Gulf Construction Online

Regional News

In brief

01 June 2021

Spanish firm to design Barka plant

Leading Spanish engineering consultant Savener said it has won the design contract for the Barka V sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant in Oman which will boast a capacity of 100,000 cu m per day on completion.

The contract, awarded by a joint venture between Spanish infrastructure major GS Inima and Italian group Fisia Italimpianti, will see Savener carry out the design of practically all the engineering of the installation. The project, which is set to come up in the north of Muscat at an investment of $129 million, will involve more than 50,000 hours of work for the Spanish group.

According to Savener, it has five reverse osmosis (RO) trains using spiral wound membranes, dissolved air flotation (DAF) pre-treatment system and gravity dual media filters and a post-treatment using UP-flow limestone filter.

Tenders out for Batinah road work

Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has floated a consultancy tender for the remaining work on Al Batinah Coast Highway’s first phase, which involves the completion of the road leading to A’Suwaiq harbour, reported ONA.

The scope of work involves the preparation of tender execution documents for the project, which extends from the Wilayat of Barka to Wudam Al Sahel in the Wilayat of Al Musanaa and onwards to A’Suwaiq harbour, it stated.

The bids are due to be opened on June 7, after which the executive contractors tender will be floated. The project is due to be awarded by the year-end.

Sites allocated for workers’ cities

Kuwait Municipality has allocated eight sites for the construction of workers’ cities in Jahra and Al Ahmadi and these are now handed over to two specialised committees of the Municipal Council, reported Arab Times.

Each of these labour cities will be coming up on a 150,000-sq-m area, stated the report, citing the Director-General of the Municipality Engineer Ahmed Al Manfouhi.

The technical committee has approved the allocation of five sites for residential complexes for expatriate workers in Ahmadi Governorate (in the Shuaiba Port region) and three sites in the Al Jahra Governorate in implementation of the Cabinet’s decision. The sites should be handed over to the State Property Management of the Ministry of Finance to be put up for auction to the private sector, it added.

Oman mulls sale of stake in OCC

Oman is considering the sale of its stake in Oman Cement Company (OCC), said a report, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

The sultanate is speaking to advisers about selling its nearly 54 per cent holding in the company, the Bloomberg report said citing the sources. The stake could be worth just over $100 million based on its current market price.

Equipment rental market to grow

The global construction equipment rental market is poised for tremendous growth mainly driven by the robust adoption of technologically integrated equipment in rental fleets in key markets of North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, according to a report by Graphical Research.

Technological innovations, including telematics and driver assistance systems will further propel the business outlook. With the expanding consumer base of earthmoving and roadbuilding equipment in the US, Canada and Mexico, loaders will witness bullish demand in the region.

Parking pact sealed

Bahrain Car Parks Company, a key player in the parking management and property leasing sector, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with the regional arm of Scheidt & Bachmann Group, a global leader in innovative parking solutions worldwide.

As per the deal signed virtually using a video conferencing platform, Bahrain Car Parks Company will be the sole agent for Scheidt & Bachmann in the kingdom, offering a portfolio of smart parking solutions that utilise advanced technologies and open digitization platforms for parking management.

Markaz sets up EV charging stations

Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz) said it has successfully installed electric vehicle charging stations at its properties – Al Nada Tower in Dasman and Al Maha Tower in Bneid Al Gar – in Kuwait.

Located in the heart of Dasman, Al Nada Tower is a 27-floor high-end residential tower overlooking Gulf Road. Similarly, Al Maha Tower, situated in Bnaid Al Gar, has 22 floors with spectacular views. Both are strategically located near the city centre, trade zones and famous shopping centres.

A leading asset management and investment banking institution, Markaz said the charging stations located in dedicated parking spaces are operational and tenants can use the facilities free of cost.