MIDDLE EASTERN INDUSTRIAL BRIEFS

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas).

Refining

Bids Invited for Saudi‘s Southern Project

Eight local companies will be invited to make bids by the Saudi oil ministry for the build and operate contract for an oil refinery in Jizan. International companies would be invited to take part in partnership with local companies. The refinery will have a capacity of between 250,000 to 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) and will be sited as part of an economic city in the poor region in the far south of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea close to Yemen. An official said that one or more Saudi firms could form a partnership with one or more international firms to compete in the bidding.

Morocco Ponders New Complex as $900 Million Expansion on Course

Morroco’s refining company, Samir, has reported the possibility of an export oriented refinery at the port of Jorf Lasfar on the country’s Atlantic coast. Some caution has bee expressed on building a new refinery while the country’s domestic consumption is only 8 million tons per annum (mtpa). Meanwhile Samir is expanding the Mohammedia plant near Rabat from 6.25 mtpa to 9 mtpa in a 24 month, $45 million project. Eight hundred fifty million dollars has already been invested in modernization at Mohammedia.

Power

9,000 MW to Come from Dubai’s Latest Mega Project

A gigantic power and desalination project is being planned by Dubai at a site next to Dubai World Central (projected to be the world’s largest airport) and the mega Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone. The $12 to $15 billion project would have a plant with the capacity to generate 9,000 MW and 600 million gallons of desalinated water a day. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has invited international engineering companies to bid by June 10 for an initial contract to advise on the plant’s construction.

Full House of Petrochemicals from Dow/Saudi $20 Billion Complex

The $20 billion Ras Tanura petrochemical complex to be built by partners Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco will hold 30 world class facilities and produce a large range of basic chemicals and downstream polymers when comes into full operation in 2013. It will be the world’s largest petrochemical complex with 4 million tons of upstream products and 7 million tons of downstream products. Products will include ethylene, ethylene oxide and glycol, propylene, propylene oxide and glycol, aromatic and chlorine derivatives, chlor alkalis, amines and glycol ethers, vinyl chloride monomer, polyurethane components, epoxy resins, polyethylene and polycarbonate.

Qapco Commits Third LDPE Line

The joint venture between Industries Qatar and Total Petrochemicals, Qapco, will construct a third low density polyethylene line at its facility at Messaied in Southeast Qatar. The 250,000 tpa (option to extend to 300,000 tpa) line will use Basell technology and will be completed by 2010. This will bring total site capacity to 650-700,000 tpa making it one of the largest global LDPE sites. Ethylene for the line will come from the expanding Qapco cracker and from Qatofin’s share of the Ras Laffan cracker.

Mubadala and Dubal Take 33% of $3 Billion Guinea Alumina Project

A joint venture to develop and operate the Sangaredi alumina project in Guinea (West Africa) between Mubadala Development Company and Dubai Aluminum Company Limited (Dubal) will own 33% of the project. Broken Hill (BHP Billiton) and Global Alumina International (GAI) will each hold 33% in Guinea Alumina Corporation. The $3 billion project will have the capacity to produce 3 mtpa of alumina. It includes a 9 mtpa bauxite mine and estimated reserves of about I million tons of bauxite have been secured. Port facilities are already under construction.

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