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  • Dubai tenders stormwater drainage projects Administrator

    14 August 2026

    Dubai Municipality has issued three tenders for stormwater and sewerage infrastructure projects serving Hind City, Dubailand and surrounding areas.

    The projects cover drainage networks for Hind 4, connections to the stormwater network in Dubailand and a stormwater trunk line serving Hind 3, Hind 4 and Umm Al-Daman.

    The three tenders were issued through the municipality’s Sewerage and Recycled Water Projects Department.

    All three have bid submission deadlines of 10 September.

    Hind 3 and Hind 4 are two of four zones within Hind City. The Dubai government renamed the Al-Minhad area and surrounding areas as Hind City in 2023. The 83.9-square-kilometre area is served by Emirates Road, Dubai–Al-Ain Road and Jebel Ali–Lehbab Road.

    The DS-316-C1 project covers the construction of sewer and stormwater networks in Hind 4. The stormwater network will include gravity drainage pipelines with diameters of up to 1,600 millimetres (mm), while the sewer network will include pipelines of up to 800mm.

    The TF-24-C1 project will connect developers’ areas in Dubailand to the stormwater network. It includes 18 kilometres (km) of stormwater drainage pipelines with diameters of up to 1,800mm and 3.5km of gravity sewer pipelines with diameters of up to 1,000mm.

    The TF-25-C1 project involves the construction of a 9.2km stormwater trunk line serving Hind 3, Hind 4 and Umm Al-Daman. The trunk line will include gravity drainage pipelines with diameters of up to 2,800mm. It will also serve main roads along its alignment, including sections of Dubai–Al-Ain Road, and is designed to accommodate stormwater flows from part of Emirates Road.

    The projects are intended to strengthen flood resilience and improve the reliability of Dubai’s drainage infrastructure.

    Latest awards

    Dubai has continued to accelerate investment in stormwater infrastructure under the Tasreef programme in recent months.

    In July, MEED exclusively reported that Dubai Municipality had awarded the estimated $100m engineering, procurement and construction contract for the TF-15-C1 package of its Tasreef rainwater drainage network programme to local firm DeTech Contracting.

    The municipality has also recently awarded the TF-15-C2 and DS-204-C1 packages to China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Nael Construction & Contracting, respectively.

    The overall masterplan aims to expand Dubai’s rainwater drainage capacity by 700% by 2033 and serve the emirate for the next century.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18585485/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Construction completed on $8.5bn Neom hydrogen project Administrator

    14 August 2026

    Construction work on the $8.5bn Neom Green Hydrogen project at Oxagon in Saudi Arabia has been completed, with the facility entering the commissioning stage ahead of commercial operations targeted for 2027.

    The project is being developed by Neom Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC), a joint venture of Saudi-listed Acwa, US-headquartered industrial gases group Air Products and Neom.

    Acwa's chief financial officer, Abdulhameed Al-Muhaidib, said during the company’s recent H1 2026 earnings call that construction has been completed and commissioning activities are now under way.

    "It’s really more now into commissioning and the target to go into commercial operation next year," he told investors.

    The project is designed to produce up to 600 tonnes a day of green hydrogen, which will be converted into green ammonia for export. It is supported by about 4GW of solar and wind power generation capacity, with the renewable power that is generated being used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis.

    As previously reported by MEED, Air Products is also the exclusive offtaker for green ammonia produced at the facility under a 30-year agreement.

    NGHC said in March that its renewable power generation assets, including the wind and solar farms, and transmission grid, had reached approximately 95% completion.

    India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project’s renewable energy and transmission and distribution package.

    L&T’s EPC scope includes a 2,200MW solar plant, a 1,370MW wind farm, a 400MW battery energy storage system and a transmission network extending 190 kilometres.

    The project reached financial close in 2023. Once operational, the facility is expected to produce up to 1.2 million tonnes a year of green ammonia for export.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18567177/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Lamprell announces Abu Dhabi offshore project contract Administrator

    14 August 2026

     

    Saudi Arabia/UAE-based Lamprell has announced it has won an engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract for a project in Abu Dhabi, for which it will “support the delivery of subsea pipeline infrastructure that will help strengthen offshore energy production and processing capabilities”.

    The project includes the engineering, procurement and fabrication of approximately 50 kilometres (km) of subsea pipeline systems, along with associated flowlines, subsea connections and testing, Lamprell said in a statement.

    With the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) activities having been completed, preparations are under way for the offshore installation phase, Lamprell added, without revealing further details about the project, its client or value of the contract.

    “Working alongside our sister company Algihaz Marine Contractors, the project demonstrates the value of combining complementary engineering, fabrication and offshore installation capabilities to deliver complex subsea infrastructure safely, efficiently and to a high standard,” the company said in a .

    MEED understands the contract award relates to the first package of the Umm Shaif Gas Cap development project in Abu Dhabi, for which Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Group) and its foreign partners announced achieving a $6.2bn final investment decision (FID) in July.

    MEED previously reported that Adnoc had awarded the EPCI contract for the package related to EPCI and fabrication of a 30,000-tonne gas compression system and associated subsea pipelines, flowlines and other structures, to a consortium of India’s Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon (L&TEH) and Lamprell.

    Larsen & Toubro (L&T) confirmed its contract award from Adnoc Group subsidiary Adnoc Offshore earlier in August, describing the order as “ultra-mega”, a term the company uses for contracts valued at more than Rs150bn ($1.57bn).

    Mumbai-headquartered L&T added that the contract will be executed through a consortium, with its subsidiary L&TEH Offshore serving as the lead partner, without mentioning Lamprell.

    The Umm Shaif Gas Cap reserve is located within the offshore Umm Shaif and Nasr hydrocarbons concession, which is operated by Adnoc as the majority stakeholder. The other stakeholders in the concession are Italy’s Eni, France’s TotalEnergies and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

    Through this project, Adnoc and its concession partners intend to produce up to 600 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) of natural gas by unlocking the Umm Shaif Gas Cap in Abu Dhabi’s Gulf waters.

    Adnoc, in its 21 July statement, said the FID includes three EPC packages totalling $5.1bn for large-scale offshore infrastructure, awarded to consortiums comprising UAE and international contractors. The company did not disclose the contractors or the scope of work.

    MEED reported in May that the following contractors had emerged as frontrunners for the two offshore packages and one onshore package of the Umm Shaif Gas Cap and surface pressure boosting project:

    • First offshore package – fabrication of a 30,000-tonne gas compression system: L&TEH (India) / Lamprell (Saudi Arabia/UAE)
    • Second offshore package – fabrication of another 30,000-tonne gas compression system: McDermott (US)
    • Onshore package – EPC of gas inlet and processing systems on Das Island: China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Company

    Adnoc added that, as part of the FID, it has also awarded a $365m contract to its subsidiary Adnoc Drilling for a 14-well drilling and integrated drilling services scope, to be delivered over 18 months using three existing rigs.

    Umm Shaif Gas Cap project

    Adnoc Offshore, the offshore oil and gas business of Adnoc Group, is the operator of the Umm Shaif Gas Cap and surface pressure boosting project.

    The primary objective is to increase gas production by 550 million cf/d and raise associated condensate output by 50,000 barrels a day (b/d).

    Adnoc Offshore intends to feed about 520 million cf/d of the additional produced gas into Adnoc Group’s sales gas grid.

    Adnoc Offshore is understood to have issued the main EPC tender for the Umm Shaif Gas Cap and surface pressure boosting project in the first quarter of 2025.

    Contractors submitted technical bids for the three EPC packages by 30 October last year, while commercial bids were submitted by the 2 February deadline.

    The following contractors are among those understood to be bidding for the three EPC packages, according to sources:

    Offshore package 1:

    • Saipem (Italy) / Seatrium (Singapore)
    • L&TEH (India) / Lamprell (Saudi Arabia/UAE)
    • NMDC Energy (UAE) / Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea)

    Offshore package 2:

    • China Offshore Oil Engineering Company (China)
    • McDermott (US)
    • L&TEH (India) / Lamprell (Saudi Arabia/UAE)
    • NMDC Energy (UAE) / Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea)

    Onshore package:

    • Archirodon (Greece)
    • China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Company (China)
    • Engineering for the Petroleum & Process Industries (Egypt)
    • Galfar Emirates (UAE branch of Oman’s Galfar Engineering & Construction)
    • Target Engineering Construction Company (UAE)

    Australian firm Worley has performed front-end engineering and design (feed) work on the project.

    Umm Shaif gas production

    Adnoc Offshore operates the Umm Shaif hydrocarbons development, which is located 150km northwest of the city of Abu Dhabi. The field is located in Abu Dhabi’s offshore Umm Shaif and Nasr hydrocarbons concession, previously operated by former Adnoc Group companies Adma-Opco and Zadco.

    In March and April 2018, Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs awarded a 10% stake in the Umm Shaif and Nasr offshore block to Eni, 20% to TotalEnergies and 10% to CNPC. Adnoc Group retained the majority 60% interest. The operators produce a total of about 460,000 b/d of oil from the Umm Shaif and Nasr block.

    Gas is produced from the Umm Shaif Khuff and Uweinat reservoirs, as well as from the Arab C and Arab D Early Production Scheme 2. The Umm Shaif Khuff reservoir is a formation that consists of dry gas volumetric reservoirs located in the Umm Shaif field.

    Khuff reservoirs have been in production in Abu Dhabi since August 1989. Umm Shaif Khuff gas is currently produced from 28 active wells within the Umm Shaif field. A majority of these wells supply gas to Adnoc Group subsidiaries Adnoc LNG and Adnoc Gas Processing, with the rest supporting oil reservoirs at the Umm Shaif field through gas injection.

    The Umm Shaif Super Complex (USSC) processes and transports oil, condensates and natural gas in separate pipelines to Das Island for further processing and export. The condensates collected from the USSC are transported to Das Island through an 18-inch pipeline stretching 34.4km, or are spiked into the 36-inch Adnoc main oil line.

    The gas collected from the USSC is transported to Das Island through two 46-inch pipelines, which also run 34.4km.

    Pressure at the Umm Shaif Khuff gas reservoirs will start to decline by the end of 2028. The flowing wellhead pressures at some of the Khuff gas wellhead towers are likely to reduce, so boosting well deliverability and increasing the flowrates is necessary.

    Therefore, new Khuff surface pressure boosting facilities are required to maintain the plateau – with a goal of achieving a 90% gas recovery factor – and increase production beyond the end of the plateau by lowering pressure at the Khuff reservoirs.

    Project tendering exercise

    Adnoc Offshore has been working to advance the Umm Shaif Gas Cap project since at least 2019 and has experimented with several project execution models.

    According to the original schedule, the project was due to be commissioned in 2023, but progress slowed down, primarily due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Adnoc Offshore launched a feed-to-EPCI competition for the project in May 2019 and selected the following three entities based on their feed submissions:

    • McDermott (US)
    • National Petroleum Construction Company (UAE; now NMDC Energy) / TechnipFMC (France)
    • Saipem (Italy) / Petrofac (UK)

    Technical bids for the EPCI works on the estimated $1.5bn project were submitted in January 2020 and commercial bids were submitted by August of that year.

    The Saipem/Petrofac consortium emerged as the lowest bidder for the project in September 2020, MEED reported.

    Petrofac is understood to have ultimately withdrawn from the consortium and was replaced by state-owned China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Company (CPECC).

    In 2022, the Saipem/CPECC consortium was understood to be the sole remaining bidder for the Umm Shaif Gas Cap project. Adnoc Offshore engaged the consortium for a revised feed exercise and subsequently received commercial offers on a single-source basis.

    In 2023, Adnoc Offshore cancelled the tendering process for the project and later decided to proceed with a conventional EPC-based project execution model.

    The operator then appointed Worley to undertake feed works on the renewed Umm Shaif Gas Cap project in 2024. Worley has a legacy of involvement in the Umm Shaif hydrocarbons development.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18556614/main1931.jpg
    Indrajit Sen
  • Hitachi Energy signs Erbil substations deal Administrator

    14 August 2026

    Switzerland-headquartered Hitachi Energy has annnounced it has signed an agreement to supply high-voltage equipment for three 132/33kV substations being developed in Erbil in northern Iraq.

    The substations are being built by Iraqi electrical contractor Hero Company under a ID100bn ($76.3m) contract signed with the Kurdistan Region's Electricity Ministry in May. 

    In a statement, Hitachi said it will act as the main technology provider for the project, which has a combined capacity of 753 megavolt-amperes.

    According to local media reports, the substations will be located in Shamamak, Hasarok and Timar. The ministry said the projects are to be completed within two years.

    Hitachi Energy says it has supplied more than 120 mobile substations and delivered more than 30 transmission substations in Iraq over the past 15 years. It also says it has upgraded assets including Iraq's National Control Centre.

    Iraq’s power and water sector is currently undergoing one of its largest expansion programmes in decades amid chronic electricity and water shortages.

    In 2025, it recorded its largest year of investment on record, with more than $17bn in combined contract awards.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18548939/main3553.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Contracts signed for Algerian phosphate project Administrator

    14 August 2026

    Algeria’s national oil and gas company Sonatrach and the Algerian Chinese Fertilisers Company (ACFC) has signed two engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the country’s planned phosphate integrated project in Tebessa Province.

    ACFC was created in March 2022 by Algerian companies Asmidal and Manadjim El-Djazair (Manal), which own 56% of the company, and Chinese groups Wuhuan and Tianan, which own the remaining 44% stake.

    Manal and Asmidal are both subsidiaries of Sonatrach.

    The new contracts are part of the Bled El-Hadba phosphate development project, which is expected to be worth $7bn.

    The contracts were signed by Italy’s Saipem and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) as part of the first phase of the integrated phosphate project.

    Saipem’s contract is worth approximately €500m ($577m), according to a statement released by the Italian company.

    Saipem was previously awarded a front-end engineering and design (feed) contract for the same project in June 2025.

    The signing ceremony for the latest two EPC contracts took place at the headquarters of Sonatrach's general directorate, in the presence of members of the government, Sonatrach CEO Nour Eddine Daoudi, the ambassadors of Italy and China in Algeria, as well as officials from Saipem and CHEC.

    The first phase of the project involves the construction of industrial and port infrastructure, including a phosphate extraction and enrichment complex in Bled El-Hadba with an extraction capacity of 5.5 million tons a year (t/y) and an overall production capacity of concentrated phosphate estimated at 3.2 million t/y.

    Phase one also includes the construction of an integrated industrial complex in Oued Kebrit with the capacity to produce 2.4 million t/y of phosphate fertiliser and 570,000 t/y of nitrogen fertiliser.

    The facility in Oued Kebrit will also produce quantities of other intermediate products.

    Port infrastructure will be constructed in Annaba with the aim of enabling the establishment of an integrated industrial and logistics ecosystem.

    During the signing ceremony, Minister of State and Hydrocarbons Minister Mohamed Arkab said that the project benefits from special attention from Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, within the framework of his vision to exploit natural resources, strengthen national industrialisation, create added value, diversify the national economy and promote the country’s non-hydrocarbons exports.

    He said that the project will be carried out according to an “accelerated EPC fast-track method”, in order to reduce completion times and bring production online faster.

    This is expected to allow the first quantities of enriched phosphate to be produced in the first quarter of 2027 and fertiliser production is expected to start during the fourth quarter of the same year.

    When the project is fully operational, it is expected to produce approximately 6 million t/y of enriched phosphate and 4 million t/y of different types of phosphate and nitrogen fertilisers.

    It will also produce industrial materials such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and ammonia, according to Arkab.

    He said that Algeria's ambition is not limited to the production of phosphate and fertilisers and also includes the establishment of an integrated industrial chain capable of creating added value, developing skills, supporting the national economy and opening new horizons for Algerian products on international markets.

    Daoudi, the chairman and chief executive of Sonatrach, said that the signing of the two contracts marked the effective transition to the implementation phase of this project, which "undoubtedly constitutes a key milestone in the industrial development process in Algeria".

    The scope of the EPC contract signed by Saipem covers the construction of project facilities at the Bled El-Hadba site and the Oued Kebrit site.

    Saipem’s chief executive Alessandro Puliti said that his company will try to deliver the project on time and will work with three local companies on the project.

    The three companies are pipeline specialist Cosider Canalisations; Algerian Industrial Projects Realisation Company, which is a subsidiary of Sonatrach; and state-owned National Civil Engineering & Building Company.

    The scope of the EPC contract signed by CHEC is focused on developing the Annaba port infrastructure project.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony, CHEC's deputy general manager Chen Zhong said his company is committed to completing the first and second phases of the Annaba port project within the allotted timeframe.

    The wider integrated phosphates project has four main focus areas.

    These are:

    • The Bled El-Hadba phosphate mine
    • Phosphate enrichment units
    • The Oued Kebrit chemicals processing complex
    • Logistics facilities, including the extension of the port of Annaba and a railway network dedicated to the transport of raw materials and finished products

    In its statement, Saipem described the document that it signed with Sonatrach as a limited notice to proceed (LNTP) for the execution of phase one of the integrated phosphate project in Algeria.

    It said: “The full EPC contract will be based on a contractual framework which will allow both parties to share risks and rewards during the execution, including the LNTP period which will enable Saipem to start the preliminary activities that are preparatory and critical for achieving the first project milestones.

    “These include but are not limited to feed completion and detailed engineering, procurement of long lead items, as well as preliminary project mobilisation and organisation activities, pending the negotiation and finalisation of the EPC contract.”

    Saipem has been present in Algeria since 1968 and has developed infrastructure for hydrocarbons treatment and transportation, power generation plants and oil well drilling.

    The Bled El-Hadba phosphate mine has over 1.2 billion tonnes of estimated total reserves, including 800 million tonnes of estimated exploitable reserves, making it one of the biggest mines of its kind in the world.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18499932/main.jpg
    Wil Crisp
  • Taqa H1 profit rises 9.7% to AED4.1bn Administrator

    13 August 2026

    Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) has reported a 9.7% year-on-year increase in net income attributable to shareholders to AED4.1bn ($1.12bn) for the first half of 2026.

    The Abu Dhabi-listed utilities company said higher contributions from its utilities businesses offset lower oil and gas earnings following the planned decommissioning of UK North Sea assets.

    Taqa reported revenue of AED27.5bn ($7.5bn) for the six months to 30 June, down 2.6% from AED28.2bn ($7.68bn) in the same period last year. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased 7.7% year-on-year to AED11bn ($3bn), from AED10.2bn ($2.78bn).

    Capital expenditure increased 38% year-on-year to AED7.2bn ($1.96bn), reflecting continued investment across power, water and transmission networks. Free cash flow fell to AED4.6bn ($1.25bn) from AED7bn ($1.91bn) in the first half of 2025, largely because of the higher investment.

    Taqa’s board also approved a second-quarter interim dividend of 0.8 fils a share, totalling about AED899m ($245m).

    Power and water projects

    During the first half of 2026, Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec) awarded the 2.6GW Taweelah C independent power project (IPP) to a consortium led by Taqa, which holds a 60% stake.

    The project is intended to support grid stability and enable the large-scale integration of renewable energy into Abu Dhabi’s power system through 2050.

    Taqa and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) also signed a 27-year utilities purchase agreement to provide utilities to the Taziz Industrial Chemicals Zone in Ruwais.

    In the water sector, Taqa Water Solutions, Etihad Water & Electricity (EtihadWE) and Saur International signed a long-term agreement with the Ras Al-Khaimah government to develop a 60,000-cubic-metre-a-day wastewater treatment plant.

    The plant will be the emirate’s largest wastewater treatment facility and will serve up to 300,000 people.

    Taqa, Ewec, Masdar, EDF Power Solutions and Jinko Power also completed an $870.75m (AED3.2bn) green bond issuance to refinance the Al-Dhafra solar photovoltaic IPP.

    Masdar expansion

    Taqa said it continued to expand its international renewable energy exposure through its 43% stake in Masdar. This included Masdar’s binding agreement in April to establish a $2.2bn joint venture with TotalEnergies covering onshore renewable energy projects across Asia.

    The developer also signed an agreement with Repsol to acquire a 49.99% stake in a €849m, 705MW operational renewables portfolio in Spain. The portfolio has potential for a further 565MW of hybridisation capacity.

    Additionally, Masdar secured contracts for difference for 3GW of new offshore wind capacity across the Dogger Bank South projects in the UK.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18434744/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Kuwait selects developer for Shagaya zone one plant Administrator

    13 August 2026

     

    A consortium of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and Kuwait’s Fouad AlGhanim & Sons has been selected for a contract to develop the 1.1GW Al-Dibdibah power and Al-Shagaya renewable energy phase three, zone one independent power project (IPP).

    Kuwait’s first utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plant is being procured by Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy (MEWRE), through the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (Kapp).

    According to a source, China’s Aiko Energy, Yingli Energy Development and Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics have been selected to supply PV modules.

    Another Chinese firm, Sungrow, will supply the project’s PV inverters, the source said.

    MEED understands that the Masdar-led consortium will export the plant’s electricity output to the national grid under a 30-year power-purchase agreement with the MEWRE. The contract also includes the construction of an associated 400kV transmission substation. 

    Financial bids for the developer’s contract were opened in July, and MEED exclusively reported that the Masdar consortium had emerged as a frontrunner for the contract after making the most competitive offer.

    In January, MEED reported that three developer consortiums had submitted bids for the project. Kapp previously issued the request for proposals in June 2025.

    London-headquartered consultancy firm EY is the lead and financial transaction adviser. The UK’s DLA Piper is the legal adviser, while Norwegian engineering services firm DNV is the client’s technical and environmental adviser.

    Zone two

    Kuwait aims to have a renewable energy installed capacity of 22,100MW by 2030 as part of the 20-year strategy announced in March 2025 and ending in 2050.

    In July, MEED exclusively reported that at least three consortiums had submitted bids for the Al-Dibdibah power and Al-Shagaya renewable energy phase three, zone two IPP, which will have a capacity of 500MW. 

    The Al-Dibdibah power and Al-Shagaya complex is located within the administrative boundaries of Kuwait’s Jahra Governorate, west of Kuwait City.

    The zone two scheme is the fourth renewable energy project to be developed under Kuwait’s public-private partnership programme.

    Kapp opened bidding for the zone two IPP in September last year. The winning bidder will design, finance, construct and maintain the project.

    Similar to the 1.1GW zone one project,  EY and DLA Piper, together with DNV, are advising the client on the zone two solar IPP.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18415704/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Contractors prepare prices for Al-Ghubar field facilities project Administrator

    13 August 2026

     

    Contractors are preparing commercial bids for a key Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) project to build a new facility to handle additional oil production from the Al-Ghubar field in the Ghaba Salt Basin at Qarn Alam, within its Block 6 concession area.

    The Al-Ghubar gas-oil gravity drainage (GOGD) facility will be designed as a sour (hydrogen sulphide) facility and is expected to handle maximum oil production of 1,800 standard cubic metres a day (cm/d), a maximum total water flow rate of 10,421 standard cm/d, and maximum gas lift of 256,934 standard cm/d. Production from the planned Al-Ghubar GOGD facility will be exported to PDO’s main oil line.

    Majority state-owned PDO floated the tender for the Al-Ghubar GOGD facility project in March, setting an initial bid submission deadline of 4 May, MEED previously reported.

    PDO later extended the deadlines for submission of technical and commercial bids to 26 July and 7 August, respectively. Contractors submitted technical proposals by the revised deadline, according to sources.

    Following receipt of the technical bids, PDO has granted contractors additional time – until 16 August – to submit commercial bids for the project, sources told MEED.

    The following contractors, among others, are understood to be bidding for the project:

    • Archirodon (Greece)
    • Engineering for the Petroleum & Process Industries (Egypt) / Petrojet (Egypt)
    • Jereh (China)
    • Kent (UAE)
    • Larsen & Toubro Energy Hydrocarbon (India)

    The scope of work on the Al-Ghubar GOGD facility project covers the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the following:

    • On-plot scope consists of:
      • Production separator  
      • Test separator  
      • Concentric wash tank
      • Wet oil pump
      • Water bath heater
      • Surge tank
      • Gas injection/gas lift compressor (centrifugal)
      • Utilities (Instrument Air compressors, chemical injection skids, drain system, vent system) 
      • Suction scrubber
      • Air coolers
      • Discharge scrubbers
      • Condensate flash drum
      • Atmospheric pressure knock-out drum 
      • Flare system
      • Gas heater
      • Water disposal pump
      • Oil shipping pump
      • New 132kV substation and plant substation (housing 6.6kV & 415-Volt switchboard)
      • New control room
         
    • Off-plot scope consists of:
      • Off-plot pipeline network (bulk header, test header, gathering infrastructure/ gathering line header, instrument air header, water disposal header)
      • Two remote manifold stations 
      • Tie-in connection to main oil line
      • Tie-in to gas network pipeline

    PDO previously intended to tender the Al-Ghubar GOGD project under its framework structure with selected EPC contractors, but eventually tendered it separately.

    PDO is the operator of the Block 6 hydrocarbons concession in Oman, which is the sultanate’s largest and most prolific concession. Situated onshore and covering an area of 75,119 square kilometres, Block 6 contains 202 oil fields and 43 gas fields, with PDO producing a total of approximately 680,000 barrels a day (b/d) of oil and condensates from those fields.

    The Omani government holds a 60% stake in PDO through Energy Development Oman (EDO). The other shareholders are UK-based Shell (34%), France’s TotalEnergies (4%) and Thailand’s state-owned PTTEP (2%).

    ALSO READ: PDO floats tender for major flare gas monetisation scheme
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    Indrajit Sen
  • Adnoc Gas receives contractor prices for Ewec sales pipeline Administrator

    13 August 2026

     

    Contractors have submitted bids to Adnoc Gas for a new pipeline that it plans to build to supply gas from the Habshan scraper launcher station at its Habshan gas compression complex to the Al-Nouf customer receiving station (CRS), for delivery to Emirates Water & Electricity Company (Ewec).

    The proposed 56-inch pipeline, stretching 127 kilometres, will help the UAE’s state utility, Ewec, meet additional gas demand to power the second phase of an artificial intelligence (AI) data centre in Abu Dhabi, as well as to support the relocation of some of its key assets in the Mirfa area of the emirate.

    Adnoc Gas, the natural gas processing business of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Group), issued the tender in mid-April for the project, officially titled ‘Ewec Mirfa relocation + AI data centre phase 2: Habshan to Al-Nouf pipeline’.

    Contractors submitted technical bids for the project in late May, while commercial bids were submitted on 3 August, sources told MEED.

    According to sources, the following contractors, among others, are understood to have submitted bids:

    • Arkad Engineering & Construction (Saudi Arabia; part of Italy’s Arkad SpA)
    • China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (China)
    • Galfar Emirates (UAE branch of Oman’s Galfar Engineering & Construction)
    • Kalpataru Projects International (India)

    China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering has performed front-end engineering and design (feed) work on the project.

    The planned pipeline will provide two sales-gas streams to Ewec: 600-660 million cubic feet a day (cf/d) for AI data centre phase 2, and 650-715 million cf/d for the Mirfa relocation project.

    The core elements of the project involve engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the main Habshan-to-Al-Nouf pipeline and the following associated units:

    • 56-inch scraper (pig) launcher (607-V-604) and associated hot tap
    • Four block valve stations (BVSs -637-BVS-01/02/03/04)
    • 56-inch scraper (pig) receiver (848-V-101)
    • CRS at Al-Nouf including sales gas filters, pressure regulating stations (PRS), custody transfer metering systems (CTMS)
    • 30-inch tapping to Ewec plants (cold tie-ins)
    • 52-inch tie-ins between Adnoc Gas’ Maximise Ethane Recovery & Monetisation (Meram) project and package 3 of its broader project to upgrade its sales gas pipeline network across the UAE, also known as Estidama.
    Adnoc Gas business

    Adnoc Group announced the creation of Adnoc Gas through the merger of its subsidiaries Adnoc Gas Processing and Adnoc LNG in November 2022. Adnoc Gas began operating as a commercial entity on 1 January 2023.

    The consolidation of Adnoc’s gas processing and liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations into Adnoc Gas has created one of the world’s largest gas-processing entities, with a processing capacity of about 10 billion standard cubic feet of gas a day at eight onshore and offshore sites, which include its Asab, Bab, Bu Hasa, Habshan and Ruwais plants.

    The company also owns a 3,250km gas pipeline network to supply feedstock to its customers in the UAE. This sales gas pipeline network is being expanded to over 3,500km through the estimated $3bn Estidama project.

    At present, the network delivers sales gas to Adnoc Group companies, Ewec, Dolphin Energy, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), and other industrial consumers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.

    The main critical facilities and/or manifolds of the Adnoc Gas sales-gas pipeline network are as follows:

    • Habshan gas compressor plant
    • Thammama-C manifold
    • Maqta manifold
    • KM-42 station
    • Taweelah gas compressor plant

    Additionally, Adnoc Gas will also acquire its parent Adnoc Group’s 60% share in the Ruwais LNG terminal project at cost in the second half of 2028. UK energy producer BP, Japan’s Mitsui & Co, UK-based Shell and French energy producer TotalEnergies are the other shareholders in the project, holding 10% stakes each.

    Adnoc Gas recently announced it is executing a capital expenditure (capex) budget of $28bn for 2026 to 2030, reaffirming the spending plan it previously committed to for the period.

    As part of that capex plan, Adnoc Gas said it achieved final investment decision (FID) on the second and third phases of its Rich Gas Development (RGD) programme earlier this year.

    The company awarded $8.2bn of EPC contracts for the second and third phases of the RGD programme. These relate to the construction of a new gas processing train at the Habshan complex and a natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionation train at the Ruwais gas processing facility, respectively.

    Adnoc Gas detailed its capex plan as part of a media roundtable to discuss its financial results for the second quarter of the year (Q2 2026).

    The company achieved net income of $665m in Q2 2026 – above the upper end of the $400m-$600m guidance range provided in the first quarter.

    Supported by its cash flow from operations, the company’s board has approved a quarterly dividend of $940m, payable in September, in line with its commitment to deliver annual dividend growth of 5% through 2030.

    The detailed scope of work on the Ewec Mirfa relocation + AI data centre phase 2: Habshan to Al-Nouf pipeline project covers the following:

    • 56-inch sales gas pipeline from Habshan to Ewec Al-Nouf plant:
      • The new 56-inch sales gas pipeline from Habshan to Al-Nouf CRS, covering 127km, will supply sales gas to Ewec plant. Majority of the pipeline route is through the Sabkha area (approximately 100km) and will be routing parallel to existing pipeline facilities. FOCs shall be laid on both sides of the pipeline. Approximately 30 NDRCs (mostly micro tunneling) are envisaged for this pipeline.
      • The 56-inch pipeline is envisaged with four block valve stations 647-BVS-01-04 based on the pipeline location class study.
      • The pipeline shall be provided with scrapper launcher at Habshan (located in Estidama package 3 scrapper launcher plot) along with 48-inch hot tap tie-in at the gas source point (on existing 56-inch supply line manifold) and scraper receiver at Al-Nouf CRS for pipeline cleaning and inspection.
      • Habshan outlet battery limit, available battery limit pressure is 39 – 41.5 barg.
      • At Al-Nouf CRS the tie-in pressure requirement is minimum 25 barg downstream of the CRS facilities at the tie-in point to Al-Nouf plant.
      • Maximum pressure during line pack condition is 41.5 barg.
         
    • Facilities at Al-Nouf CRS:
      • 56” Scraper Receiver with Scrapper Handling Trolley and Jib crane. Both CRSs shall be identical in design and size.
      • The battery limit pressure at tie-in connection to Al-Nouf is 25 barg.
      • Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) building and fire point shelter.
      • Permanent power supply to CRS from Ewec or Taqa and associated facilities.
         
    • AI data centre phase 2 project – CRS 1:
      • Sales gas filters (duty + standby configuration)
      • Custody transfer metering skid (duty + standby configuration)
      • Pressure regulating skid (duty + standby configuration)
      • Gas chromatograph, hydrocarbon dew point analyser inside AC shelter
      • Flow limiting control valves with bypass control valves
      • 30-inch cold tie-in to AI data centre phase 2.
         
    • Mirfa relocation – CRS 2:
      • Sales gas filters (duty + standby configuration)
      • Custody transfer metering skid (duty + standby configuration)
      • Pressure regulating skid (duty + standby configuration)
      • Gas chromatograph, hydrocarbon dew point analyser inside AC shelter
      • Flow limiting control valves with bypass control valves
      • 30-inch cold tie-in to Mirfa relocation power plant.
         
    • 52-inch jump over between Meram and Estidama package 3:
      • A 52-inch interconnection including ROV and associated facilities shall be provided between Meram 56” sales gas pipeline tie-in and Estidama package-3 56-inch pipeline tie-in. 52-inch piping to be installed on the existing / new pipe rack to cross the existing pipeline corridor. Cold tap Tie-ins on both existing pipeline is envisaged to install this jump-over connection.
      • The existing Meram plot or Estidama package 3 plot at 8.2km shall be extended to install the new ROV and associated facilities.
      • The new 52-inch ROV and associated facilities shall be connected to the Meram area existing systems and suitable modification and integration with SMC/telecommunication systems shall be performed by the EPC contractor.
      • Necessary adequacy checks shall be performed on the piping structures, supports, plots, systems, as applicable.
         
    • Electrical and instrumentation buildings:
      • E&I building type 1 at Al-Nouf CRS.
      • Block valve station (BVS) shall be provided with hybrid cooling shelter for equipment installation in case solar power system is to be adopted. If power source available nearby, electrical and instrumentation building (type 2) is to be provided.

    The duration of EPC works on the project is 31 months from the award of contract.

    ALSO READ: Adnoc Gas to move prudently on Bab gas cap project
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    Indrajit Sen
  • Oman plans seven factories to localise transformer parts Administrator

    13 August 2026

    Oman has signed 10 agreements worth an expected RO15m ($39m) to localise the manufacture of key electrical transformer components typically used in power transmission and distribution projects.

    The agreements were signed on 12 August under the Authority for Public Services Regulation in cooperation with Muscat-headquartered Voltamp Energy.

    They cover the establishment of seven new factories, which will manufacture eight essential electrical transformer components.

    Two existing factories will also add production lines to manufacture a further two components.

    The agreements were signed with four local small and medium-sized enterprises and six local and international companies.

    It is understood that local firms Al-Mahri Industrial Enterprises, Al-Maha Ideal Solutions and United Engineering Services are among the companies participating in the programme.

    The projects are expected to occupy a proposed total area of 34,000 square metres, with commercial production scheduled to start in 2027.

    In March, state utility Nama Power & Water Procurement (PWP) said it expects the renewable energy share to increase steadily, reaching 16% in 2028 and 21% in 2029 before rising to 30% in 2030. This compares to about 4% in 2024.

    To support the sultanate’s renewable energy expansion, about 70 transmission projects are expected to enter service between 2026 and 2030, according to the Oman Electricity Transmission Company’s Five-Year Annual Transmission Capability Statement.

    The localisation initiative is intended to strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on imports amid global supply risks and market fluctuations.

    READ THE AUGUST 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Saudi Arabia builds for the global stage; Rising uncertainty creates fresh set of challenges in the Maghreb; Gulf banks remain robust in the face of geopolitical tensions.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the August 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > MARKET FOCUS: Maghreb fortunes diverge
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
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    Mark Dowdall