MEP Middle East - Jan 2010 by ITP Business Publishing

MIDDLE EAST

Essential information for mechanical, electrical and plumbing professionals

An ITP Business Publication | January 2010 Vol. 5 Issue 1

MEP AWARDS All the winners from the leading industry event of the year A ar

ALSO: HYDER MIDDLE EAST’S WAEL ALLAN ON OPPORTUNITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA

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JANUARY 2010 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1

CONTENTS

32 03 CONSTRUCTION WEEK ONLINE 05 COMMENT 06 UPDATE From the groundbreaking ceremony for Ducab’s new HV factory to an exclusive distribution agreement for new technology clinched by US Chiller Services.

14 MEP AWARDS 2009 Comprehensive coverage of all the winners from the gala banquet held at Grosvenor House on 9 December 2009.

24 PROFILE A closer look at Septech, which has been involved in delivering some of the largest projects in the Middle East to date.

10 THE BIG INTERVIEW Wael Allan, regional MD of Hyder Consulting Middle East.

www.constructionweekonline.com

26 OPINION Mark Bull on project ﬁ nance.

27 LEGAL 28 METAL MONITOR 29 BUSINESS LEADS 30 PRODUCTS 32 THE LAST WORD KHiND Holdings Berhad group CEO Cheng Ping Keat talks about the Malaysian company’s long afﬁliation with Dubai, and its latest energy-saving lighting range.

January 2010 | MEP Middle East 1

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CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM OM M IN PICTURES

MOST POPULAR

• Nakheel to clear debt within 14 days • Abu Dhabi to ﬁnance Dubai World debts • Contractors say US$10bn will see industry breathe • Construction starts on world’s biggest sea bridge

EDITOR’S CHOICE

MEP AWARDS 2009 The MEP Awards 2009 were held at a gala banquet at Grosvenor House on 9 Dec 2009. See our full e. coverage in this issue starting on page 14; the awards photo gallery can also be viewed on-line.

For more galleries, check out www.constructionweekonline.com/galleries

COLUMNS AND FEATURES ASSESSMENT

ACTION

• Water scarcity drives green building

Selina Denman, Editor, Commercial Interior Design

Jeff Roberts, Editor, Middle East Architect

• MACAir appoints new MD

Kenneth Laidler has proposed the continual assessment of interior design practioners. Over the next few issues, CID will be publishing exclusive extracts from his position paper.

I almost titled this editor’s letter ‘A little less conversation, a little more action’, because as I see it, for the last few months, there has been a lot of lip service about the construction industry in the Gulf.

FLOWN BY

LONG WAY

Greg Whitaker, Editor, PMV Middle East

Conrad Egbert, Editor, Construction Week

Wow, is it really that time again? Despite, or perhaps because of, a turbulent and punishing year, the time seems to have simply ﬂown by. Soon we can hopefully move on to lucrative new projects.

It’s often difﬁcult to focus on the real issue. The mediabashing of Dubai is based on negative speculation. It’s upsetting to see journalists who have never set foot in Dubai rip into the emirate.

For more comments, check out www.constructionweekonline.com/comments www.constructionweekonline.com

• HVAC controls upgrade can slash energy costs

• ASHRAE joins forces with UNEP

SPOT POLL

What’s your main aim for 2010?

31.4% Tender for more work

25.7% Get paid for the work we’ve done in 2009

25.7% Survive

11.4% Upsize

5.7% Downsize

January 2010 | MEP Middle East 3

COMMENT MIDDLE EAST

Registered at Dubai Media City PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: 00 971 4 210 8000 Fax: 00 971 4 210 8080 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Dubai & London ITP BUSINESS PUBLISHING CEO Walid Akawi Managing Director Neil Davies Deputy Managing Director Matthew Southwell Editorial Director David Ingham VP Sales Wayne Lowery Publishing Director Jason Bowman EDITORIAL Senior Group Editor Stuart Matthews Tel: +971 4 435 6293 email: stuart.matthews@itp.com Group Editor Jeff Roberts Tel: +971 4 210 6269 email: jeff.roberts@itp.com Editor Gerhard Hope Tel: +971 4 435 6252 email: gerhard.hope@itp.com ADVERTISING Commercial Director Raz Islam Tel: +971 4 435 6371 email: raz.islam@itp.com Sales Manager Atif Majid Tel: +971 4 435 6328 email: atif.majid@itp.com STUDIO Group Art Editor Dan Prescott Art Editor Simon Cobon PHOTOGRAPHY Director of Photography Sevag Davidian Chief Photographer Khatuna Khutsishvili Senior Photographer Efraim Evidor Staff Photographers Leila Cranswick, Lyubov Galushko, Thanos Lazopoulos, Jovana Obradovic, Ruel Pableo, Rajesh Raghav PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Group Production Manager Kyle Smith Production Manager Eleanor Zwanepoel Production Coordinator Devaprakash V A Managing Picture Editor Patrick Littlejohn Image Retoucher Emmalyn Robles Distribution Manager Karima Ashwell Distribution Executive Nada Al Alami CIRCULATION Head of Circulation & Database Gaurav Gulati MARKETING Head of Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP DIGITAL Director Peter Conmy ITP GROUP Chairman Andrew Neil Managing Director Robert Serafin Finance Director Toby Jay Spencer-Davies Board of Directors K.M. Jamieson, Mike Bayman, Walid Akawi, Neil Davies, Rob Corder, Mary Serafin Circulation Customer Service Tel: +971 4 435 6000 Subscribe online at www.itp.com/subscriptions Certain images in this issue are availiable for purchase. Please contact itpimages@itp.com for further details or visit www.itpimages.com Printed by Atlas Printing Press L.L.C. Dubai The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.

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Iconic structures are bygones

y the time you read this, the world’s tallest building should have been inaugurated on January 4, 2010. This is indeed an auspicious event. It also marks the end of the iconic era in Dubai, according to Wael Allan, regional MD of Hyder Consulting Middle East – which, ironically, worked on both the Burj Dubai and the accompanying Dubai Fountain, two of the most iconic structures in the Middle East. “I guess the last three years has been the era of iconic projects. I think iconic is great, but now that Dubai has gone through that phase, it will not come back very shortly. Projects will now be looked at in terms of meeting their objectives of making money, whether it is a publicly-listed company that wants to give good returns to shareholders, or an infrastructure or healthcare project that needs to give value to locals,” says Allan. “So I think it is really about bringing value to our shareholders and also to the communities we are working in. I am seeing a lot more maturity in the market – people are talking about the real drivers of a business; how much can they make if they build a mall; how many people will visit that mall; what is the likely return on invested capital, rather than I want the tallest, the biggest – I think all of that is gone for now.” It sounds eminently practical when spelt out like this, but it is exactly this sort of practicality that has been in such short supply. Interestingly, Allan says the ongoing debate about ‘green’ building and sustainability – which the MEP sector in particular is grappling with, especially with regard to such issues as energy efficiency – could also be faced with the same crisis of credibility. “Sustainability and ‘green’ building will only become a reality globally if there are financial benefits, and seeing projects becoming more financially viable if they were green. My experience has been that, if there is a value and a return on invested capital shown through ‘green’ sustainable models, then I think people will adopt it naturally. I think it is a challenge for the professional community, companies and the regulatory bodies to ensure these are aligned. “This is the only thing that can drive sustainability and make it a reality. It is almost parallel with the concept of quality and safety, where cost should not be compromised, and this is an integral part of Hyder’s service offering. If you do a quality product, you are spending more money, but in the long run it gives you more value, and if the client is convinced of this value, they will adopt it. “If you give them quality and are spending a lot

Burj Dubai, the ﬁrst and last of its kind?

more money, but there is no tangible value, then I think people will question why are they doing this, and the same applies to sustainability. We are developing and adopting methodologies that really look to sustainability being integrated in all aspects of the design, construction and operation of any facility or asset. It is not an add-on; it actually should be an integral part of what you deliver,” says Allan. These are worthy sentiments from the 2009 winner of the MEP Consultancy of the Year Award, which should serve to fortify the MEP sector as it faces the ‘undiscovered country’ that is 2010. It is unlikely this year will reach the temperature of 2009’s crucible of ﬁre. But it is equally likely that the tough times are not yet over, as companies start to dip into their dwindling order books. It is clear that those who survive in this tougher environment will be focused on customer needs and delivering maximum value at minimum cost. These are the qualities that distinguish the winners of our 2009 MEP Awards, who are indeed all ﬁrst among equals. GERHARD HOPE Editor gerhard.hope@itp.com

Keep up-to-date with all MEP Middle East news at

January 2010 | MEP Middle East 5

UPDATE

Ducab breaks ground for HV factory The ofﬁcial ceremony was in honour of Ducab’s 30th anniversary of operations in the UAE GROUNDBREAKING

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Prime Minister and Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman of the Higher Corporation of Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp), and HH Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, broke ground for Ducab’s new high-voltage factory in a ceremony held at the Ducab head ofﬁce and factory in Jebel Ali. The ceremony was attended by HE Saeed Al Tayer, Managing

Director and CEO of DEWA, and HE Eng. Ahmed Al Mureikhi, representative from ADWEA. Ducab managers, business partners and key media were also present at the event. The new factory will be Ducab’s sixth plant, catering to high-voltage and extra highvoltage projects already planned by ADWEA and DEWA, as well as projects around the region. The Ducab Special Cable Unit (SCU) was also launched. This signiﬁcantly expands Ducab’s capacity for specialised cables suitable for oil and gas projects. “Ducab is a perfect example of what joint initiatives between Dubai and Abu Dhabi can achieve,” said Ahmed Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab. “With strong support from ADWEA and DEWA, we are expanding our operations to meet customers’ demands across the region.”

LATE 2010 The AED500 million Ducab HV factory is already underway, and commercial operations will commence in late 2010. It will manufacture cable systems in the range 66 kV (66 000 V) to 400 kV (400 000 V) covering the highest voltage currently used in the larger GCC. With a built-up area of 22 000 m² on a site plot of 50 000 m² at the Ducab Jebel Ali site, the factory will be the ﬁrst dedicated highvoltage facility in the region, and will have an output of 30 000 tons a year of cable in the 66 kV to 400 kV

Dignitaries at the groundbreaking ceremony at Ducab’s Jebel Ali factory

110 000 TONS/YEAR Ducab’s current manufacturing capacity

starting from just a single factory in Jebel Ali. Today the company operates ﬁve factories across the UAE, with over 900 employees. With a manufacturing capacity of 110 000 tons annually, Ducab’s market share is about 50% locally, with substantial exports to other GCC countries.

PARTNERSHIP range, and conductor sizes from 300 mm² to 2 500 mm². “As our regional economies continue to grow, the need for electricity and power infrastructure grows too,” said Al Shaikh. “The Ducab HV factory is designed to meet these needs, supporting ADWEA, DEWA and other regional utilities with the highest-quality high voltage and extra high voltage cables.” Ducab has come a long way in the past 30 years, originally

As our regional economies continue to grow, the need for electricity and power infrastructure grows, too.“

The late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, former Ruler of Dubai and grandfather of Sheikh Majid, opened Ducab 30 years ago in partnership with the UK company BICC Cables. Ducab began expanding its product line over time, as well as venturing into the cable accessories and components market. By the 1990s, Ducab was achieving sales of over AED200 million, and by 2008 these had grown to AED3.2 billion. Ducab was also the first Gulf manufacturing company to obtain ISO9001:1994 and ISO14001 Environment Management Standard certifications. Last year, Ducab commissioned a major expansion of its Abu Dhabi facilities, with the addition of a new factory, the UAE’s first copper rod mill.

Ahmed Al Shaikh 6 MEP Middle East | January 2010

www.constructionweekonline.com

UPDATE

Kuwait sanitary masterplan

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Atkins Kuwait, in partnership with local company SSH, has signed a major sanitary masterplan contract with the Kuwait Ministry of Public Works. The ofﬁcial signing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ahmed Al Fahed, Minister for Public Works Dr Fadel Safar and Atkins Kuwait GM in Kuwait Bryan Willey. Atkins project director Graham Warder commended the Ministry for its holistic approach. “Kuwait is a great example of a state actively improving its infrastructure network. We are delighted

that the municipality recognises our partnership approach and our ability to deliver technically demanding projects.” The masterplan will develop a national strategy for the upgrade of the current sanitation system for Kuwait, covering 17 818 km². Delivery of the study and proposals is due in December 2011. It will become a key strategy document for future growth and development. “Atkins and SSH are well-placed to assist the Ministry in resolving their local issues in water supply, environment and sanitation issues,” concludes Warder.

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need to recruit around 20 staff,” reported partner Trevor Arnold. The company is also in the running for a luxury Rosewood Hotel project in Abu Dhabi. Opening in early 2012, Rosewood Abu Dhabi will be located on Al Sowwah Island. “Our order book for the next nine months is strong,” added Arnold. “We are aiming to hit £2m in turnover next year.” Simpson Coulson & Lees’ origins date back to 1965.

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January 2010 | MEP Middle East 7

UPDATE

US deal with local chiller specialist Exclusive agreement will see energy-saving module distributed in UAE, Bahrain ENERGY-SAVING

Smartcool Systems Inc. has signed an exclusive agreement with the largest chiller services specialist in the Middle East to distribute its energy savings module (ESM) in the UAE and Bahrain. US Chiller Services will also market Smartcool’s ECO3 on a non-exclusive basis. As well as having ofﬁces in Dubai, UAE and Manama in the Kingdom of Bahrain, it also has locations in California and Florida. As part of its due diligence process, US Chillers installed the ESM on a large-tonnage centrifugal chiller at a location managed by Palm District Cooling in Dubai. The test began in July 2009 and required 14 days of operation, with readings taken prior to activation of the ESM. Readings were then recorded for a 14-day period with the ESM

activated. To verify results, readings were compared to a 14-day period whereby results were recorded with the ESM turned on and off on alternate days. The results from the testing period indicated energy savings of 13.16% when comparing the 14 day on-and-off period, and 16.63% energy savings for the alternate day period. On average, the ESM provided savings of 2,925 kWh a day, an average savings of 14.89%. This is about US$95 000 a year on a single chiller application.

26 000 The number of Smartcool EMS units installed worldwide

“The test was conducted under real operational conditions during 42 days under the peak Dubai summer of up to 50°C, yet Smartcool provided impressive results,” said Dan Mizesko, president of US Chiller Services. Not only did the ESM save substantial kWh input power to the chiller, it was also able to slightly improve the chiller’s kW per ton efficiency. “We were able to confi rm that the technology can be integrated to multiple chillers. Our fi rm conclusion is that Smartcool is a powerful energy-saving technology on single or multiple chiller installations,” said Mizesko. “We are pleased to be working with US Chiller Services,” said George Burnes, president and CEO of Smartcool Systems Inc.

Dan Mizesko, president of US Chiller Services

PV under the spotlight at Masdar City AGREEMENT

Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber and ISFOC director-general Dr Pedro Banda

8 MEP Middle East | January 2010

Masdar and Instituto De Sistemas Fotovoltaicos de Concentracion S.A. (ISFOC) have signed an agreement to test and study concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technologies under Abu Dhabi’s environmental conditions. The study will be carried out with the support of the government of Spain, which has extended a 2007 memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Abu Dhabi that calls for technical co-operation between the two parties in the ﬁelds of transport, environment, tourism and renewable energies. The Masdar-ISFOC feasibility study will examine the effects of dust, ambient temperature and haze on the energy output and reliability of CPV technologies from a variety of manufacturers. A key aim will be to determine

whether any of the CPV technologies can be a competitive, reliable renewable energy technology for Abu Dhabi and the region. The test site will be at Masdar City, the world’s ﬁ rst carbon-neutral community being built on the outskirts of the UAE capital.

UP TO

3 MW The capacity of ISFOC’s experimental power plants

GLOBAL LEADER “Spain is a global leader in the renewable energy sphere, and we are very excited about strengthening the technical co-operation between our two countries,” said Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber. “This feasibility study goes to the heart of Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy vision and of what Masdar is about, namely pushing the boundaries of technology, promoting innovation and, above all, fostering international co-operation to pave the way for the more widespread adoption of

renewable energy in the future.” Together with a similar project currently underway by ISFOC at Puertollano, Spain, the Masdar City study will provide valuable data that will signiﬁcantly enhance the potential for the adoption and commercialisation of CPV technologies worldwide. ISFOC aims, through its various projects, at promoting CPV technologies, developing industry standards and serving as a test bed for the latest technology and high-level training. www.constructionweekonline.com

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

In pursuit of

EXCELLENCE MEP Middle East speaks to Hyder Consulting Middle East regional MD Wael Allan about the changing market, his passion for Saudi Arabia, and his preference for pursuing operational excellence over diversification. llan joined Hyder as recently as April 2009, which he admits “was an interesting time to start when things were slowing down and the whole world economy was in doubt.” But he is no stranger to a challenge. A chartered scientist and engineer with more than 20 years’ experience – in fields as diverse as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and process engineering – his main background is in multinational business management. “I have worked in a number of countries, starting with the UK and Europe, especially Germany and Switzerland. I moved to the Far East for a while, working in China and Japan, and then I ended up in the US for ten years. Being an Arabic speaker, I was always very keen to come to the region and actually work here, and Hyder offered me a golden opportunity to do so. I have to say that so far I have enjoyed bringing a different perspective to the region and understanding the cultural drives of businesses from both sides,” says Allan. Allan lived in Saudi Arabia at the age of four, which he says instilled an appreciation of the country from this early age, culminating in a deep understanding of “the way business is done there.” Even though he is not in favour of diversification or regionalisation as a business strategy to cope with the downturn, he is clear about the inherent potential of

10 MEP Middle East | January 2010

this vast country. “Most companies operating in the region are anxious of going into Saudi Arabia. To them it is an unknown. However, I believe it is core to our strategy to be in Saudi Arabia. It is the largest country in the GCC, offering the most attractive opportunities for multinational companies in design and consulting. “To be honest, I believe we should have been there much earlier, but it is never too late. Saudi Arabia is spending a huge amount on infrastructure, and also on the private sector as well, so it offers both public and private sector opportunities,” says Allan. So what strategy did he have in mind upon joining Hyder? Allan points out that “the economic landscape in Dubai had changed drastically in terms of business.” This called for a particular approach. “The best strategy is a simple strategy. It is about having a sustainable business. I guess during the boom we tended to do things differently, where we designed things simply for the sake of design. I think with the boom people tended to forget some of the basics of client care,” he says. “A key strategy for us was to restructure based on market sectors. This brings with it a heavy focus on clients and their needs, and certainly the needs have changed drastically in the Middle East.” The restructuring was based on three sectors, namely property, transport and infrastructure and water and environment. “That really helped us

THE BIG INTERVIEW break the barriers between different offices, and look at the whole Middle East business as one. So that was part of the key strategy. During the recession, resources become scarce, and there are obvious issues created by the credit crunch, such as cash issues. For us, diversification – geographically and product-wise – is not a strategy. Our strategy is to focus on our core competency, enhance that through operational effectiveness, and concentrate on what we know well,” says Allan. Has this strategy borne any fruit to date? “I would say definitely, especially in terms of transport and infrastructure. We have strengthened our offering significantly, and it became a core focus for us as a business. The same applied to water and environment, and we have seen a significant growth in the number of projects in those areas. The fact that property has slowed down, combined with our decision to be sector-driven, means we have got a better balance of the business than just being profitability-driven by the property sector. “Currently in Saudi Arabia we are working with a partner, and some work we are doing directly with specific clients. We are involved significantly with NWC (National Water Company) in a PPP-type engagement. We are bringing great value to Saudi Arabia; this project is on a national basis from Jeddah, Mecca and Taif in the Western region, to the central and eastern parts, looking at Dammam and Riyadh with regard to water. We have also won, in conjunction with our partner, the tallest building in Saudi, which we are just nearing completion of that design, namely the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Tower in Riyadh,” says Allan. “I think the other thing in the region in terms of expansion is we are seeing more projects that are design-build, and also the delivery mechanism through PPP is gaining ground, certainly in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. We are establishing strong links with people who finance projects, and also construction companies who normally get involved heavily in the PPP model.” So what impact has the downturn had on both growth and prospects? “My view is that the slowdown in property was predictable. I think people just did not want to recognise that fact generally.

A successful project is when we understand what a client wants, help them design the right brief, and then align ourselves and our technical team with the client’s objectives.“ Wael Allan

January 2010 | MEP Middle East 11

THE BIG INTERVIEW

The future of Dubai is reflected in its infrastructure, in its ability to still continue as a modern and thriving city.“ Wael Allan “With regard to Hyder specifically, the only slowdown we have experienced has been in property. Only less than 18% of our business is Dubai-based; the rest of the business is diversified enough. The fact when we went sectordriven has helped cushion the problem, as we are now looking at it as a total market rather than offices or geography. We are looking at it as a water business, a transport business or a property business, and then try and streamline between the areas for the maximum benefit of our clients and our shareholders,” explains Allan. “I think whenever there is a crisis in the economy it brings maturity to the market. Expectations from clients become a lot higher because now they are questioning why they need something much more, and why do they need to spend a certain amount of money. Therefore I believe only competent companies that bring operational effectiveness to bear will survive in the region. In the past, there was so much work I think clients were looking for anyone who was willing to do it; now it is going to be a lot more focused on the value proposition.

OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS “So I believe operational effectiveness is absolutely key, and that is what we are trying to do in all our sectors: to improve performance, to do things better with less cost and shorter time, and obviously then you have got to balance those parameters depending on the client needs. I think another thing that has really changed in terms of ensuring growth in the future is that we as professionals tend to deﬁne excellence from our own perspective, when excellence really has to be deﬁned by what the clients think excellence is. Some clients 12 MEP Middle East | January 2010

may want quality at any cost; other clients may require a specific level of quality for a certain cost; we have to customise our offering to suit client needs, rather than what we define as their needs,” says Allan. Being a multinational is an added advantage as well. “That is a great differentiator,” concurs Allan. “We can bring to the table state-of-the-art techniques and knowledge and know-how with the ability to deliver locally; unlike local companies, which may have the local knowledge but not the multinational expertise. I think that is a transformation bound to happen: only multinationals, in my view, will survive in the long run, because they have the ability to bring in knowledge and know-how from everywhere – especially in the Middle East, where expectations are becoming higher, and certain nations are becoming wealthier, and with that comes a much higher expectation of the end product.” Hyder is also actively pursuing global design solutions, with a global design centre in Manilla in the Philippines dealing with property, transport and infrastructure, and one in Bangalore in India dealing with water and specific elements such as rail. “Standardised design is absolutely key,” says Allan. “If some items are off-the-shelf, you are not reinventing the wheel every day

34%

of Hyder’s total revenue is generated from business in the Middle East

and can focus on what is important to the client.” Just how important is the Middle East to Hyder in the bigger picture? “Almost 68% of Hyder’s revenue is international, with about 34% generated in the Middle East. The Middle East is a very significant part of our business. We have experienced growth in the Middle East during 2008-9. Going forward, in terms of the focus for 2010, we will sustain growth, and probably improve on it slightly, because now the focus is not on the top line and more on the bottom line as a business,” says Allan. “We really do not see the Middle East as very different to any other market. Each market generally has its distinctive local flavour, but as a multinational we are familiar with dealing with different types of projects in different environments. We have been in the Middle East for over 45 years, so we have the experience and know-how of the local issues. We will always remain committed to the Dubai market, but I think with a much more controlled growth. We do not anticipate the kind of growth experienced in the last three to five years, at least for the foreseeable future definitely. I think 2010 will be a tough year. A lot of the backlog of companies has been exhausted, so they are looking for new work. And I think companies that have reacted properly to the slowdown will survive and do well.”

CHALLENGING YEAR Allan says he has just returned from a visit to the US, where the majority consensus is that 2010 will be a “challenging” year. But a welcome caveat is that “if there is any region to be in during a recession, I would say the Middle East offers the best opportunity, compared to much more developed economies like the US and the UK.” Allan says the construction industry has made great strides in Dubai in a very short space of time. “I would say they have done a very reasonable job considering the time scale and where Dubai was and where Dubai is now. “I think though value now has got to be brought in through optimum solutions for clients. At Hyder we are looking at the lifecycle model of an asset – that asset being a building or a piece of machinery. Buying the cheapest is not necessarily the best – that is a challenge for us as a multinational, faced with clients saying you are more expensive than a local, what value do you bring? We will work with clients so they can recognise the value proposition we bring to the table. That value is through an optimum asset selection rather than through what is the cheapest capital expenditure. It is really looking at capex versus opex, and how we deal with this on behalf of our clients,” concludes Allan. www.constructionweekonline.com

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MEP AWARDS 2009

FIRST among equals All the shortlists, highly commendeds, winners, category sponsors and social pictures from the MEP Awards 2009, held at Grosvenor House on 9 December. 14 MEP Middle East | January 2010

www.constructionweekonline.com

MEP AWARDS 2009

BACK ROW (left to right) Mick Cairns, Red Engineering S. Nizar, ETA M&E Division Marnitz Schutte, ALEC MEP Wael Allan, Hyder Consulting Middle East Benjamin James, Hyder Consulting Middle East T.K. Viswanathan, Trans Gulf Electro-Mechanical Roger Mohamed and Terry Mack, Atkins.

he MEP Awards 2009 acknowledged the outstanding achievements of the Middle East’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing sector. Like the rest of the construction industry, MEP has been affected adversely by the economic crisis. Some projects have been cancelled, scaled down or delayed; there is a limited pipeline for new projects; and some staff have been retrenched. But the MEP sector has risen admirably to the challenges and opportunities offered by the new market, as evinced by the large and enthusiastic audience at the awards. Furthermore, whatever the market conditions, MEP continues to be one of the most vital cogs in the construction process, as building services typically account for up to 35% of the capital value of a large commercial scheme.

Yousef Alshaer

www.constructionweekonline.com

Andrew Shaw

FRONT ROW (left to right) Hussam S. S Sbayteh and Ahmad Al Naser, Drake & Scull An Anas Al Rifai, Rental Solutions & Services (RSS) Sander Trestain, Enviromena Power Systems Ill Illyas. P Mohamed, KEO International Consultants.

d complexity of the Irrespective of the scale and installation, good-quality design and installaough tion work, effective co-ordination and thorough commissioning are essential for the long-term, efﬁcient operation of building assets. Despite the downturn, more companies entered this year’s awards than ever before, and the commitment to continued excellence and quality in the face of adversity was clear. A total of eleven awards were presented in ﬁve categories, ranging from individuals to companies and projects. The awards were adjudicated by an independent panel of judges comprising a selection of industry luminaries. The judging process itself was totally impartial and inclusive. This year our judging panel consisted of: • Yousef Alshaer, president of the ASHRAE Emirates Falcon Chapter

Colin Morris

• Andrew And Shaw, managing director of cable m maker Ducab C • Colin Morris, regional MD of ALR Learning & Development • Ian Neale, director of Arup Gulf Limited Our sincere appreciation to these gentlemen for their sterling efforts, and for taking time out of their busy schedules – often at short notice – to attend to matters of deliberation for the awards. Without their enthusiasm and input, this event would not be possible, or be nearly as successful. MEP Middle East would also like to extend its sincere appreciation to all the companies who either sponsored award categories, or the event itself. It is your continued support that makes the MEP Awards such an industry-leading event. Here then are the shortlists and winners of the MEP Awards 2009.

Ian Neale

January 2010 | MEP Middle East 15

MEP AWARDS 2009

IN P IC T U R ES 16 MEP Middle East | January 2010

www.constructionweekonline.com

MEP AWARDS 2009

January 2010 | MEP Middle East 17

MEP AWARDS 2009 ENGINEER OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST Bushra Anwar, KEO International Consultants K. Syed Rohin, KEO International Consultants Sander Trestain, Enviromena Power Systems Mohammed Saleh, Rotary Humm LLC WINNER Sander Trestain, Enviromena Power Systems

Sander Trestain is vice president: technical and a founding partner of Enviromena Power Systems, the leading solar power developer in the MENA region. He trained as a mechanical engineer at McMaster University in Canada, and has been based in Abu Dhabi promoting, developing and constructing solar power systems since 2007. He was chief project manager overseeing the design and installation of the largest solar power in the Middle East, the Masdar 10 MW solar power plant. This highly-innovative, utility-scale solar project located at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is 55 acres in size, includes over 87 000 solar panels and produces 17 500 MWh of clean, carbon-neutral electricity a year. The AED180

Trestain has gained impressive experience in the solar energy industry, and has contributed to notable projects within a short period of time.“ million project took eight months to design and construct, and was completed and became operational in March 2009. Trestain was the main representative to the project client, Masdar, and the responsible engineer for technical issues. For the duration of the sixmonth construction period he moved from Enviromena’s corporate headquarters to the site ofﬁces to provide direct leadership to the project team and oversee all aspects of construction. The project was executed on time and on budget. He has undertaken a similar engineering and project management oversight role on various other projects as well.

YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

WINNER Benjamin James, Hyder Consulting Middle East

James has had an exceptional career to date. He has contributed to many levels of design and management, has built on the experience gained, and continued developing his career goals.“

James is MEP function leader: Northern Gulf. He is currently pursuing an international MBA on a part-time basis with the University of Liverpool, UK. His most prominent involvement in the industry to date has been the design of two iconic super high rise towers, both over 100 storeys. He formed part of a three-person MEP technical project management team based in Hyder’s Qatar ofﬁce, which was responsible for the delivery of the two projects to construction-issue level, based on the design centre delivery model.

The two towers are among the world’s top-ten towers constructed or under construction. James’s involvement in his ﬁrst super highrise tower saw him take over the project from the design development stage to completion of contract drawings and associated tendering responsibilities. When the opportunity arose for him to design the MEP solutions for a second super high-rise tower from its infancy, he used the knowledge gained to provide a cutting-edge system design, drawing on his experience both locally and abroad. The client received value in design that will beneﬁt its own-operate brief.

SHORTLIST Benjamin James, Hyder Consulting Middle East Eng Bryan Monds, Al Shirawi US Chillers Raja Mohamed, Atkins Raymond Choi, Red Engineering Middle East HIGHLY COMMENDED Raymond Choi, Red Engineering Middle East

18 MEP Middle East | January 2010

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MEP AWARDS 2009 M MEP CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR O SPONSORED BY DUCAB

SHORTLIST ALEC MEP ETA – M&E Division Drake & Scull Voltas WINNER ETA – M&E Division

With over 33 years’ experience in the industry, ETA – M&E Division, with AED2 billion on its books, and a dedicated workforce of over 20 000, has become one of the leading and biggest companies in the ﬁeld of electro-mechanical contracting in the UAE, efﬁciently carrying out MEP services for a number of prestigious buildings in the UAE and beyond it.

MEP CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY DRAKE & SCULL

SHORTLIST Atkins Hyder Consulting Middle East KEO International Consultants Red Engineering Middle East WINNER Hyder Consulting Middle East

Hyder Consulting Middle East has been involved in many iconic projects during 2009, raising the proﬁle of the MEP consultancy profession in the scope and execution of landmark buildings.“

Hyder Consulting Middle East’s MEP team has worked on a range of projects in 2009, such as ski centres, mosques, super tall buildings, residential buildings, hotels, leisure/ entertainment centres, golf courses and infras infrastructure. Examp Examples include Ski Egypt in Cairo, the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi (40 000 wors worshippers), the Pen Pentominium Tower in Dubai (secondtalle building in the tallest world world), the Michael www.constructionweekonline.com

Schumacher Tower in Abu Dhabi, the Colonial Hotel in Dubai, Dubai Mall Entertainment Centre (the ﬁrst Sega Republic outside Japan, plus the unique Kidszania experience), the Gary Player Golf Course in Abu Dhabi (ﬁve-star championship) and Education City in Doha (the largest education campus in the Middle East). All of these projects are unique in their own right and showcase Hyder Consulting Middle East’s MEP experience and expertise. However, the jewel in its crown in terms of its engineering capability is its work on the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, and the Dubai Fountain, the world’s largest and tallest performing fountain. January 2010 | MEP Middle East 19

MEP AWARDS 2009 BEST OVERALL MEP PROJECT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY LEMINAR

SHORTLIST Emicool DC Plant, Mott MacDonald Dubai Fountain, Hyder Consulting Middle East Dubai Metro, Emirates Trading Agency LLC KAUST, Drake & Scull The Yas Hotel, Red Engineering Middle East WINNER The Yas Hotel, Red Engineering Middle East The 500-room, 85 000 m² complex opened in October 2009 to coincide with the Formula 1. The Yas Hotel is one of the main architectural features of the ambitious US$36 billion Yas Marina development and accompanying Formula 1 raceway circuit. The brief was to design unobtrusive MEP systems that would meet the expectations of VIP customer, be sympathetic to the life expectancy of the building without effecting future operation (i.e. fully replaceable), and facilitate construction at high speed. To achieve these ambitious objectives, Red

This is a very impressive landmark building, an accolade in no small part due to the contribution made by MEP. It is a remarkable achievement for the short design period.“ Engineering worked closely with all team members, including the main and specialist contractors, to identify innovative design solutions, producing some 1 300 drawings in just 12 weeks. This short timeframe required high levels of collaboration. Adopting an approach of continued involvement allowed client change to occur on a project constructed in about 18 months. Red Engineering also maintained a team of 15 site-based personnel, whose mandate was to oversee the design development and installation quality.

MOST SUSTAINABLE NABLE DESIGN OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST ADEC Headquarters, Abu Dhabi, KEO International Consultants Emicool DC Plant, Mott MacDonald ) King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Drake & Scull Masdar Solar Power Plant, Enviromena Power Systems WINNER KAUST

KAUST is the first LEED-certified project in Saudi history, as well as being the largest LEED Platinum rated project in the world. Inaugurated in September 2009, KAUST was designed and built to become a major centre for global hi-tech research, housing some of the most advanced research equipment and facilities in the world. In order to assure that the project attained LEED Platinum level, DSI had to eschew conventional design in favour of various engineering solutions, including: • Designing a system to sustain a lifecycle of 100 years; • Maximising the efficiency of installed systems and using specific special materials to construct the laboratories; • Adopting photovoltaics for power generation; and • Installing solar towers and solar water heaters. 20 MEP Middle East | January 2010

www.constructionweekonline.com

MEP AWARDS 2009 SPECIALIST CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST Atkins Mott MacDonald Specialised Engineering Consultants (SpEC) WINNER Atkins Atkins is best known in the region for its building design and engineering expertise, thanks to iconic projects such as the Burj Al Arab and Bahrain World Trade Centre. It has a strong capability and market presence as a leading provider of largescale infrastructure, heavy civil engineering, utilities, transportation planning and engineering. In the past several years, it has also established a significant showcase for its multi-disciplinary talents in the transport sector as lead designer for Dubai Metro’s Red and Green Lines. Atkins was the ﬁrst large multi-disciplinary company in the Middle East to integrate specialist consultancy services into its design te teams. With the increasing complex-

Atkins is one of only a few consultants that operate globally and provide a truly multidisciplinary consultancy service to the industry.“ ity of projects in the region, and a g clear client emphasis on delivering international standards in terms of quality, a perfect springboard was created for the introduction of acoustics, ﬁre and life safety, vertical transportation, ICT, AV and security consultants. Specialist sub-consultancy services now control a large percentage of the project capex. The role of specialist consultants and engineers in the design team is pivotal. Atkins' Middle tegratEast specialist teams have been integrated into its design teams for four years.

SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST Al Shirawi US Chillers Enviromena Power Systems Molden Technical & Consulting Rental Solutions & Services (RSS) Septech WINNER Rental Solutions & Services (RSS)

RSS provides temporary power and cooling to various companies in the GCC. It is able to bridge the gap between suppliers (such as district cooling) and RTA s end users (such as the RTA’s arious Dubai Metro) in various S is applications. RSS he able to come to the rescue of variouss suppliers that could not deliver their power projects on time, as well as district cooling companies who were delayed in their handover schedule.. o, In terms of the Dubai Metro, www.constructionweekonline.com

RSS has made its mark by supplying a much-need service to ﬁll a niche in the construction industry. Its impressive client list showcases its capability to play a leading role.“ for example, RSS provided temporary cooling to stations in various locations, from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali, so as to allow the overall system to be launched ofﬁcially on 09/09/09. It supplied 29 aco acoustically-containerised generators ranging from 400 to 1 250 kVA k and 53 air-cooled chillers (total cooling load of 9 940TR). 940 RSS states this is the llargest temporary cooling project for a utility client to date. The 12 depots achi achieved cooling on-time to all allow full commissioning and h handover of secondary system systems to RTA. January 2010 | MEP Middle East 21 Janua

MEP AWARDS 2009 PROJECT MANAGER R OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY TRANS GULF ELECTRO-MECHANICAL

FULL LIST OF WINNERS HEALTH, SAFETY & TRAINING OFFICER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY FINO

SHORTLIST Alastair David Mitchell, Hyder Consulting Middle East Marnitz Schutte, ALEC MEP Muthiah Karuppasamy, Trans Gulf ElectroMechanical LLC Satish G. Dandekar, Voltas Ltd.

T.K. Viswanathan from Trans Gulf ElectroMechanical TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Illyas P. Muhamed from KEO International Consultants Cons

HIGHLY COMMENDED Alastair David Mitchell, Hyder Consulting Middle East

PRO PROJECT MANAGER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY TRANS GULF SPO ELEC ELECTRO-MECHANICAL

WINNER Marnitz Schutte, ALEC MEP

Marnitz Schutte from ALEC MEP Marni YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

HEALTH & SAFETY/ FETY/ TRAINING OFFICER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY FINO

SHORTLIST Roseweath Rodrigues, Hyder Consulting Middle East T.K. Viswanathan, Trans Gulf Electro-Mechanical LLC Wael Salah, Drake & Scull WINNER hanical LLC T.K. Viswanathan, Trans Gulf Electro-Mechanical

Benjamin James from Hyder Consulting ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Sander Trestain from Enviromena Power Systems SPECIALIST CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

Atkins SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR O

Rental Solutions & Services (RSS) Re MEP CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY DRAKE & SCULL SPONSO

Hyder Con Consulting MEP CONTRACTOR CON OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY DUCAB

TECHNICIAN N OF THE YEAR R WINNER Illyas P. Muhamed, KEO International Consultantss

Emirates Trading Agency LLC (ETA) Emirat MOST SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OF THE YEAR

King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, submitted by Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI) BEST OVERALL MEP PROJECT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY LEMINAR

The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi, submitted by Red Engineering

22 MEP Middle East | January 2010

www.constructionweekonline.com

PROFILE

SEPTECH

in pole position at Yas Marina With eight years’ experience in manufacturing floating pontoon systems and all associated MEP works for marinas in the Middle East, Septech was shortlisted in the ‘Specialist Contractor of the Year’ category at the 2009 MEP Awards. udges selected Septech on the basis of its work at the Royal Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. Septech was responsible for the design, construction, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and installation of MMS software. It was a turnkey project from design approval to the management of sub-contractors, MEP services and additional berthing points for the F1 on 1 November. Designed by Septech, this was the first marina of its kind to be installed in the dry. MEP services were installed in all berthing points and landing platforms prior to flooding along with MEP repeater stations, pedestal boxes, pump out stations and power/water connections and customised lighting. Founded by David Heffernan in 1997, Septech is the leading water infrastructure company in the region. Septech provides in-house business units that specialise in offering solutions to the water, wastewater, mobile water, precast infrastructure, marina and utilities management sector. Over the years, the group has increased its investment profile and talent pool to include the establishment of offices in Saudi Arabia, Oman and North Africa. Septech has a 20-year exclusive partnership with Bellingham, the world’s largest marine developer. Septech locally designs, manufactures and installs Unifloat floating concrete marina systems, floating wave attenuators 24 MEP Middle East | January 2010

and dry stack storage solutions as well as providing marina management and consultancy services. Internationally renowned for their superior stability, durability, attractive appearance and quality, all of its marine products are designed, engineered and manufactured to the highest international standards. The latest development at the group is the extension of its presence across the Middle East through the creation of a regional office in Muscat, Oman. Septech Muscat LLC forms part of an ongoing overall GCC expansion strategy. The office, which includes a group of ten engineers and water specialists, is dedicated to building long-term relationships to identify future opportunities, as well as managing all Septech projects in Oman. While Oman shows great potential for water, wastewater and marine manufacturing, Septech plans on supporting the Omani government to deliver key future infrastructure projects in years to come. To date, Septech has been heavily involved with Aldar, Tatweer, Atlantis, Jumeirah, Emirates, Dubai Holdings, Al Futtaim, Arabtec, Etisalat, TDIC, GCC Authorities, Authority for Water and Electricity in Oman, along with most of the recent marina projects built there. “Septech is very excited about the establishment of our Oman regional office. The current opportunities in Oman in relation to specialised infrastructure have been a key

strategic driver for growth of the Omani government and developers across the sultanate, and we look forward to working closely with these entities to ensure that a world-class water and wastewater infrastructure is built for the population of Oman,” commented CEO David Heffernan. Septech invests heavily in extensive international market research and development in order to stay abreast of industry developments, and to proactively identify opportunities for both clients and stakeholders. “We are looking at three market verticals in and across Oman, which will include our offerings in desalination, sewagetreatment solutions and emergency mobile water applications, including an emphasis on the long-term management of these liquid assets,” revealed Heffernan. Septech CEO David Heffernan www.constructionweekonline.com

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OPINION

Banking on

PROJECT FINANCE Mark Bull from Illumine Middle East FZE argues that project finance sidesteps the snares posed by the use of sovereign or governmental funds. n late November 2009, the Dubai government announced it would not, despite common belief, underwrite State-controlled holding companies. Thus Dubai World, having declared corporate debt of US$59 billion, stood firmly on its lone two feet, fully exposed to a string of creditors queued up at its door. The upshot was to be expected: mass international criticism and, worst of all, mass panic on the part of investors. Dubai is not alone. Each and every world economy, notwithstanding its home policy and financial practices, has to a greater or lesser extent been paralysed by the global financial turmoil rooted firmly in the collapse of Lehman Brothers of the US. The simple reality is this: the scope of modern economic development goals translate into project requirements that are by and large far in excess of any single hegemony’s financing mechanisms. Extensive and often very complicated domestic commercial debt market vehicles encouraging the pooling of project credit risk transnationally through infrastructure banks and private corporate financers provide a means to an end, altogether safeguarding governmental agencies from the requirements of financial accountability. What is needed is the upheaval of domestic practices and the positive promotion of mutually beneficial international project financing arrangements such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). The concept of project finance is celebrated for stepping away from the use of sovereign or governmental funds. The debt terms are not based on sponsor’s credit support or on the value of the physical assets of any one party. Instead both the technical and economic project performance of any one venture is the nucleus. The measure is the asset of the facility, including the revenue-producing potential of any contracts or any other cash flow revenue generated by 26 MEP Middle East | January 2010

US$ 59 BILLION Dubai World’s corporate debt, announced in November 2009

the facility. In the UAE, this tool is still in its infancy. Comprehensive legal reform facilitating such a financial vehicle, together with specialist contractual legal expertise, will determine the speed of project implementation and indeed the pace of market recovery. Alternative project financing will not eliminate age-old construction risks. Development risks (including the failure to obtain permits or governmental approvals, public opposition, weaknesses to the business framework of the deal), design engineering and construction risks (including changes to the scope of work necessitated by technical design requirements, price changes caused by currency fluctuation or inflation, construction delays, material shortages, regulatory changes and other fluctuating market conditions), start-up risks and general operating risks will, as always, still persist. Tight drafting of commercial arrangements can overcome deal breaking impediments and ensure the allocation of risk to the project participant most suited to shoulder it. What inter-

national project finance will do is afford Dubai a viable alternative to current custom practices banking on over-waged sovereign funds. Legislative reform provides a route map. To secure a safe journey, contractors will need to stop signing up to ad hoc top-down heavy commercial conditions of contract, and place greater weight on (i) project finance credit arrangements, (ii) project finance debt commitment letters and collaterals, (iii) the detail of the contracting arrangement, (iv) contractual risk allocation between the project participants, and (v) commercial insurance and reinsurance. Similarly, investors will need to take advice on international law – in particular: • The integrity of domestic laws governing debtor-creditor relations, the creation and perfection of security interests, the granting and registration of mortgages, creditor rights, bankruptcy laws and its enforcement; • Laws that regulate international transactions or disputes which apply to conduct within the UAE and extraterritorially; • Cross-border risks, conflicts of law. Laws of foreign countries and public international law; and • Dispute-resolution mechanisms. Procedures of various arbitration organisations such as the International Chamber of Commerce that may be nominated in priority. In conclusion, international project financing paves the way to a brighter future in a time of fierce commercial instability.

What international project ﬁnance will do is afford Dubai a viable alternative to the current practices banking on over-waged sovereign funds.“ Mark Bull www.constructionweekonline.com

METAL MONITOR

NON-FERROUS METAL PRICES The London Metal Exchange (LME) is the world’s premier non-ferrous metals market. The LME offers futures and options contracts for aluminium, copper, lead, nickel and NASAAC, among others. Many of these materials are indispensable to the MEP sector. The latest historical data from the LME is presented to give readers insight into this dynamic trading market. For further information visit www.lme.co.uk.

NOVEMBER 2009 THE LONDON METAL EXCHANGE LIMITED AVERAGE OFFICIAL AND SETTLEMENT PRICES US$/TONNE

Cash Buyer Cash Seller & Settlement Cash Mean 3-months Buyer 3-months Seller 3-months Mean 15-months Buyer 15-months Seller 15-months Mean 27-months Buyer 27-months Seller 27-months Mean

Primary Aluminium (dollars) 1,948.60 1,949.29 1,948.94 1,981.24 1,981.95 1,981.60 2,087.38 2,092.38 2,089.88 2,170.43 2,175.43 2,172.93

Aluminium Alloy (dollars) 1,740.00 1,750.55 1,745.27 1,770.95 1,782.71 1,776.83 1,856.67 1,866.67 1,861.67 1,940.24 1,950.24 1,945.24

Copper

Lead

Nickel

NASAAC

(dollars) 6,674.24 6,675.60 6,674.92 6,696.48 6,698.12 6,697.30 6,717.14 6,727.14 6,722.14 6,683.33 6,693.33 6,688.33

(dollars) 2,307.62 2,308.76 2,308.19 2,328.90 2,331.26 2,330.08 2,348.43 2,353.43 2,350.93 2,340.86 2,345.86 2,343.36

(dollars) 16,982.62 16,991.19 16,986.90 17,053.33 17,071.67 17,062.50 17,011.19 17,111.19 17,061.19 16,714.76 16,812.38 16,763.57

(dollars) 1,809.00 1,817.55 1,813.27 1,835.48 1,845.57 1,840.52 1,948.81 1,958.81 1,953.81 2,021.43 2,031.43 2,026.43

THE FOLLOWING STERLING EQUIVALENTS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED, ON THE BASIS OF DAILY CONVERSIONS: Copper Cash Seller & Settlement: Copper 3-months Seller: Lead Cash Seller & Settlement: Lead 3-months Seller:

£4,022.51 £4,038.51 £1,391.19 £1,405.59

Settlement Conversion Exchange Rates Stg/$ $/JY Euro

1.6596 89.1481 1.4917

$6588 Copper 3-months seller

LME AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PRICES IN EURO Metal

Euro Settlement Conversion Rate

Primary Aluminium

1306.70

Aluminium Alloy

1173.50

Copper

4474.99

Lead

1547.77

Nickel

11392.95

Nasaac

1218.35

OCTOBER 2009 THE LONDON METAL EXCHANGE LIMITED AVERAGE OFFICIAL AND SETTLEMENT PRICES US$/TONNE Primary Aluminium (dollars)

Aluminium Alloy (dollars)

Copper

Lead

Nickel

NASAAC

(dollars)

Cash Buyer

1,877.80

1,682.27

6,286.77

2,239.23

18,514.09

1,716.95

Cash Seller & Settlement

1,878.57

1,689.59

6,287.98

2,240.77

18,525.23

1,727.27

Cash Mean

1,878.18

1,685.93

6,287.38

2,240.00

18,519.66

1,722.11

3-months Buyer

1,914.07

1,713.82

6,309.61

2,263.41

18,590.91

1,746.59

3-months Seller

1,914.80

1,723.68

6,310.84

2,265.89

18,620.23

1,757.50

3-months Mean

1,914.43

1,718.75

6,310.23

2,264.65

18,605.57

1,752.05

15-months Buyer

2,014.95

1,799.77

6,298.64

2,270.82

18,427.95

1,865.00

15-months Seller

2,019.95

1,809.77

6,308.64

2,275.82

18,527.95

1,875.00

15-months Mean

2,017.45

1,804.77

6,303.64

2,273.32

18,477.95

1,870.00

27-months Buyer

2,081.05

1,883.18

6,237.73

2,247.00

17,978.64

1,936.59

27-months Seller

2,086.05

1,893.18

6,247.73

2,252.00

18,078.64

1,946.59

27-months Mean

2,083.55

1,888.18

6,242.73

2,249.50

18,028.64

1,941.59

THE FOLLOWING STERLING EQUIVALENTS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED, ON THE BASIS OF DAILY CONVERSIONS: Settlement Conversion Copper Cash Seller & Settlement:

£3,883.92

Lead Cash Seller & Settlement:

£1,384.12

Exchange Rates $/JY

90.3605

$6513 Copper 3-months seller

LME AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PRICES IN EURO Metal

Euro Settlement Conversion Rate

Primary Aluminium

1,267.38

Aluminium Alloy

1140.05

Copper

4,241.99

Lead

1511.65

Nickel

12,497.32

Nasaac

1,165.41

Neither the LME nor any of its directors, officers or employees shall, except in the case of fraud or wilful neglect, be under any liability whatsoever either in contract or in tort in respect of any act or omission (including negligence) in relation to the preparation or publication of the data contained in the report.

28 MEP Middle East | January 2010

www.constructionweekonline.com

BUSINESS LEADS

PROJECTS IN OMAN MEP Middle East and Ventures Middle East have teamed up to provide you with essential project information Duqum is in close proximity to the Arabian Sea

CROWNE PLAZA DUQUM RESORT Client: Omran Office/Inter Continental Hotel Group Contact: companysecretariat@ihg.com Consultant: KEO International Main contractor: Not Appointed MEP contractor: Not Appointed Value: US$251-500 million Status: Under design Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort, scheduled to open in 2011, will comprise 228 well-appointed rooms, including 11 spacious executive suites and six family/junior suites. The property is in close proximity to Duqum on the Arabian Sea, which is reinventing itself as Oman’s next major industrial and commercial hub. This is the fi rst hotel to be built in the initial construction phase of Duqum’s expansion, and will mainly cater to the increasing business travellers into the area. The master plan for Duqum’s scale-up includes designated areas for an airport, an oil refi nery, free trade zones and oil storage facilities, as well as a fishing harbour and fishery-related industries.

Project Title

Client

Consultant

Main Contractor

MEP Contractor

Value (US$. Mn)

Project Status

Type of Project

Buraimi University College Building

Buraimi University College

Gulf Engineering Consultancy

Not Appointed

31 - 100

Project under design

Educational Facilities

Renovation of Intercontinental Hotel in Muscat

Omran Ofﬁce

Pentago Spowers International

Not Appointed

16 - 30

Project under design

Hotel

Development of Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Hotel

Omran Ofﬁce

AW2

Not Appointed

31 - 100

Project under design

Hotel

Fairmont Hotel

Fairmont Hotel & Resorts/ The Wave Muscat

Echo Designer Consultants

Not Appointed

101 - 250

Project under design

Hotel

Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort

Omran Ofﬁce/Inter Continental Hotel Group

KEO International

Not Appointed

251 - 500

project under design

Hotel

The Malkai at Barka

Al Maeen Real Estate Services Company

Triad Oman/AW2

Not Appointed

250

Project under design

Mixed-Use

Bone Marrow Transplant Unit Block

Sultan Qaboos University Hospital

Gulf Engineering Consultancy

Not Appointed

16 - 30

Project under design

Hospital

Redevelopment of the Crowne Plaza resort Salalah

Ministry of Tourism

Consulting Engineering Services

Not Appointed

31 - 100

Project under design

Hotel

Court Complex at Al-Buraimi

Ministry of Justice

Sundaram Architects

Not Appointed

2.5 - 15

Award awaited for the construction contract

Others

Natural History Museum in Muscat

Ministry of Heritage & Culture

Not Appointed

16 - 30

Award awaited for the consultancy contract

Recreational Facilities

Khasab Family Resort

Majan Gulf Properties

Not Appointed

779

Project in concept stage

Hotel

Development of Duqum Beach Hotel

Omran Ofﬁce

KEO International

Not Appointed

101 - 250

Award awaited for the construction contract

Hotel

For the latest Middle East MEP project information, visit www.constructionweekonline.com

January 2010 | MEP Middle East 29

PRODUCTS CABLE SOLUTION FOR TIDIER DESKTOPS Cable management specialist Marshall-Tufflex has launched a smart new range of pre-wired office furniture desk units as part of its underfloor to desk solutions range. The units provide a neat, safe and stylish method of delivering power to desktop devices such as computers and printers, replacing messy and potentially dangerous trailing power cables. Power can be delivered directly from MarshallTufflex’s MT32 plug and play 32 A power distribution system or via Marshall-Tufflex’s Series 507 or any other powertrack sytem. The system is fully segregated with Clean Earth (CE) and standard versions available, together with optional MCBs and RCD protection. The desk units comply with BS 6396 for Electrical Systems in Office Furniture and with BS 1363-2, where applicable. Colour-coding indicates red for 3.15 A and yellow for 5 A. The desk units are also compatible with a range of prefabricated wiring systems using stan-

dard 16 A connectors and compact 32 A connectors. Units are supplied as standard in black ABS and aluminium. However, aluminium units required with a silver-grey anodised finish are also available by contacting Marshall-Tufflex’s technical team. Full details of the new office furniture desk units are available in Marshall-Tufflex’s newly-launched underfloor to desk solutions brochure, a full-colour 40-page catalogue that comprehensively outlines where, when and how its underfloor to desk systems (including Series 507) work, with photographs, clearly annotated pictures and exploded diagrams detailing technical, specification and installation information that can be downloaded from the company’s Web site. www.marshall-tufflex.com

HIGH-EFFICIENCY FILTRATION MEDIA Kimberly-Clark has launched a line of high-efficiency filtration media for HVAC system air filters. Based on the company’s patented, bi-component, nonwoven technology, the new media is ideal for a range of HVAC filter styles delivering MERV 11-15 performance. The new filter media delivers high initial and high sustained particle capture efficiencies, helping to deliver excellent indoor air quality (IAQ) and keeping HVAC components clean for more efficient and less costly operation. It also maintains a low airflow resistance, which reduces energy costs, as the HVAC system does not need to run as hard to deliver the required amount of air to the building. The new media can be used in a variety of filter types, including pockets/ bags, rigid cells, mini-pleats, v-banks and aluminum separator filters. Applications include commercial and institutional buildings, industrial filtration systems, gas turbine filtration systems, paint booths, laboratories, air purifiers, offshore oil rigs and more. The 100% synthetic media is thermally bonded to prevent fibre shedding during manufacture or in use. This is an advantage over micro-fibreglass media, which can be more easily damaged during manufacture, transport or installation, causing the tiny glass fibres to shed and become airborne and respirable. www.kcfiltration.com

MarshallTufﬂex’s stylish new desk unit

FRICTIONLESS CENTRIFUGAL CHILLER The Daikin McQuay Magnitude frictionless centrifugal chiller, featuring an oil-free, magnetic bearing design, is now available up to 550 tons in capacity, making it ideal for mid- to large-size buildings such as schools, universities and hospitals. With industry-leading efﬁciency, low sound levels and a small footprint, the chiller helps reduce energy and operating costs, create a comfortable environment and meet requirements for sustainable design, such as LEED certiﬁcation criteria. “The larger units are a natural evolution of magnetic bearing compressor technology,” said Ray Good, director of chiller product management, McQuay International. “This increases reliability and reduces maintenance because there are no conventional bearings and hence no oil manage30 MEP Middle East | January 2010

ment system and associated maintenance costs. Thanks to higher sustainable operating efficiency and reduced maintenance, the Magnitude chiller delivers a lower cost of ownership compared to conventional centrifugal chillers.” With its positive pressure, oil-free design, the efficient performance of the Magnitude chiller is sustainable through its operating life because there is no oil to contaminate the refrigerant and degrade efficiency. By eliminating the high friction losses associated with conventional centrifugal compressors, the Magnitude chiller achieves exceptional part-load performance. Part-load IPLV for the 550-ton unit is 0.312 kW/t, while the full load is rated at 0.531 kW/t. www.mcquay.com www.constructionweekonline.com

ARE YOU REALLY INSULATING? ARE YOU PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT?

Insulation of pipes has not been given enough importance or attention, previously the main focus has been on condensation prevention. Now Engineers, designers and owners NEED to consider the environmental impact AND the opportunity to SAVE ENERGY and REDUCE CO2 Emissions. INSULPHEN is THE MOST EFFICIENT THERMAL INSULATION vs Fibre or Rubber. YOU WILL SAVE ENERGY - ask us for comparisons. Also in High Occupancy buildings Thermal Insulation MUST be Fire and Smoke safe - low flame spread and low smoke emission is critical to enable people to escape in the event of a fire. Products selected must meet the regulations - Class 0 to UK buildings regs AND ASTM E84 25/50 flame spread/smoke emission rating!! Only Insulphen WORLD CLASS Insulation gives you the best of all worlds.

THE LAST WORD

One of a

KIND

KHiND Holdings Berhad group CEO Cheng Ping Keat talks about the Malaysian company’s long afﬁ liation with Dubai, and the introduction of its latest energy-saving lighting range.

Keat explains that the Middle East FZE is the local representative of KHiND Holdings Berhad, established in Malaysia in 1961. It has had a presence here for the past 22 years. “Dubai was our fi rst socalled export market. In 1988 we supplied a customer in Deira with electrical accessories in the form of cable clips. Since then we have grown in leaps and bounds, and today the Middle East is our biggest export market.” The company’s six-person office in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, lead by GM Adil Jimmy Mistry and assistant manager Nikhil Bagga, is responsible for the entire MENA region. “We one of the most established brands in terms of electrical accessories. Our name is well-entrenched,” says Keat. “We are different as we are known to be a world-class company with headquarters in Malaysia, and Malaysia has a reputation for offering quality products. Also, the length of time we have been in the region means we have forged good relationships with many importers, who trust us on an implicit level. We first started selling here just through importers, and then over the years we expanded into Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, until today where we effectively cover the entire region. “The Middle East contributes 32 MEP Middle East | January 2010

about 50% of our total exports,” reveals Keat, adding that this is expected to amount to about AED28 million for 2009 alone. “This shows there is good acceptance of our products locally. For the last few years we have been growing consistently, so these results are not just a once-off phenomenon.”

NEW RANGE The company has just launched a new range of energy-saving lamps aimed at the construction, hotel and retail sectors. “This is a very competitive market, with about 15 different brands, but we still foresee a lot of opportunity. There has been a huge surge in the demand for such products, due in part to increasing consumer awareness of energy efficiency as a result of rising electricity prices. “Our new energy-saving lamps have also been launched bearing in mind global environmental issues,” says Keat. They are claimed to save 80% of the total energy consumed by ordinary lighting, as well as having a lifespan up to eight times longer – which translates into reduced maintenance costs. “We have such confidence in the new product that we are offering a 14 month warranty to dealers,” says Keat. Some initial stock is being retained at the Middle East office to allow importers to place minimumorder quantities for demonstration

Many companies choose not to launch new products in these times. For us, we see it as the best time to do this.“ Cheng Ping Keat purposes. The range is available from 5V right up to 65V, from the Saturn spiral series to the Mars 3U/2U series.

LED LAMPS KHiND has also launched two new series of ESL LED lamps. The LED rechargeable light tube has a long lighting duration of about 11 hours. It is lightweight for effortless installation, and has a long lamp life of over 50 000 hours. The AC/DC LED rechargeable lightbulb has a long lighting duration of up to ﬁve hours. KHiND also manufactures and distributes a range of home appliances, kitchen appliances, lighting appliances and fan series. The new products are manufactured in China to international standards. “These days the country of manufacture is a less important

factor than the level of support and back-up offered,” comments Keat. Presold orders have been secured, which is a good indication of its ready acceptance. “The opportunities here lie not only in new projects, but also in the refurbishment and replacement market,” says Keat. His advice to companies in the current downturn is to acknowledge two main factors affecting performance: one is external factors such as changing consumer preferences. The other is factors beyond our control. “Financial crises emerge every eight to ten years. We cannot stop or slow these. “However, what is important in remaining competitive in such adverse conditions is to maintain a good cash ﬂow, to have motivated staff, and to have high-quality products,” concludes Keat. www.constructionweekonline.com

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