Firms express interest in Lower Zakum project
8 May 2023
Contractors have expressed interest in bidding for the main contract for the first phase of the Lower Zakum Long-Term Development Plan (LTDP-1) project. The offshore arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Offshore) owns the project.
The Lower Zakum LTDP-1 project is the larger of two projects that the offshore arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has undertaken in line with its ambition to raise the oil and gas production potential of Abu Dhabi’s Lower Zakum offshore hydrocarbon concession over the long term.
Contractors submitted expression of interest (EoI) documents, as part of the prequalification process, for the LTDP-1 project by 27 April, according to sources.
Adnoc Offshore issued the EoI to contractors for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tendering exercise for the Lower Zakum LTDP-1 “earlier in March”, sources previously told MEED, with contractors initially asked to respond by 10 April.
Lower Zakum oil production
The Lower Zakum hydrocarbons zone is 65 kilometres northwest of Abu Dhabi in the Gulf’s waters. Adnoc Offshore holds the majority 60 per cent stake in the Lower Zakum asset. Foreign partners include an Indian consortium of companies led by ONGC Videsh (10 per cent), Japan’s Inpex Corporation (10 per cent), China National Petroleum Corporation (10 per cent), Italy’s Eni (5 per cent) and France’s TotalEnergies (5 per cent).
Adnoc Offshore and its partners in the Lower Zakum concession intend to sustain oil production from the asset at its current level of 450,000 barrels a day (b/d) until 2025, and then increase output to 470,000 b/d. This target will be achieved through the Lower Zakum early production scheme 2 (EPS 2) and proved developed producing (PDP) project.
The larger, longer-term objective is to raise Lower Zakum’s oil production to 520,000 b/d by 2027 and maintain that level until 2034. This goal is to be accomplished through the LTDP-1 project.
Raising oil and gas production from the Lower Zakum asset is vital for Adnoc to achieve its accelerated target of increasing oil production capacity to 5 million b/d by 2027, and raising gas output potential by 3 billion cubic feet a day (cf/d) by the end of this decade.
Lower Zakum EPS 2/PDP project
Front-end engineering and design (feed) work is progressing on the Lower Zakum EPS 2/PDP project and is being performed by UK-headquartered Wood Group.
Adnoc Offshore, which, according to sources, awarded Wood the contract in November last year, expects feed work on the project to be completed by June.
The basic scope of work on the project involves the drilling of 17 additional producer and water injection wells on two new wellhead towers (WHTs) and the expansion of the gas compression capacity of the Zakum West Super Complex (ZWSC).
Integration of the Lower Zakum complexes with the onshore power grid at UZ AGI for electricity supply to the EPS 2/PDP project is also part of the scope.
Demolition of structures and as-built documentation and surveying are also included in the scope of work.
Adnoc Offshore solicited interest for the Lower Zakum EPS 2/PDP project EPC works in December last year. Contractors expressed interest in participating in the main contract tendering process in January, sources told MEED.
As per the schedule, Adnoc Offshore expects to issue the project’s main EPC tender in June, with the award of contracts to take place in September.
Lower Zakum LTDP-1 project
Feed work is progressing on the Lower Zakum LTDP-1 project and is being performed by France’s Technip Energies.
According to sources, Adnoc Offshore awarded Technip Energies the contract in November last year. The operator expects feed work on the project, which began in December, to be completed by January 2024.
Adnoc Offshore issued the expression of interest for the Lower Zakum LTDP-1 EPC tendering exercise “earlier in March”, with contractors asked to respond by 10 April.
The detailed scope of work on the Lower Zakum LTDP-1 project is as follows:
Topside facilities on G Island – Civil works on process facilities and associated buildings on the artificial greenfield G Island.
Process facilities include well pads, inlet and export reception, production separation, export pumps, gas compression, dehydration and lift, produced water treatment and disposal, vapour recovery units, water injection units, riser tower, flare towers, accommodation, drilling of high-pressure flare knock out drum, power distribution facility, substations and local equipment rooms.
Offshore WHTs and pipelines – Seven WHTs will be installed: six in the east area, and one in the AGI area. Five of the WHTs are to be 16-slot, while the two others are to be 9-slot.
Das Island Terminal, ZCSC and ZWSC – The five existing oil processing trains at the Lower Zakum offshore development are to be decommissioned in 2028, with the new configuration of the main processing plant at Das Island to be:
- Two existing trains with a processing/stabilisation capacity of 110,000 b/d each
- Three new trains with a processing/stabilisation capacity of 150,000 b/d
The scope of work also covers the installation of other structures such as:
- Three high-pressure separator trains
- High-pressure scrubber
- Three low-pressure separator trains
- Low-pressure scrubber
- Three atmospheric separator trains
- Four crude charge pumps
- Three crude charge heaters
- Three cold strippers integrated with a degassing vessel
- Six stripped crude product pumps
- Common ejector with a spare for three cold strippers
- Closed drain drum with transfer pump
- Blow case vessel
As per the schedule, Adnoc Offshore expects to issue the project’s main EPC tender in December, with the award of contracts to take place in March next year.
The operator expects the Lower Zakum LTDP-1 project to be commissioned by the end of 2027.
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Slow year for Maghreb power and water awards
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The Maghreb region has experienced a slow 2025 in terms of power and water project contract awards. Hopes for the year now rely on a strong second half if the sector is to match the performance of previous years.
As of early July, the total value of power project contract awards had reached $663m, according to regional projects tracker MEED Projects. This means that by the end of the year, the market is expected to fall significantly short of the peaks of $3.8bn in 2023 and $4.5bn in 2024.
Libya’s recovery was a major driver in 2023, accounting for $2.9bn of the total for that year, while Algeria contributed $430m and Morocco $210m. There are no recorded power contract awards for Algeria or Libya in 2025. Morocco and Tunisia contributed $353m and $310m, respectively.
The total value of contract awards for water projects has also declined significantly. For the first six months of 2025, the total reached $189m, which is tracking behind the $815m of water project contract awards recorded in 2024.
Both 2025 and 2024 are far behind the peak of $3.6bn registered in 2022, when Algeria alone accounted for $1.8bn of contract awards, followed closely by Morocco with $1.6bn.
For upcoming power and water contract awards, there are over $6bn of contracts in the bid or prequalification stage that are expected to be awarded within the next year.
In the water sector, Libya leads with $210m of soon-to-be-awarded contracts, followed closely by Tunisia at $260m. In the power sector, Morocco stands out with an impressive projected contract value of $5.3bn, while in Tunisia, there are $300m of upcoming power contract awards.
Xlinks disappointment
There have been some notable project developments in the power and water sectors across the Maghreb region over the past year. Most recently, at the end of June, the UK government withdrew its support for the Xlinks Morocco-UK power project.
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero decided not to consider a contract for difference for this large-scale renewable energy initiative, which aimed to deliver 3,600MW of renewable energy from Morocco to the UK via a 4,000-kilometre high-voltage direct current cable system.
Sir Dave Lewis, chair of Xlinks, expressed disappointment, emphasising the project’s potential to significantly lower wholesale electricity prices in the UK.
Power progress
Other projects in Morocco are proceeding. The Ministry of Energy Transition & Sustainable Development has issued an invitation for expressions of interest for a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure project at Nador West Med Port. This project includes an LNG import terminal, pipelines and a gas power station with a capacity of approximately 1,200MW. The project aims to enhance Morocco’s energy security and diversify its energy sources.
Additionally, Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water has invited firms to submit expressions of interest for contracts to build three gas-fired power stations with a total capacity of between 300MW and 450MW. These plants are expected to be commissioned by the summer of 2026, further contributing to the country’s energy infrastructure.
Water advancements
In the water sector, Algeria has inaugurated the El-Tarf desalination plant, which has a production capacity of 300,000 cubic metres a day. This facility is part of Algeria’s broader desalination programme, which aims to address water scarcity issues exacerbated by climate change. The Algerian government has allocated $3bn for the second phase of its desalination capacity expansion, with plans to build six new plants by 2030.
Morocco is also advancing its water infrastructure, with Veolia undertaking the detailed design for a new seawater reverse osmosis plant near Rabat. This facility is expected to treat up to 822,000 cubic metres of seawater daily and will cater to regions particularly affected by drought.
Policy focus
For policy, governments have been manoeuvring as they respond to the global challenge of climate change.
Morocco is progressing with its green hydrogen initiatives, which are closely linked to its water projects. The country has set ambitious targets to produce 52% of its energy from clean sources by 2030, with plans to develop large-scale green hydrogen projects. These projects will require significant water resources for electrolysis, further intertwining the power and water sectors.
Morocco also aims to increase its renewable capacity to 10,000MW by 2030, with a focus on solar, wind and hydroelectric power. Despite the recent Xlinks setback, the country is also exploring opportunities for exporting electricity to Europe, which could significantly enhance its energy market.
Algeria is pursuing other avenues in its quest to diversify its energy sources. In April, Algerian Minister of Energy, Mines and Renewable Energies, Mohamed Arkab, met with Wang Yongge, president of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), in Algiers. The two reviewed the ongoing cooperation between Algeria’s Commissariat for Atomic Energy (Comena) and CNNC, focusing on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, its medical applications and prospects for future development.
The Algerian government also plans to invest heavily in desalination projects to ensure a sustainable water supply, with desalinated water expected to account for 60% of drinking water by 2030.
Main image: Noor electric power station close to Ouarzazate, Morocco
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Iraq to retender Baghdad Metro PPP project contract
7 July 2025
Iraq intends to retender the contract to develop and operate the Baghdad Metro project, following the award of the estimated $2.5bn contract last year.
According to local media reports, Nasser Al-Assadi, adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani, stated that the previous developers had overestimated the project budget; therefore, the government will relaunch the entire process to implement the project.
Iraq’s National Investment Commission (NIC) awarded an estimated $2.5bn contract to develop and operate the Baghdad Metro project in July last year.
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Germany’s Deutsche Bank was the project finance adviser.
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Project scope
The Baghdad Metro project is one of the largest infrastructure schemes in Iraq.
It will comprise seven main lines totalling 150 kilometres (km), 64 metro stations, four workshops and depots for trains, two metro train control and management centres and power generation stations.
The Green Line will extend 19km and run from the Al-Alawi terminal to the Doura terminal. The Red Line will be 27.7km long and will run from the Al-Alwai terminal to Maisaloun Square.
The Blue Line will run 22km from the Al-Shaab terminal to Al-Zafaraniya. The Purple Line will be 14.5km long and will connect Al-Tayaran Square to Al-Shaab.
The Yellow Line will extend 30km from Al-Baladiyat to Adan Square. The White Line will be 23km long and will run from Al-Kadhimiya to Al-Bayaa, while the Airport Line will run 12km from Baghdad airport to Al-Qadisiya.
Each line will comprise a total of eight stations.
The trains will include a gold-class cabin, a special cabin for women and children, and tourist cabins.
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