MEED Middle East Economic Digest

Bidding is under way for two key engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts on the integrated Qatar Liquefied Gas Company II (Qatargas II) project. Two groups have started preparing bids for the liquefaction train contract at Ras Laffan,...

The story of Saudi Arabia running out of sand sounds like the stuff of a salutary fable on taking abundance for granted. For Bahraini contractors, the moral may be apt but the problem is deadly serious. Since Riyadh banned the export of sand in 2003,...

For the first time in months the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) has found its reverse gear. Late April saw a wave of profit taking partly triggered by the 21 April bomb attack in Riyadh. Given the meteoric ascent of the market since the first quarter...

Five groups comprising eight local and international companies submitted bids on 21 April to Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) for the contract to carry out preliminary engineering designs on the Riyadh light railway (LR) scheme. Eleven consultants...

As the chequered flag came down on Bahrain's first Formula One grand prix on 4 April, viewers around the world cheered--and the kingdom heaved a sigh of relief. A formidable series of obstacles--securing the race in the face of regional competition,...

Contractors are due to bid by 10 May for the basic engineering package on the estimated $1,400 million-1,600 million Isfahan refinery upgrade. The job is part of a wider programme of refinery work designed to improve Iran's refined products specifications...

State-owned Public Electricity Corporation (PEC) is gearing up to appoint an international consultant for the contract to supervise the construction of the estimated $230 million Marib power station. The award is a precondition set by the main sponsors...

The Oil Ministry may be forced to revise downwards its output target for 2004 of 3 million barrels a day (b/d) of crude in the face of the worsening security situation in the country. Speaking to MEED on 28 April, Mike Stinson, senior oil adviser for...

Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the local Oriental Group and its sister company Oriental Petrochemicals Company (OPC) to form a project company for a planned propane dehydrogenation...

Oil prices spiked in the final week of April as one of the worst fears of the US-led coalition in Iraq almost came true. Suicide attackers attempted to cut off the country's economic lifeblood, driving boats packed with explosives at the southern oil...

National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) is close to signing major deals with the UAE and Kuwait to supply gas through subsea pipelines. NIGEC managing director Rokneddin Javadi says the UAE agreement will be in place by the end of May and project...

To: The Chief Executive From: Director, Middle East & Africa Subject: Publishing opportunity in the Middle East Background: Last year was a good one for the GCC. As I forecast, the Americans are in a mess in Iraq, but the neighbouring...

Turkey's Tepe Alden Vie Investment Construction & Operation (TAV) is due in the first week of May to sign the build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract covering the operation of terminal 1 of Tehran's new Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA)...

The US is yet to decide how to use the $4,000 million from the $18,400 million supplemental budget for Iraqi reconstruction projects that has so far not been allocated, Lawrence Crandall, deputy director of the programme management office (PMO) in...