of the Gulf region. Additionally, the locomotives fleet will be equipped with a state-of-the-art air filtration system that filters sand from the air intake and pulse cleaning systems.

Work starts on Premier Inn

Building works have officially begun on a new Premier Inn hotel in Dubai’s Barsha Heights area.

The property – a partnership between Premier Inn and MBT Hotel Management & Hospitality – will be MBT’s first expansion into the hotel industry.

Due for completion during the last quarter of 2021, Premier Inn Barsha Heights will be the ninth UAE property for the UK-based brand. The new hotel will contain 219 rooms covering 14,450 sq m and will feature a licensed bar, restaurant, pool, gym and a Costa Coffee outlet.