dossier-eng-aug2011 by oeronline emagazine

JULY-SEPT 2011

CEMENT DEMAND TO GO UP Economic environment improving: GCC Cement Sector Report

Haya Water Long-term benefits Green Buildings Scope in Oman INSIDE: Steel Sector • New Hotels • Urban Planning • Projects • Construction Companies

EDITORIAL

Becoming more resilient

R Concept and content by Akshay Bhatnagar Susmita De Turki Al Balushi Senior Manager - Dossier Business Unit Shivkumar Gaitonde Senior Media Executive Girija Shankar Mohanty Senior Art Director Sandesh S. Rangnekar Design M. Balagopalan Khoula Rashid Al Wahaibi Translator Mustafa Kamal Production Manager Govindraj Ramesh Photography Rajesh Burman Motasim Abdullah Othman Al Balushi CORPORATE Chief Executive Sandeep Sehgal Executive Vice President Alpana Roy Vice President Ravi Raman Senior Business Support Executive Radha Kumar Business Support Executive Zuwaina Said Al-Rashdi Published by United Press & Publishing LLC PO Box 3305, Ruwi, Postal Code - 112 Muscat, Sultanate of Oman Tel (968) 24700896 Fax (968) 24707939 Email: akshay@umsoman.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person or organisation acting or refraining as a result of material in this publication. OER accepts no responsibility for all advertising contents.

Presentation

ecently I was talking to a prominent Omani businessman about the impact of developments in Oman in the first half of the year on his business. He replied that he is used to of facing risk from unexpected quarters in his business. He said that the risk is everywhere. ‘If you are in Europe, the market is reeling under recession. In Africa, the sudden burst of major uprisings against the rulers in some states shocked us. The social unrest in some of the Middle East countries was surprising. If you move towards Asia, natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes and earthquakes are becoming too frequent. One cannot avoid risk but risk could be managed successfully by building a business model that is stronger and resilient to weather change,’ he said. The business could be made risk-averse through different ways. One of the most important strategies adopted by CEOs to manage risk is to spread their wings to different markets. In Oman, many companies have done it successfully. They have either acquired companies or set up their subsidiaries or taken up projects in overseas territories. If we look at banking, information technology, oil & gas and electricals industries, there are many shining examples. Omani construction industry, especially contracting firms, has realized the necessity of looking beyond Oman quite lately. May be there were too busy working in Oman to gauge the opportunities outside. Or it could be a case of lower self-confidence to compete in the international market. Whatever the case may be, international market can’t be ignored! If we go by the report from Global Construction Perspectives and Oxford Economics, ‘Growth in global construction will outpace world GDP growth over the next decade, with global construction levels set to rise by almost 70 per cent to around $12 trillion by the year 2020. Growth in China, India and the US will account for over half of the predicted $4.8 trillion increase in global construction to 2020. China and India will drive growth in emerging markets as their rising populations, rapid urbanisation and strong economic growth are all key drivers for construction.’ The report further states ‘China, boosted by stimulus spending, overtook the US in 2010 to become the world’s largest construction market. China’s construction market will more than double in size over the decade to $2.5 trillion by 2020, or 21 per cent of world construction. Construction will become one of the exciting global growth industries of the next decade driven by emerging markets and the US rebound.’ ‘India will overtake Japan to become the world’s third largest construction market by 2018. The US will register a sharp cyclical rebound in construction with short term double digit growth in both residential and non-residential building sectors.’ So what’s the growth recipe? ‘Corporates need to work out how to deploy skills and develop the best alliances to benefit from the exciting growth opportunities that exist’. Akshay Bhatnagar Group Managing Editor July-September 2011 DOSSIER

CONTENT

Oman’s tourism landscape changing

Abdul Wahid Al Farsi, VP –Corporate Affairs, Omran speaks on hotel projects Editorial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 INTERVIEW: A Sustainable Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: Making Muscat a Better City . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Steely Resolve

Building a Sustainable Future

Operationalization of Jindal-Shadeed Plant

Casius Pealer, Advisor, Affordable Housing Institute, US

PROFILE: Firing up Economic Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 A Holistic Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 On the Growth Trajectory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Setting New Benchmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 EVENTS: AIWA Awards 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Transoman 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Infra Oman 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 SPONSORED FEATURES: Peri (LLC) Formwork Shoring Engg . . . . . . . .52

Cement Demand to Go Up GCC Cement Sector Report

DOSSIER July-September 2011

Act Responsibly towards environment 32

Prof. Joerg Baumeister, GUTECH speaks on urban planning

AL Jizzi Transformers and Switchgears Co .58 Bahwan Projects & Telecoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Bahwan Building Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

NEWS BRIEFS

Bait Al Reem Business Centre opens for business The newly-launched Bait Al Reem Business Centre at Al Khuwair is to offer unique serviced offices to entrepreneurs that combine practical functionality and convenience, stylish aesthetics, high-quality infrastructure, all at a prestigious address in the heart of the capital, Muscat. Its Company officials said the Centre aims to provide real value for clients’ money and provide end-to-end work environments at affordable rates. The Business Centre has already achieved high level of occupancy from the period office spaces were made available for booking. Every office is fully-furnished making it easy to move in and set up operations effectively and efficiently. and with a secure environment. Each office ranges between 15 and 50 metres in size and is available on lease for a flexible period. Equipped with the latest IT tools, the Centre also has a well-trained support and maintenance team to ensure all the clients’ needs are met and their dayto-day operations continue smoothly

A company official said, “For smaller or part-time businesses, having a well-equipped, impressive office makes a huge difference. However, it is not always feasible to own an office and that is why we have launched this Business Centre, where our

clients can lease working spaces as per their requirements. In addition to being well connected by road to the rest of the capital, the Business Centre offers exemplary flexibility and value for money in terms of size and lease. We are sure that the Business Centre will be a powerful enabling force for businesses in Oman.”

LBH Zawawi Shipping & Logistics LLC begins operations in Oman LBH Zawawi Shipping & Logistics LLC has announced the commencement of its operations in Oman. The company will operate out of the port of Sohar which is fast developing as a gateway and international hub for trade in bulk commodities. LBH Group is a leading operator in the shipping agency business worldwide specialising in dry and liquid bulk commodities. The group was founded in the Netherlands almost three decades ago and currently has its presence in 20 countries covering six continents.

DOSSIER July-September 2011

“We are proud to join forces with our local partners, Alawi Enterprises LLC., the flagship company of Qais Zawawi Group that is active in various sectors in the Omani economy including minerals and services. Together with our partners, we are looking forward to extending our services to the shipping and logistics community active in this region and explore various opportunities in this growing market,” said Mr. Jan Lagendijk, President of LBH Group.

In view of the growing importance of Sohar as a regional shipping hub, the LBH Group representative will not only track local business enquiries but will also look at expanding the business to the Gulf region. With the know-how of LBH Group and the local market expertise of the Qais Zawawi Group, the company is upbeat on achieving a healthy growth in their business operations, riding on the increasing shipments of bulk liquid and dry commodities in and out of Oman.

PDO Nimr-C Full Field Water Injection Project (EPC)

Oxy Mukhaizna HRSG Erection Project

400/132 kV Dubailand-2 DEWA Sub-station (Civil Works)

NEWS BRIEFS

Realty sector to benefit from Islamic banking

The recent Royal Directive authorising the offering of Islamic banking services, for the first time in Oman, has the potential to jumpstart a recovery of the once-vibrant property market, according to the reputable realty management firm.

alternative to conventional interestbased banking, Islamic finance has the potential to, among other things, spur a revival of the domestic real estate sector. This impending resurgence will not only help bolster investor confidence in the local market, but also accelerate national economic growth as well.”

Appreciating the government’s initiative, Mr. Mohamed Ayjaz, General Manager, Hamptons International & Partners LLC Oman, commented, “As a widely embraced

Over the past two decades Islamic finance has burgeoned into a $1 trillion global industry that, among other things, has served as a vital source of funding for real estate

Leading property management and consultancy firm Hamptons International has welcomed the government’s decision to allow the introduction of Shariah-compliant Islamic financial services in the domestic banking system, a move which promises to impart a muchneeded fillip to the real estate sector.

projects and global developments. As a prodigious source of alternative funding, Islamic finance also has the potential to support the realisation of a number of national objectives, like citizen-centric welfare schemes.

Orpic is launched Orpic, the new name and brand for Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company SAOC, was launched at the firm’s plants in Muscat and Sohar. Orpic is the culmination of a successful 12-month integration program for Oman Refineries and Petrochemicals Company LLC (ORPC), Aromatics Oman LLC (AOL) and Oman Polypropylene LLC (OPP). With plants in both Muscat and Sohar, Orpic aims to set a new standard for Oman’s refining and petrochemicals industry with increased efficiencies and significantly improved operational and financial performance. The launch of the new brand ‘Orpic’ is part of the restructure process started almost a year ago to integrate 6

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Oman Refineries and Petrochemical Company with each of Aromatics Oman and Oman Polypropylene. Mr. Musab Al Mahruqi, Chief Executive Officer of Orpic, said, “Orpic has ambitious plans. We are building an integrated Omani refining and petrochemical business we are proud of. That means a business which operates safely and reliably, while paying due care to the environment. We are proud to deliver fuel to our nation as well as delivering a financial return to our shareholders. We also aim towards creating challenging and rewarding careers for our people. This year, we are providing over 130 opportunities for training and development for new graduates to be trained in the fields of operation and maintenance of refineries and petrochemical industries.”

NEWS BRIEFS

TTC opens new branch at Sur The flagship company of Al Sulaimi Group of Oman, which started its business in 1970, came up with a new branch at Sur. The new branch of Technical Trading Company (TTC) was inaugurated by the Wali of Sur himself. Addressing this occasion, Ibrahim Bin Said Al Sulaimi, Business Development Manager at Technical Trading company said, ‘’Technical Trading Co. is the flagship company of Al Sulaimi Group Holding in the Sultanate of Oman. The Group manages many of the companies inside and outside the Sultanate with various activities and covers a wide range of industrial services. TTC is considered as one of the biggest companies in the group. Sur Branch is the fourth branch in the Sultanate after the branches at Darsait, Salalah and Sohar and new branches will open soon in Nizwa, Al Mabellah and Al Duqum.’’

Haya Water’s new green venture Haya Water has announced that it has reached a milestone of 1000km of pipes installed in the Seeb area as the company continues to develop its state-of-the-art water reuse project for one of Muscat’s most heavily populated areas. The project, that will ultimately connect over 30,000 homes, offices and commercial premises in Seeb to a modern, efficient and odour free water reuse network, is part of the wider system that Haya Water is building for the whole of Muscat Governorate. It is one of the largest civil engineering projects ever undertaken in the Sultanate and is dedicated to ensuring a “Greener and Cleaner Muscat” for everyone living and working in Muscat Governorate. When completed over 80 per cent of Muscat residents will be connected directly to the new modern system. In Seeb a new modern water treatment plant is under construction with capacity of 80,000 cubic metres of treated effluent per day and of a size to allow it to cope with the rapid expansion in both commercial and residential developments in the area. Haya Water CEO Omar Al Wahaibi said, “We are very proud to have reached this significant milestone in the development of Seeb, which is one of the biggest and most important schemes in the overall Muscat water reuse project. When complete it will bring major benefits to individuals and families by removing the need for old septic tanks, the yellow tankers to remove waste water and helping to promote a much healthier and smell free environment for the population.”

DOSSIER July-September 2011

NEWS BRIEFS

Al Hassan Group bags Pan Arab Web Award The Al Hassan Group recently received a major award for its industry-leading website at the 7th Pan Arab Web Awards ceremony held in Beirut, Lebanon.

aim to raise the standards of web design and website functionality throughout the region whilst promoting the spirit of innovation and creativity.

As the only Omani Company to receive such an award, Al Hassan added yet another feather to its cap when the company was announced as runner up in the Health, Safety and Environment Category.

Winners of the annual competition are selected by a jury of industry professionals who vote according to guidelines that follow international best practice. Points are awarded across five key areas including concepts and creativity, technical and usability, content and information architecture, visual design and interactivity.

This annual regional event is organised by the Pan Arab Web Awards Academy. The awards

Sustainable affordable housing Many local and international delegates and high-profile speakers consisting of ministry officials and industry experts took part in the first-ever Affordable Housing Development Summit held recently in Oman. The executive-level event was formally inaugurated by His Excellency Eng. Salih bin Mohammed Al Farsi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Housing, in the presence of other senior government officials, diplomats, the top management of major companies, industry experts and industry professionals. “With the continued growth in the total population of the whole Middle East region, the need for affordable housing is increasing rapidly every year, making it imperative for both the public and private sectors to work closely together to be able to 10 DOSSIER July-September 2011

meet future demand,” said CJ Paul, Chief Executive Officer of Global Exhibitions & Conferences LLC (GEC), the leading organiser of industryspecific trade shows and conferences in the sultanate. Organised jointly by GEC and IQPC Middle East, the Affordable Housing Development Summit Oman is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Housing. The event was endorsed by the Supreme Committee of Town Planning. The pre-summit workshop focused on the development of a legal and regulatory framework for affordable housing development. The main summit, delved on a wide range of topics, including the concept of affordable housing in the Middle East, the delivery of selfsustainable affordable housing communities, and the importance of maximizing durability in low-cost housing projects.

“The Affordable Housing Development Summit Oman comes at a time when various government programmes and private sector projects are currently being implemented to effectively address the growing demand for low-cost housing, making the event valuable in discussing best practices and in charting the way forward,” said Shameema Parveen, Conference Producer at IQPC Middle East.

Engineering Client’s Dreams to Reality CIVIL ELECTRO-MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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NEWS BRIEFS

Msheireb Properties appoints Gensler as lead consultant project won two awards at the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards in Cannes.

Msheireb Properties (formerly Dohaland) announced the appointment of Gensler as Lead Consultant for Phase 2 and Phase 3 of their flagship project Msheireb. Under two separate agreements, Gensler will undertake the design of the Retail Galleria in Phase 2 in addition to undertaking the Lead Consultant duties in Phases 2 and 3 to execute all detailed design works for buildings designed by a total of six Design Architects Firms including Gensler, through to construction documentation stage and fulltime site supervision up to project completion for the Msheireb project. The Phase 2 scope of services consists

of comprehensive design supervision of 10 mixed use buildings totalling an area of 144,888 m2 GFA. The QR 20 billion (USD 5.5 billion; EUR 4.18 billion) Msheireb scheme will transform a 31-hectare site at the centre of Doha, recreating a way of living that is rooted in Qatari culture, attracting residents back to the city centre. More recently, the Msheireb

Due for completion in 2016, the mixed-use scheme will see Msheireb Properties construct over 100 buildings to offer housing, workspace, cultural and community facilities, while preserving key heritage buildings from the past. The entire scheme is targeting average LEED Gold certification, with several buildings targeting LEED Platinum, making Msheireb the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project. Msheireb is a pioneering development that will revive the old commercial heart of the city.

Philips presents ‘Transitions: Light on the move’ Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands reaffirms its commitment to being a leading partner in architectural lighting by staging ‘Transitions’, at the Dubai World Trade Center, inviting engineers, architects and designers to experience at first hand the amazing effects of light. The event features exhibits from six leading architects and lighting designers, who have each been invited to design the interior of a full sized 60-feet container using Philips’ latest lighting solutions, expressing their imaginative visions for the future of light while using the containers as their exposition space. ‘Transitions: Light on the move’ is all about new departures, new directions and new perceptions. It has been conceived as a platform for a visionary dialogue as we travel together on a fascinating journey of discovery”, said Paolo Cervini - General Manager of Philips 12 DOSSIER July-September 2011

Lighting Middle East. “For Philips, this event exemplifies our strong focus on innovative projects and our ongoing commitment to support our creative and industrial partners with innovations and expertise in

architectural lighting”, he adds. This themed event will enable specifiers to witness Philips’ indoor and outdoor architectural lighting competences and help them turn their visions and ideas into reality.

National survey of solid wastes to start soon All kinds of solid wastes – municipal, medical, hazardous, electronic, construction debris, and waste tyres, and other types will be covered by a national survey conducted across the Sultanate. Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (OESHCO), which has the mandate to restructure and privatise the country’s solid waste sector, informed this in a seminar jointly organised by the Embassy of Sweden and OESHCO held at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI). This initiative, according to Azhar Haroun al Kindi, CEO of the government-run body, which is the first step in a long-term effort to manage solid wastes in a sustainable and cost-efficient way, is scheduled to be rolled out over the next 2-3 months.

“The ever increasing amount of solid waste is of great concern, which must be tackled concretely and efficiently, but more importantly, in an economic, viable, sustainable and cost-effective ways. In line with this goal, the Government of Oman decided recently to develop a new framework – a national policy – to regulate and manage the solid waste sector in the Sultanate. As a result of this strategic decision, OESCHCO was established to streamline and centralise waste management and environmental protection activities across the country,” Al Kindi stated. Furthermore, in conjunction with the implementation of the National Solid Waste Management Strategy, OESHCO will address a number of current challenges, notably the deteriorating condition of existing landfills, the

CEO explained. Of the 350 dumpsites currently located around the country, only two are designed to modern standards. The rest will have to be rehabilitated and safely shut over the next five years, he said. New sanitary landfills, Al Kindi said, will only be built in suitable locations to minimise impacts to the environment and the surrounding communities. Towards this end, OESHCO has floated tenders to identify locations for all new waste management facilities throughout the country. On these sites will be constructed 16 new sanitary landfills, 65 waste transfer stations and four treatment plants to address the ‘emergency’ requirements of the waste sector over the 2011-2015 timeframe, he said.

NEWS BRIEFS

New appointments at GE Lighting GE Lighting has appointed Diederik de Stoppelaar as Director of the company’s new commercial organization, Luminaire Solutions. Diederik will lead a team of industry experts to provide effective lighting design and specification assistance to end users across a number of key market segments. Diederik will be leading a new team, which will focus on the best in class solutions for the core market segments: Indoor Commercial LED Luminaires, Indoor Core Luminaires and Outdoor Lighting. Simon Fisher will lead Indoor Commercial LED Luminaires as

General Manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. He will head both project and indoor product and lighting design teams working across EMEA to drive innovation in LED solutions across industrial and commercial interiors. A well-established product designer, Simon Fisher has previously worked for companies including Concord Lighting and ERCO Lighting, before co-founding his own lighting consultants LAPD in 1999. At GE Lighting, he will manage the lighting design and engineering disciplines to develop products and prove lighting principles.

Simon Fisher, GM, GE Lighting (EMEA)

GCC spends US$90 bn on expansion projects 2011 has continued the sustained growth that it achieved in 2010, with gross volume in Q1, 2011 up by 12% at 12.6 million TEU across its 49 terminals. The addition of a containerization section at this year’s edition of Materials Handling Middle East is a reflection of this emerging trend.

Trade has for long been the lifeblood of the UAE economy, with sailors and traders playing important roles in making the country the undisputed commercial and logistics hub of the wider Middle East. Fast-growing economies in the neighbourhood, coupled with increasing commercial and logistical links, has spurred demand for further growth of the materials handling and logistics sectors in the country. All these developments are expected to be reflected in the leading regional trade 14 DOSSIER July-September 2011

event, Materials Handling Middle East 2011 taking place in Dubai in September. According to Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of organiser, Epoc Messe Frankfurt, “Trade fair Materials Handling Middle East will highlight the latest trends and developments in this key sector and give new entrants to this promising market a key foothold into the region.” Significantly, Dubai Ports World recently announced that growth in container traffic in

Chrys Mendonca, Vice President, Cargo for Airlink, one of the prominent exhibitors at Materials Handling Middle East, said: “Airlink services cover General Freight Forwarding, Third Party Logistics, Exhibition/Sport Logistics and Project Logistics which enables them to handle large volumes of freight yearly by air, sea or even by road, making it one of the region’s largest logistics providers. For us, Materials Handling Middle East represents a platform to reach out to the emerging markets in the region and helps support our regional expansion plans.”

Positive outlook, but not without risks, says report The year 2010 was a difficult one for Oman’s construction industry. The sector grew by just 2.1 per cent to reach a value of OMR1.2bn. Despite weakness, there is significant potential in the infrastructure sector, with a number of contracts having been awarded in 2011 and substantial new investment planned. Momentum in the infrastructure sector should pull the construction industry out of stagnation in 2011, with 5.06 per cent real growth expected, according to a report by Business Monitor International (BMI). Oman’s new five-year spending plan (2011-2015) foresees OMR30bn (US$78bn) of expenditure, representing a 113 per cent increase on the last five-year plan. Of this, around OMR6bn (US$16bn) will

flow towards oil industries, with the majority of funds planned to be invested in hospitals, education and roads. The release of the new fiveyear plan goes hand in hand with the government’s new budget for 2011, which saw planned expenditure for the year rise by 9 per cent to OMR8.13bn (US$21bn).

the crisis. In addition, the country’s largest property development, the US$3bnWave Muscat is back on track, following a sluggish 2009 and 2010. Strong Q1 2011 results from Galfar Engineering and Contracting, one of Oman’s largest construction companies, also speaks of good times ahead.

Like all countries in the region, many of Oman’s projects were either stalled or slowed down, as demand declined in line with the global economic downturn, the Dubai World crisis and tighter lending. However the recent announcement that US$8bn will be spent on property developments including hotels, a shopping mall and a convention centre indicates that the country may be through the worst of

Despite this optimism, there are flipsides, nevertheless. The heightened political risk of recent times is a cause for concern of potential investors and this could spoil the success of tenders. The other underlying concern is the continued demand weakness in the construction sector. This has the potential to drag down overall construction industry value over the short term, says the report.

EVENT

SPURRING COMPETITION,

BOOSTING ECONOMY AIWA AWARDS 2011 FOR BEST PERFORMING COMPANIES FELICITATED TOP ACHIEVERS IN OMAN’S CORPORATE WORLD, ENCOURAGING THEM TO IMPROVE UPON THEIR PERFORMANCE AND STRENGTHEN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

op achievers in Oman’s corporate world were felicitated with AIWA Awards 2011 for Best Performing Companies at a gala event at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa. The awards have been instituted by Alam al-Iktisaad Wal A’mal (AIWA) Oman’s leading Arabic monthly business magazine, published by United Media Services (UMS). Held under the auspices of HE Dr Rasheed bin Al Safi Al Huraibi, chairman, Tender Board and in association with Capital Market Authority, AIWA Awards 2011 attracted the top echelons of the corporate community and senior government officials in the Sultanate. The high profile event was powered by Voltamp, Vertu from Khimji’s Watches, BankMuscat, Hyundai Centennial and Samsung. Delivering the key note address, HE Yahya Bin said Al Jabri, executive president, CMA says, “AIWA Awards reflect positively on the business environment and national economy apart from the winning companies. This award is an encouragement to the companies to become more competitive and improve upon

16 DOSSIER July-September 2011

Winners of AIWA Awards for Best Performing Companies LARGE CAP Ahli Bank Nawras Oman Oil Marketing BankDhofar Shell Oman Marketing

MID CAP Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles Muscat Finance Oman Refreshment A’Saffa Foods Al Omaniya Financial Ser.

their performance. This quest for leadership will ultimately strengthen the national economy.” On the occasion, UMS’ chief executive Sandeep Sehgal states, “Our endeavor behind AIWA Awards 2011 is to celebrate the success of Oman’s corporate sector that has continued to excel despite challenges from different quarters and has met its responsibilities towards the shareholders and society admirably.”

SMALL CAP Oman Chromite Muscat Gases Oman Fiber Optics Oman Chlorine Sahara Hospitality

The event was marked by an amazing display of violin playing in a bubble by a renowned international artist. Towards the end, an enthralling performance by an all-Oman Orchestra group left the august audience gasping for more. AIWA Awards 2011 was supported by Al Shabiba, Times of Oman, Sablat, Al Wisal, Merge FM, Ruwi Modern Printing Press (RMP), SPANCO, Gulf Brands and Mawarid Trading.

Khalfan Al Rahbi, Executive Editor, Alam al-Iktisaad Wal A’mal

HE Yahya bin Said Al Jabri, Executive President, CMA

AIWA Award for Excellence in Corporate Leadership – Omantel

AIWA Award for Excellence in Corporate Leadership – BankMuscat

AIWA Lifetime Achievement Award – Sheikh Suhail Salim Bahwan – received by Salim Saad Bahwan

AIWA Global Omani of the Year Award – Mohammed Al-Barwani

Unveiling of Jawharat Oman – which chronicles 40 Super Achievers of the Sultanate

Dazzling display of violin playing in a bubble

July-September 2011 DOSSIER

IRON & STEEL

STEELY RESOLVE THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF JINDAL-SHADEED PLANT MAKES OMAN A HOT-SPOT FOR STEEL MANUFACTURING IN THE MIDDLE EAST, SAYS D K SARAOGI, EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT & HEADSHADEED, SHADEED IRON & STEEL LLC. EXCERPTS OF DOSSIER CONSTRUCTION’S CHAT WITH HIM

18 DOSSIER July-September 2011

July-September 2011 DOSSIER

IRON & STEEL

What are the major highlights of Jindal-Shadeed? What are your expectations in the first year of operations? Jindal Steel and Power limited (JSPL) took over Shadeed Iron and Steel Co. LLC with effect from 2 July, 2010. Now, it is popularly known as Jindal Shadeed. JSPL is one of India’s biggest steel producers with a significant presence in other sectors such as mining, power generation, oil and gas and infrastructure. In recent years, the company has expanded its steel, power and mining businesses to key areas of the world, particularly in Asia, South Africa and South America. A member of the welldiversified $15 billion OP Jindal Group, JSPL boasts an annual turnover in excess of $2.3 billion. Jindal Shadded’s 1.5 MTPA capacity Direct Reduction Iron (DRI) plant – the centerpiece of the roughly $500 million steel complex at Sohar – came on stream in the early December 2010. We are planning to invest around $1 billion in the planned expansion of the integrated steel complex at the Port of Sohar. After we started operations from 5 December onwards, our progress has been excellent. We have been continually improving production both in quality and quantity. In the first year of operations, we are adding one more Briquetting machine and carry out modifications in the Material (both Feed material and HBI) Handling System to improve quality further and thereby reduce waste generation. We will achieve rated capacity in this year itself. What is the importance of the plant in the growth of Oman and Sohar in particular? The expansion of the plant will position Oman as a major supplier of steel in the region, as well as secure the supply of a strategic 20 DOSSIER July-September 2011

commodity of vital importance to the Sultanate’s continuing economic and infrastructure modernization. The project is set to make an immense contribution to Oman’s GDP and socioeconomic development. In addition to providing employment for Omanis in a number of highly skilled areas, the venture also has the potential to stimulate investments in downstream and ancillary industry, thus driving economic development and social advancement in and around Sohar. Tell us about the customers of JindalShadeed? How do you plan to expand your customer base? Our customers include United Steel, Kuwait; Sharq Sohar Steel, Sohar; Emirates Steel, Abu Dhabi; Balli; Duferco; MS Steel; Stemcor; Sojitz; Mitsui; Spainelli; Metalloid; Steel Com; Sino Trust; and Ronly etc. We have a strong central marketing network apart from a marketing set up here in Oman. With this support, we are further exploring the markets in China, Mexico, Egypt and Turkey

etc. apart from the GCC and MENA countries. What are your plans to further expand the plant? In Phase II of the project’s development, estimated to cost $400 million, Jindal Shadeed plans to enhance the state-of-the-art plant’s capabilities with the addition of the following – an Electric Arc Furnace, Ladle Furnace and Continuous Casting Machine (billet/bloom caster). The work on Phase II expansion is expected to commence in June 2011. We are aiming towards self-reliance of the Sultanate of Oman in the field of iron & steel and its overall development. We are contemplating to add another DRI Unit, 2 MTPA Steel Melt Shop & Rolling Mills along with 7.5 MTPA Pelletizing Plant in Phase-3 which may raise our total investment on Shadeed Iron and Steel LLC to $2 billion. For information, visit: www.jindalshadeed.com

INTERVIEW

22 DOSSIER July-September 2011

12 NEW HOTELS TO TRANSFORM OMAN’S TOURISM LANDSCAPE ABDUL WAHID AL FARSI, VP – CORPORATE AFFAIRS, OMRAN TALKS TO OER DOSSIER ON VARIOUS HOTEL SPECIFIC PROJECTS OWNED BY OMRAN

July-September 2011 DOSSIER

INTERVIEW

Can you tell us about the upcoming hotel related projects that are completely owned by Omran? We have a number of hotel related projects in different stages of design and development across the Sultanate. If we only consider the major projects owned by us, we are currently working on 12 new hotels in addition to the expansion and makeover of two existing properties. We are also working with leading developers in numerous joint venture projects. Each project is unique in its own right and draws inspiration from the beauty of the Omani culture and heritage. In our capacity as Oman’s leading tourism-related development, hospitality management and investment company, it is our responsibility to ensure that these hotels and developments operate to the highest international standards whilst delivering strong economic returns to the country. We care deeply for our country and its natural resources. In all our projects, we aim to create memorable destinations and experiences while nurturing the environment, protecting our heritage and working in harmony with local communities to deliver long-term benefits. Tell us about the hotels planned for Duqm? We have lined up two hotel projects at Duqm that are completely owned by us. The first, is the Duqm Crowne Plaza which is currently being constructed by Galfar and will be a four-star business hotel with a conference centre. It will offer 11 executive suites, six family suites and one royal suite. It is expected to be ready by the end of 2012. The second project is a three-star prefabricated business hotel. It will consist of 117 rooms and is 24 DOSSIER July-September 2011

scheduled to open by the end of this year. Omran is focusing heavily on Khasab. What are your different projects in development in Khasab? We plan to reposition the Golden Tulip Khasab by renovating existing facilities and adding 60 new rooms in addition to other amenities. The project is currently under early concept design stage. Moving on, we have a plan to set up the Khasab Boutique Resort. The new five-star property will be developed on one half of the existing Golden Tulip site and the design concept is still under development. We are also looking at developing another three-star resort hotel on Khasab’s waterway offering 80 rooms. The construction tender for this property was floated in March of this year and we are hopeful that the contract will be awarded sometime in the third quarter of 2011. The expected completion date is the first quarter of 2013. Kindly share details of the progress on Jabel Akhdar Resort. Omran is developing a five-star resort hotel on the cliffs of Jabel Akhdar which will be operated by Alila Hotels, offering a total of 78 rooms. The final drawings have been submitted to the Tender Board and the hotel is scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2013. Are you making changes at Asian Beach Games site to add more hotel amenities? Yes. The facility built for the 2nd Asian Beach Games Muscat 2010 has been converted to a four-star resort operated by Millennium Hotels & Resorts. Under the ABG legacy project, we plan to add more hotel amenities including a new swimming pool with a children’s

July-September 2011 DOSSIER

INTERVIEW

club and a private pool exclusively for women in addition to, jacuzzis, a fitness centre, spa, bar and restaurant along with other retail facilities. Tell us about the hotel projects in and around Muscat. Omran has lined up a five-star hotel featuring 90 rooms and conference centre overlooking Muscat from Bausher Heights. The excavation package has been issued for floating and the property will be operated by Ritz Carlton Hotels. We also have a major project in Muscat titled the ‘City Hotels Project’. It is basically the re-development of the Muscat Intercontinental Hotel. In a phased development, three hotels including a five-star W Resort (700 rooms), a five-star Westin Business Hotel (350 rooms) and an Element Extended Stay Hotel (100 rooms), will replace the existing facility. The project master plan is complete and approved. W Hotel is in the design development stage, while the Westin and Element architect request for proposal (RFPs) have been sent to the Tender Board. A separate package for infrastructure development will be ready for tendering by the end of this year. In the first phase, we expect W Resort to be completed by the third quarter of 2013. In the next phase, the other two hotels will be made ready by the third quarter of 2015. Starwood Hotels are going to operate the property. Another significant project is the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre. This prestigious project will be developed in an area of 169 hectares, near the Muscat International Airport and Muscat Expressway. Setting itself apart from other world-class facilities, the project has a provision for four different kinds of hotels collectively offering 1,000 room keys. We have tied-up with different operators including AEG Ogden, JW Marriot and the Crowne Plaza to manage the 26 DOSSIER July-September 2011

various components of the property. Do you think Oman’s tourism market can absorb such additional capacity? The current capacity is inadequate to meet the demand especially during peak season. The Government remains focused on developing the necessary infrastructure to meet the growing demand and Omran has been entrusted with the task to create the right quantity and quality of infrastructure to facilitate the growth of tourism in the Sultanate. If we have to host large scale international events, we need large capacities to host higher number of visitors.

Additional capacity also means more competition in the market and as a result, prices are expected to decrease. This will make Oman, as a destination, more attractive for tourists. Vision 2020 states that the tourism industry should contribute 3 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020. Thanks to our prudent policies, we have already achieved this target in 2009. Now the goal is to enhance tourism’s contribution to 10 per cent by 2020. This is a three-fold increase on the current rate. That is why we are creating the necessary

infrastructure in places like Muscat, Salalah, Duqm, Khasab and Jabel Akhdar to name a few. Apart from our own projects, we have several other joint venture projects with various developers. What is going to be the impact on creation of new employment opportunities? It is forecasted that the tourism industry will employ an additional 130,000 people by 2020. Thus, we expect to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs. With new leaderships at the top in the

Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Finance and Tender Board, does it make any difference to Omran? Changes in leadership have not affected the Government’s trust and confidence in Omran nor our shared vision. Our considered approach to all our developments coupled with an innate local understand of the country’s dynamics has enabled us to play an important role in Oman’s long-term vision for the tourism sector. We recognize the responsibility that comes with such honor of developing Oman’s tourism sector and work

to deliver long-term benefits to local communities and the national economy. Do you think a single window for clearance for private sector projects in tourism will boost investments and efficiency in tourism projects which will also give a fillip to the construction sector? Definitely it will boost the tourism sector. Sometimes private investors struggle to find their way through the relevant authorities to get the license and obtain other necessary approvals. A one-stop-shop for those who are keen to start a project will be a boon. July-September 2011 DOSSIER

INTERVIEW

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE

FUTURE CASIUS PEALER, A SENIOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING ADVISOR FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INSTITUTE, BASED IN THE U.S, DISCUSSES AT LENGTH ON GREEN TECHNOLOGY AND ITS SCOPE IN THE REGION, PARTICULARLY IN OMAN. REPORTS SUSMITA DE

But with respect to what’s possible on average, a number of studies have shown benefits that outweigh the costs, including operational savings, increased rental rates, and faster sales. Enterprise Community Partners is a US-based nonprofit organization that has invested US$700 million in over 16,000 green homes over the past seven years (mostly in multifamily buildings). In 2009, they conducted a study of those homes that showed financial savings of US$4,851 per unit generated by additional costs of US$1,917. Water conservation measures produced the greatest percentage payback, while 28 DOSSIER July-September 2011

PHOTO COURTESY: CASIUS PEALER

By what percentage do green buildings reduce operating costs? I’ll answer your question with a question: what are your current or average operating costs and energy/water usage? Very few building owners or even individual families really track how much electricity, water, gas and other utilities they use, and without that information, you can’t start to meaningfully answer the key questions about use reductions and lower operating costs.

more expensive investments in improving the building envelope and more efficient appliances/lighting produced greater absolute payback. Obviously those US residential averages are of limited utility on individual projects in Oman, so perhaps it’s enough to say that developers and owners around the world are increasingly seeing that green buildings can generate value. Green projects continue to increase worldwide even as construction overall has declined sharply. What are some key ways to reduce energy and water use? A key way to reduce energy and water use is to realize how much those two resources are interconnected. This connection is especially important in locales where much of the water used is produced by a desalinization plant – a process which takes tremendous amounts of energy. While I was in Oman I read that Saudi Arabia is looking to build 16 nuclear power plants over the next 20 years, largely because of their anticipated demand for desalinization. But individual homeowners use energy to move, to heat, and to dispose of water – and this energy use is reduced by measures designed to save water. The most obvious way to reduce water usage is to use exclusively native plantings. The UAE’s Estidama rating system awards points for developments with landscaping that requires less than four litres of water per square meter per day, and additional points to reduce that usage to two litres. Those are regional goals developed by a local agency, and so seem both achievable and important for the future of every community in this region. Do you agree that sustainable green buildings go beyond just energy and water efficiency? Yes, and that’s very important. Green building is holistic, and virtually

all green building rating systems with some form of integrated design process. The goal is to think of the building and its surroundings as an integrated system, addressing city planning, materials use, and indoor air quality along with energy and water efficiency. These impacts are especially important because of profound social impacts that result from often overlooked consequences of decisions about the built environment – consequences like being disconnected from community resources such as education or jobs, increased transportation costs or time away from family, or health

right. And many of “the basics” are actually ancient lessons in design and construction that technology has allowed us to ignore or forget. For instance, in hot and dry climates, orienting buildings away from the sun and capturing prevailing winds should be the first steps in green building – reducing the ultimate need for technology. Once you have reduced the need for mechanical solutions, you have likely saved on some up front construction costs by enabling the purchase of smaller equipment. This should allow you to invest in more efficient

Environment Society of Oman lists no less than sixteen protected areas in Oman covering approximately 30,000 km2. Green building is simply a way to extend that concern for the natural environment into the built environment disparities exacerbated by cheap building materials and finishes. I am not an environmentalist, but instead have focused my professional career on low income communities in the US and abroad. By taking a holistic approach, the green building industry has found that reducing wasteful environmental impacts can parallel a reduction in negative social impacts. How costly is green technology? A leading green building and green jobs advocate in the US often says that the most important high tech tool in the green economy is caulk. His point is that green building isn’t actually about technology at all, but is mainly about getting the basics

technologies like water saving fixtures, more effective windows, and higher-efficiency air conditioners. And once demand is reduced and efficiency increased, only then does it make sense to look at renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind power. Importantly, the overall goal is to produce a comfortable environment more efficiently. Green building is about better buildings, not less comfortable ones. How “costly” these measures are on any particular project depends on what quality of construction you’re used to, what the development team’s experience with green is, and when in the project you decided to “Go green.” Getting July-September 2011 DOSSIER

INTERVIEW

Environment and Climate Affairs. Additionally, the Environment Society of Oman lists no less than sixteen protected areas in Oman covering approximately 30,000 km2. Green building is simply a way to extend that concern for the natural environment into the built environment.

a finished design and then asking “How much more to go back make this green?” entirely misses the point and adds unnecessary costs. How many LEED certified buildings are there in Oman? I checked with the International staff at the USGBC, which developed and maintains the LEED Rating System, and I was surprised to see that as of June this year there were sixteen projects in Oman registered with LEED. Throughout the region, however, there are over 600 projects registered with LEED, mostly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. However, LEED is just one measure of overall interest and ability in green building here in Oman and the region generally. Using an accepted local or international standard is more important than the particular standard a developer or owner chooses to use. I recently took (and thankfully passed) the exam to become a Pearl Qualified Professional as part of Abu Dhabi’s Estidama Rating System. The Estidama Rating System was developed specifically for a hot climate and incorporates a number of measures that are culturally and technically optimized for this region. Also, the Qatar Green Building Council (GBC) has its own green building rating system, and the Egypt GBC released a draft version of “Green Pyramids” earlier this year. Using an accepted local or international standard is more important than the particular standard a developer or owner chooses to use. 30 DOSSIER July-September 2011

One point I like to make is that I’ve literally never heard of a developer or contractor building a green building and then saying, “Well, I’ll never do that again.” There’s always something you learn and things you would do differently next time – often producing higher levels of efficiency. But no one just goes back to how they built before. How receptive do you feel the Middle East is to sustainability with Oman in particular? Wherever people are connected to the natural environment, they are fundamentally supportive of sustainability. In my experience in the Middle East in general, and in Oman in particular, people are deeply connected to the natural world. Sultan Qaboos has made clear that sustaining the natural environment is especially important in Oman, creating the Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation and establishing a Ministry of the

Although sustainability is best supported where there are clear business reasons to pursue it, it is a business decision that incorporates future costs and benefits – not just “What’s best for me today?” In that sense, thinking about green building requires thinking about the impact that what we build today will have on future generations, including your own children and grandchildren. And I know that family is critically important in the Middle East and in Oman. So if you’re unsure about whether green building is worth the initial effort, sit down and talk to your grandchildren before you start your next development project. Ask them what kind of future they want for Oman. You’re either working to build that future right now, or you’re building something they’re going to have to fix tomorrow. Casius Pealer provides housing finance advice to public agencies and developers internationally. Professionally an architect and attorney, Casius was the first Director of Affordable Housing for the US Green Building Council (USGBC). He was recently in Oman speaking at the IQPC Affordable Housing Development Summit, June 1922. He can be reached at cpealer@ affordablehousinginstitute.org.

CEMENT MARKET

CEMENT DEMAND TO GO UP

THE SPEEDY RECOVERY OF THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IN OMAN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE IMPROVING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, ACCORDING TO ‘GCC CEMENT SECTOR’ REPORT BY GULF INVESTMENT HOUSE. EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORT:

n the start of 2011, top line of the GCC cement sector witnessed a turnaround and posted a positive sales revenue after two years of continuous decline due to the credit crisis which halted major real estate and construction activity. GCC cement companies came out with strong 2.1 per cent incline in top line revenue. However, they announced a 10.8 per cent decrease in profits for the Q1 2011. Net profits decreased from $421.5mn in

32 DOSSIER July-September 2011

Q1 2010 to $376.1mn in Q1 2011. Net margins witnessed a 488.6bps decrease during the period as non-core income segment declined strongly by 91.5 per cent to reach $5.9mn, attributed to deteriorated capital markets which witnessed the S&P GCC index decrease by 3.5 per cent during Q1 2011. On the other hand, gross margins witnessed a 6.4bps decrease in Q1 2011 to reach 40.2 per cent as compared to 40.2 per cent, this was

due to a higher cost of sale which increased by 2.2 per cent in Q1 2011 to reach $662.5mn. The cement markets in UAE, Oman and Qatar continued to be pressured by declining sales revenues. In the UAE market, top line continued to slide indicating that it hasn’t reached the bottom yet. The sales revenue in UAE decreased 0.4 per cent to reach $239.7mn bringing gross margin to an all time low of 7.8 per cent. In addition, net profit

margins are as well on an all time low at 2.8 per cent as compared to the previous year. Oman is currently facing stress due to UAE companies dumping their excess cement at low rates in Omani market. It is igniting price wars and affecting the Omani cement companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; profit. Omani companies witnessed a 13 per cent decrease in sales revenue reaching $72.1mn, thus pressuring net margins at 30.9 per cent in Q1 2011 as compared to 43.6 per cent in Q1 2010. July-September 2011 DOSSIER

CEMENT MARKET

Oman Cement Price

Average Realization Prices

85.0

81.0

0.0%

75.0

77.0

(USD/Ton)

5.0%

80.0

73.0 69.0

70.0

-5.0%

65.0

-10.0%

60.0 -15.0%

55.0

Source: Company Reports, MEED & Global Research

Qatar witnessed decreasing sales revenue but outperformed Oman, Kuwait, and UAE in net profits. Qatar posted a 1.3 per cent decrease in sales revenues but managed to post a 6.7 per cent increase in net profits. Kuwait posted a 58.5 per cent decrease in net profits due to the decrease in capital market. Kuwaiti cement companies hold large portfolios in investments which altered profits during the Q1 2011 as the political scene of the Middle East reduced sentiments in capital markets in the region. KSA which is considered the most stable cement market throughout the crisis posted a 6.1 per cent increase in sales revenue and a 7.1 per cent increase in net profits. Financial strength of cement companies continue to remain tougher to wither any imperfection in the cement market as assets and equity increased 6.4 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively during Q1 2011. On the other hand, debt continued to increase witnessing a 21.5 per cent increase to reach $2,608mn. Debt to equity which is considered a strong ratio during the crisis witnessed a 360bps increase in Q1 2011 to reach 25.2 per cent. CEMENT REALIZATION PRICE Cement prices in the GCC averaged around $66.0/ton in Q1 2011, as 34 DOSSIER July-September 2011

1Q-11

2010

9M-10

1H-10

2009

1Q-10

9M-09

1H-09

2008

65.0

-20.0%

50.0 KSA

UAE

Oman 1Q-10

Kuwait 1Q-11

Qatar Change

GCC Average

Source: Industry Reports & Global Research

compared to $70.2/ton enjoyed in Q1 2010, a 6.1 per cent decrease due to the fact that demand continue to be weaken and price wars where companies are selling cement at low prices. The cement prices in the GCC witnessed a decrease except KSA and Qatar. The UAE marked the highest decline of prices by 14.8 per cent to reach $53.4/ton. This is due to depressed demand and weak real estate and construction activity. Kuwaitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s average realization prices reached $79.4/ton in Q1 2011 as compared to $83.1/ton in Q1 2010. Kuwait currently sells at the highest average cement prices as compared to other GCC countries. With the KWD37bn development plan, cement prices should witness an increase as demand increases throughout the period. Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s realization prices decreased from $75.9/ton in Q1 2010 to $66.1/ ton in 2011, and decreasing 16.7 per cent from year end 2010, as excess supply from UAE companies dampened cement prices in Oman. The cement prices in Qatar are expected to increase as demand is expected to reach 4.8mn tons per annum during the period 2010-2017. As for the second largest cement

producer in the GCC, UAE witnessed a 14.8 per cent decrease in cement prices because of the excess supply and low demand due to halted real estate and construction projects. The value of projects planned in UAE decreased 15.8 per cent to reach $815.3bn, of which $403.9bn are on hold. In addition, new cement companies have flooded the market bringing more pressure on existing cement companies. The largest cement producer in the GCC, KSA witnessed an increase in cement prices by 2.6 per cent in Q1 2011 to reach $62.4/ton. The reason KSA is enjoying a low realization prices for cement is due to the fact that KSA has abundant natural resources to help produce cement at low prices including limestone, oil and natural gas. Saudi cement prices are considered the most stable in the region, ranging between a low average of $61.7/ton to a high average of $65.3/ton since 2008. The net income for Omani cement companies for Q1 2011 was $22.3mn while the same during Q1 2010 was $36.1mn, decline of 38.3 per cent. The reason for the decline in the bottom line was due to the fact that there was a 13 per cent decline in the top line and an increase of 29.7 per cent in the cost of sales.

URBAN PLANNING

‘ACT RESPONSIBLY TOWARDS ENVIRONMENT’ PROF. JOERG BAUMEISTER, HEAD OF DEPARTMENT UPAD (URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN), GERMAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN OMAN (GUTECH) TALKS ABOUT THE NEW TRENDS IN URBAN PLANNING AND RELATED CHALLENGES IN AN INTERVIEW WITH AKSHAY BHATNAGAR

What is your understanding of the state of urban planning in Oman? The results of urban planning as man-made environment can be seen easily – you have to just look out of the window. In Muscat, the central highway which acts as the backbone of the city is perceived as the major element. Along this backbone, you find individual body parts with own specializations – segregated districts for shopping, administration, business, representation, religion and living. You can understand this structure with Muscat or Muttrah as the starting point and an ever accelerating beam along the coastline of Muscat Capital Area to the northwest entering even Al Buthaina region with its rapid development. This is the structure of a street village which is still in evidence but all functions are blown up through the fast development of the last 40 years. Nowadays, the 36 DOSSIER July-September 2011

former village store has changed into a vast area of shopping centers, the house of the sheikh in the village has expanded to an administrative area of Muscat and so on. The interesting question concerning this kind of a development is: ‘How long can it endure to reach an even higher peak before it collapses? Peeping through the window and looking at the people of Muscat you discover that they are sitting quite often in their cars, driving long distances from their residential districts to work, then to shopping malls, back to their villa, in the evening to relatives or friends and finally back home. The more the city is blown up, the longer the people need to drive. And the more people spend their time on streets, the higher is the traffic density; they are caught in traffic jams. What a waste of time and energy! Are you astonished at my focus

on traffic? You need that focus to understand that cars shape the fabric of Muscat. Streets eliminate valuable land, seal the surface of the city and store heat in the city. What have been the major issues that need to be addressed? We have to rethink the city. We have to think about the implementation of more efficient public transport than inefficient private transport. The critical mass for public transport has already been reached for years. We have to think how we can shorten the length of distances of each inhabitant. Logically, these distances can be decreased through two issues – The city has to become denser and the functions have to be mixed. Living, working and amusement should not be segregated in a city! When the main features of Muscat’s urban development are copied in

rest of the Sultanate, they result in disastrous effects for the whole country. Instead of the integration of the traditional old centers of villages and towns in the development as places of identity, the village centers lie isolated at the edge of new developments in a rapid process of dilapidation. Omani culture, social community and traditional wisdom disappear gradually. In your opinion, what can be done to resolve those challenges? Please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me wrong. I like cars. But they should be integrated in a smart transport concept which should consider public transport as well. There are techniques used worldwide which allows an intelligent coordination and interaction between both private and public transport. And we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget additional potentials like the sea as a place of public transport by ferries which could create another surplus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a closer connection between the sea and the city. Concerning the creation of density and urban mixture, we have to think about optimizations of the residence and urban structure policy. We have to think in districts with a mix of functions and a density which should consider both economic interests as well as the interests of the inhabitants. Their participation is another challenge. We as urban planners and architects are creating cities and buildings for the people. Instead of having only top down processes, the people have to participate in developing processes. As designers and planners, the more we know about the needs and expectations of inhabitants, the easier are improvements to undertake. Therefore, the top-down process of planning via purely economically driven developers has to be merged with bottom-up processes of surveys, July-September 2011 DOSSIER

URBAN PLANNING

public discussions and participation of the urban inhabitants. What are the new trends in urban planning and architectural design in the international market? Please don’t mistake modernism for modernity. The first one is a dream which was generated almost 100 years ago. The dream became a nightmare because its priority of private traffic and its MonoFunctionalism was realized and destructed many cities worldwide until the 70s. Modernity, on the other hand, is neutral up to date and learns out of the mistakes done before. Nowadays sustainability is the topic of modernity. Everybody speaks about sustainability and it is no miracle that everywhere sustainable cities are mushrooming. This is a trend. But trends are not sustainable because they are short-term matters. If you are ready to think and act responsibly towards environment, you must have a long-term holistic thinking which integrates ecology, economy, culture and design. And I believe that these complex processes are only manageable in smaller clusters. Therefore, the rethinking of the city in smaller, mixed and dense units would be really sustainable. By the creation of these cityclusters, the knowledge about traditional Omani villages can help. They are smart in their structure, environmental integration, the intelligence of water usage (which will be one of the major topics worldwide in the next years), the shape of urban space and the saving of energy. Hence, “Learning from the past” is also an important prospect. What kinds of programmes and services are offered by GUtech in the areas of urban planning and architectural design in Oman? Perhaps you recognized that we Germans are critical thinkers. In 38 DOSSIER July-September 2011

We have to think about the implementation of more efficient public transport than inefficient private transport. The critical mass for public transport has already been reached for years my opinion, this way of thinking is necessary to create new ideas to generate innovations and new technologies. Together with our worldwide connected German “Mother” University RWTH Aachen, we educate students to participate in Oman and other Arabic countries as preparation of post-oil time. The German University of Technology in Oman is a fast growing institution. It will move in one year to its big new campus which is already under construction. Then we will extend our services of currently offered four bachelor and two master programmes. Our UPAD (Urban Planning and Architectural Design) department

currently offers a bachelor programme in Urban Planning and Architecture. We will launch an additional one master programme in Integrated Urban Planning. Our academic staff is permanently stationed in Oman and combines a broad international and intercultural experience with a profound academic, practical and research expertise. Our recent research and consultancy projects are concentrated on development projects (e.g. the Muttrah Redevelopment Plan with Norplan), alternative housing models and revitalization strategies for Omani traditional villages. Our students participate in all projects.

PROFILE

AL HASSAN ENGINEERING CO. SAOG

FIRING UP ECONOMIC GROWTH THE CORNERSTONES FOR AHECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SUCCESS IN PROJECT EXECUTION ARE ITS EXCELLENT CAPABILITIES IN HSE, QUALITY, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND MOBILISATION OF BOTH MATERIAL AND MANPOWER

l Hassan Engineering Co. SAOG, started its life as a small construction office in 1982 and over the relatively short period, it developed into a fully fledged and well respected engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) company. AHEC currently operates in three main business sectors: oil, gas and petrochemicals; power generation, transmission & distribution; civil construction & water/ wastewater treatment. In all of these sectors, the company either operates as the main EPC contractor or as a chosen construction service provider in the areas of civil construction, mechanical/ structural/ pipework construction installation and electrical & instrumentation equipment installation and commissioning. These apart, Al Hassan also provides

40 DOSSIER July-September 2011

Peter Hall, CEO, Al Hassan Engineering Co. SAOG

maintenance services across the sectors. In last three decades, AHEC have successfully completed almost 100 small/ medium/ large sized contracts for leading Omani organizations such as PDO, ORPC, OGC, MHEW, OETC, Haya Water as well as for international contractors such as GS E&C, SNC Lavalin, Hyundai Rotem, and more lately Siemens, Petrofac and Technip. In all the segments of power, oil, gas, petrochemicals and water, AHEC’s market share is in line with its targets. BUSINESS SO FAR AHEC’s contract income has been higher in 2011 and the same trend is expected to continue for the year 2011, though new contract acquisition remains a challenge; however, there are a number of opportunities being pursued in both Oman and UAE. In 2010, AHEC’s business grew an approximate 11 per cent by volume and 13 per cent in net profit before tax over 2009. GROWTH STRATEGY Building on its EPC business across all sectors, in addition to further developing its contracting services business through its growing business relationships with the major global EPC contractors, working both in the Sultanate and in the UAE, is part of AHEC’s growth strategy. Since 2009, the company has diversified into execution of major civil works and water & waste water management projects. One such example is the Civil work for the STP project at Seeb near Muscat, the largest so far in Oman. AHEC has recently succeeded in securing the registration with the Royal Court Affairs (RCA) for the Construction Works & Public Authority for Electricity & Water (PAEW) for Water Pipelines. In 2010, the decision of exploring and entering the renewable energy

Four major new project contract awards Saih Nihayda Depletion Compression Project PDO selected GS E&C of South Korea as their EPC contractor for executing the Depletion Compression project at Saih Nihayda. In turn GS E&C awarded major portion of its construction work to AHEC. Barka-3 Independent Power Project (IPP) Oman Power and Water Procurement Company selected GS E&C as EPC contractor, along with a consortium of developers, to set up a 750 MW capacity IPP at Barka. AHEC entered its fifth contract with GS E&C by securing the Civil & Building works. Long Term Power Supply (LTPS) project As part of its major expansion plans, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC awarded the contract to AHEC for executing this prestigious project on EPC basis. Asab-3 GASCO Project In Abu Dhabi, EPC Contractor Technip of France, awarded multi-million dollar contract to AHEC to undertake Civil and Building works for GASCO Gas Processing facility at Asab.

market was made. In this regard, AHEC – Abu Dhabi has succeeded in securing the qualifications as general contractor with Masdar for major workgroups which include, General Civil Works, Power and Communication Line & Related Structure, Structural Steel Contractors and Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP). CORE COMPETENCE The cornerstones for AHEC’s continuous success in project execution are its excellent capabilities in HSE, quality, resource management and mobilisation of both material and manpower. The Company is ISO 9001 certified since1994; and is now recertified for the latest ISO 9001: 2008 version for both Oman & UAE operations by AIB Vincotte International. Also, AHEC Oman has been awarded

the prestigious American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) “S” and “U” stamps for Fabrication of Boilers and Pressure vessels in September, 2008. OMANISATION DRIVE Omanisation is one of the key priorities for Al Hassan and has won the coveted Green Card from the Ministry of Manpower. The company strives to develop not only the basic skills but also to cultivate leadership in Omanis. A structured Mentoring and Coaching Program is put in place to ensure that the Omani Engineers are developed so as to serve the critical positions in the company. The company has been successful in launching a 3-month Management Trainee Program which provides a unique opportunity for Omani graduates, who aspire to build a long-term career. AHEC also actively participates in Career Fairs at all leading Higher Education Institutions to scout for new talent. EXPANSION PLANS The UAE operations has successfully pre-qualified itself with leading oil & gas companies of ADNOC Group, DEWA, FEWA, ADWEA and continues to bid for construction packages for various projects. In February, 2011, AHEC UAE assumed tenancy of an 8,000sq m. plot of land at Mafraq Industrial Area. The plot has been taken on a long term lease and is being developed to provide a permanent headquarters for the regional business. The development will provide dedicated office space for around 100 staff, with space for future expansion. It will also include a store and a workshop building with associated office space, and a fabrication facility. Al Hassan is also exploring opportunities to develop its activities in selected infrastructure projects.

Contact: 2481 2633 Website: www.al-hassan.com July-September 2011 DOSSIER

INTERVIEW

MICHAEL LENARDUZZI, CEO, THE WAVE, MUSCAT PROVIDES DOSSIER WITH A PROJECT UPDATE

A SUSTAINABLE MODEL 42 DOSSIER July-September 2011

Give us an overview of The Wave, Muscat project so far The Wave, Muscat is the first Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITC) and is the first available to foreign investors. Starting in 2006, the 4000 residence project was initiated by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman in joint venture with MAF Properties from the UAE. Five years on, over 1,000 homes have been sold, 700 delivered along with a new 18 hole PGA links golf course hole and 400 berth marina are set to open before the end of the year. The Wave, Muscat is already home to over 600 families from 38 different nationalities. The Al Marsa Village is expected to be completed over the next two years. Armed with a mandate to create a world-class destination while promoting the Sultanate’s vast tourism potential, The Wave, Muscat’s marina and golf course are scheduled to open later this year, and plans are already underway to commence construction on a new five star Kempinski Hotel on the beachfront. What are the design and construction challenges you are confronting during the development of the project? With a vision to build quality homes, we were determined to create usable spaces to cater for different end uses such as residential, retail and public space. The assistance from some of the best consultants in the world and the unwavering commitment from our partners, enabled us to overcome the construction challenges of reclaiming land from the sea and building a world class green golf course along a desert coastline are many. The success of this sustainable growth strategy is evident in the delivery of the project today. How is the project doing post financial crisis? In 2010 alone, the project celebrated over US$ 90 million in off-plan sales and we were voted as the “Best

“We focused on the core fundamentals of The Wave, Muscat, providing quality homes, harnessing a community lifestyle and positioning the Sultanate as a world-class tourist destination. A sustainable model is what we envisioned for Oman”

US$3 billion. We have handed over 700 properties to owners already and have sold over 1,000 homes. The success of the project to date is testimony to the vision of the Government of Oman in creating a dynamic international community within the city of Muscat.

Development” at the 2010 Bloomberg Arabian. The vision of the partners did not falter, we focused on the core fundamentals of The Wave, Muscat, providing quality homes, harnessing a community lifestyle and positioning the Sultanate as a world-class tourist destination. A sustainable model is what we envisioned for Oman. This is the first major project in Oman offering freehold status. What is the status of The Wave freehold properties in Oman now? The Wave, Muscat is an Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC) offering the first 100 per cent freehold development in Oman and a unique public-private venture valued at

How is the airport expansion affecting the development of The Wave project? The airport expansion is positive for The Wave, Muscat and the whole city. The new airport is scheduled to open by 2015 and will be a catalyst for a number of new projects in the surrounding area. As the central residential and lifestyle component of the redevelopment of this end of the city, The Wave, Muscat is an essential component of the future of Muscat and to the Sultanate as a tourist destination. How do you do quality control? Quality control is an integral part of our business from the way in which we conduct ourselves through to delivery and handover of the homes we build. A number of measures have been put in place to ensure that international standards are met. Our consultants such as Greg Norman visit frequently to inspect the golf course and progress. July-September 2011 DOSSIER

GOLF TOURISM

THE WAVE, MUSCAT GOLF COURSE WILL BE UNVEILED IN DECEMBER MUSCAT’S SIGNATURE GREG NORMAN COURSE WILL DRIVE INTERNATIONAL GOLF TOURISM TO THE SULTANATE

world-class mixed-use community sprawling across 6 km of natural beach, The Wave, Muscat prides in Oman’s first 18 hole green links golf course, designed by golfing legend Greg Norman. Michael Lenarduzzi, CEO, The Wave, Muscat, announced that the course will welcome its first players in December and act as a catalyst to drive international golf tourism to the Sultanate as well as teach students and introduce enthusiasts to the game of golf. “With an aim to position Oman as an international golfing destination and further develop the sport amongst local enthusiasts, today we are one step closer to hosting some of the world’s top golfing tournaments here in the Sultanate. We are fortunate to have Greg Norman with us today to sign off on progress to date and confirm that the course landscaping is maturing ahead of schedule.” Lenarduzzi further said that The Wave, Muscat course will provide a unique green golfing experience for players of all skill levels and is the

44 DOSSIER July-September 2011

main attraction of the USD $3 billion integrated tourism project. Based on US PGA standards, with a length of 6675 meters, the 18-holes championship course blends seamlessly with the natural landscape and incorporates native species of dune grasses, shrubs and trees. Capturing the essence of the surrounding environment with a backdrop of the ocean and Al Hajar mountains, Norman has sculptured a challenging course of varying hole lengths and configurations that will be a huge attraction for the Sultanate as well as for internationally ranked golfers. “The Wave, Muscat has assembled a world-class team comprising Greg Norman Golf Course Design and Southern Golf Oman to construct the centerpiece of the project and has recently appointed Dubai Golf as operators of the course,” stated Lenarduzzi.

In line with The Wave, Muscat’s principles of sustainable development and responsible tourism, the golf course is environment friendly and adopts a minimalist approach to avoid damage to the natural landscape and wildlife. Both irrigation lakes have been successfully excavated by applying sustainable techniques for recycling water through a strategic partnership with Oman Waste Water Services and Haya Water. Located in the new heart of the capital, the golf course will feature direct ocean views with several holes lying directly adjacent to the sea, a driving range and short game practice facility along with a dedicated Club House. In addition, golfers will have access to a wide range of facilities at The Wave, Muscat including five star hotels, restaurants, retail shops and a 400-berth marina at Al Marsa Village.

EVENT

TRANSOMAN 2011 IN A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO BRING TO LIGHT THE DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE IN LOGISTICS, CIVIL AVIATION, AND PORTS & SHIPPING SECTORS, A 5-IN-1 MAJOR EVENT TRANSOMAN 2011 WILL BE HELD IN OMAN IN OCTOBER

rganised by Oman International Trade & Exhibitions, TransOman 2011 will be divided into five major events: Transport, Shipping & Logistics Show (TransOman Exhibition), Logistics & Supply Chain Conference,1st International Civil Aviation Conference, Oman Ports & Shipping Conference, and the 2nd Oman Logistics Excellence Awards. LOGISTICS & SUPPLY CHAIN CONFERENCE With a drive to advance the logistics and supply chain sector in the Sultanate and the region, a dedicated conference will be held on October 24, 2011 and will gather more than 200 leading local and international logistics and supply chain practitioners all under one roof. Attendees will benefit from more than eight experienced speakers and industry experts. “Our expert panel of speakers will address vital issues, share latest trends and best practices as well as provide insights into future commercial opportunities which are inevitable,” says Ebrahim Taher, Project’s Manager at Oman International Trade and Exhibitions (OITE), organiser of the event. 1ST INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION CONFERENCE Of late, the Omani government has invested large amounts to boost the civil aviation sector in the country. To achieve this goal, the expansion for new domestic airports is currently

airline industry and improve revenue, among other topics. This first of its kind conference in Oman is expected to benefit various sectors associated with civil aviation in the country.

underway. In view of this significance, the First International Civil Aviation Conference in Oman, which is set to take place on October 25 as part of TransOman 2011 mega event, aspires to highlight the emerging opportunities across the sector and to discuss the major challenges, issues and trends to position the Sultanate of Oman as the next potential aviation hub in the region in the next 3-4 years. The agenda of the conference includes highlights on the future of airline industry in the Middle East, emerging opportunities for airline industry in the Middle East, update on the civil aviation infrastructure in Oman, emerging opportunities for aviation business in Oman, latest technologies and strategies to manage

1ST PORTS & SHIPPING CONFERENCE Oman has established itself as one of the main hubs for shipping and port sectors in the Middle East. Recognising the vital role played by the Sultanate’s ports in providing trade links between the trade routes of East and West, Oman’s First Ports & Shipping Conference will be held on October 26 to provide an update on the developments of Oman’s maritime, ports and logistics sectors. For more information on the event, please log on to www.trans-oman. com, or contact Ebrahim Taher, Project Manager at +968 9521 0203 or ebrahim@oite.com Dossier is the media partner for the event July-September 2011 DOSSIER

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

MAKING MUSCAT

A BETTER CITY

OMAR AL WAHAIBI, CEO, HAYA WATER TELLS DOSSIER HOW HIS COMPANY COULD BRING SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM BENEFITS TO EVERY RESIDENT AND BUSINESS IN THE MUSCAT AREA

here are many ways that cities are judged around the world for their quality of life and the ability of its residents to enjoy a healthy and comfortable future for them and their families. In many cities that is the ability of the authorities to offer residents cleaner air, the absence of smells from waste of all kinds – and increasingly the ability to help people have areas of parkland and “green oases” among heavily developed urban areas to enjoy and spend their leisure time in. But in a desert climate like Oman’s and in a city like Muscat that is already well developed – the

46 DOSSIER July-September 2011

authorities face much sterner challenges than in the wetter areas of Europe, the USA or Asia. It was, however, from challenges of this nature that Haya Water has developed a very clear and single minded vision of what our business needed to do and how we could bring significant long-term benefits to every resident and business in the Muscat area. Today as work continues on our ambitious multi-million rial water re-use project for Muscat, the vision of the company remains clear to ensure that we use our project and world-class engineering capabilities to make Muscat into a better city and a city that is truly a modern 21st Century conurbation.

OUR VISION FOR MUSCAT For many companies who operate in the area of waste water treatment – the use of the treated water or effluent was always a secondary concern. But at Haya Water we put water reuse at the very heart of our project. This development is not only unique in its size and scope in Oman and across the Middle East region – but it is also unique in the philosophy behind its development. In Oman’s climate water is our most precious resource. That is why from the very outset we looked at ways that we would be able to use the treated water from the project to benefit the whole of society.

Omar Al Wahaibi, CEO, Haya Water

And it is why we have labeled our project a “Water Re-Use” project – and NOT simply a waste water project – as this truly reflects the vision and ambition we have for the project. Treated effluent is not simply a side benefit of treating waste water - it is at the very heart of our project and the key to providing a highly valuable resource that can be used by farmers for irrigating crops, Muscat Municipality for creating green areas in parks and on highways and other areas and for high water users like golf courses and for individuals. Individuals meanwhile are now benefitting from the huge investment

we are making in providing a modern, state of the art water re-use system that is replacing the old and inefficient and sometimes smelly septic tank system.

been connected to the new system. This will also have been one of the most complex and challenging projects of its kind ever undertaken in the region.

A modern pipeline system that connects to individual homes ensures a much cleaner and healthier environment for everyone and is also another important symbol in how Muscat is becoming a more modern city that is in tune with the demands and expectations of the 21st Century.

In European cities companies like ours are generally engaged in improving existing infrastructure and already have many of the tunnels, trenches and the like in place and connections to most buildings that simply need an overhaul.

OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES When we have completed the water re-use project over 80 per cent of the residential homes and businesses in the Muscat Governorate will have

Or in some of the other Gulf States – the waste water infrastructure is put in place before new buildings or cities are being developed – for example with some of the newer economic cities in the region. July-September 2011 DOSSIER

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

But in Muscat we have had to start at the beginning. Planning an efficient way to replace an ageing septic tank system that is being used by over one million people and to ensure we can install thousands of kilometres of pipeline in the least intrusive manner possible. The challenges we face are many: • Ensuring we can gain access to individual homes and properties – many of which are crowded close together and difficult to access. • Explaining clearly the benefits that the project will bring to individuals –and finding efficient ways to meet and work with individual home owners. • How to ensure we work with the highway authorities, Muscat Municipality, the Royal Oman Police and others to reduce the impact of the trenches that must be dug to lay pipes. • Developing a new set of skilled 48 DOSSIER July-September 2011

Omani technicians and engineers to help manage and work on such a large-scale project. • Ensuring the coordination and phasing in of the project to ensure we deliver on our promises to provide Muscat with a truly world class water re-use system that will bring benefits for generations to come. The overall Muscat water reuse project comprises six major developments that include Seeb, Bousher, Muscat, Muttrah, Amerat and Quriyat where individual water re-use plants are being constructed to connect to the thousands of kilometres of pipes that are being laid. Each one of these projects will have at its heart a new modern water treatment plant that have been designed to the highest and most advanced international standards. Every plant will use one of the world’s best technologies in the world – Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology - to ensure that

the highest quality treated water free of pollutants. This ensures that treated water for reuse meets the highest standards applied across the Sultanate. The Seeb project for example recently received a major milestone when we completed laying over 1000km of pipeline – with much of this using special sophisticated trench laying technology that minimises disturbance and impact. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS In addition to creating a cleaner, greener Muscat that will make the city a more pleasant and improved city to live, work and bring up a family in; the size and scale of Haya Water’s project is also bringing significant additional benefits to both Muscat and Oman. One of these has been the development of the Kala Compost plant by Haya, that is located at Al Multaqa in Amerat, to enable the efficient re-use of sewage bios lids, and green waste to enable their

conversion to compost that can be used for agriculture, landscaping and for individual gardens. As a result today 100 per cent of all sewage bios lids generated by the company’s water reuse treatment plants is now treated and converted to compost instead of being dumped into a landfill site as had been the practice in the past. This is bringing a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and providing an environment friendly compost product for use by farmers, landscape gardeners and individuals. The successful impact of the Kala Compost development and Haya Water’s commitment to the environment was also recently recognised when we were very proud to have secured the prestigious

“Green Footprint Award” at the annual OER Green Awards. With Kala we are achieving the twin benefits of finding a practical way to reuse water & green waste that will benefit farmers, municipal authorities and individual gardeners, while finding a way to process waste that prevents the build-up of greenhouse gases that are very harmful to the environment. It is also very encouraging that other companies have now decided to use our processing facility for their wood waste which will again reduce the potential for increased methane gas emissions. A second beneficiary of the project has been the ability of Haya Water to offer to telecommunications companies the opportunity to lay fibre optic cables in the trenches and

tunnels that are being dug as part of the ongoing water re-use project construction. ABOUT HAYA WATER Haya Water was established by the Government in 2002 to enable the design, construction and operation of water reuse projects in Muscat Governorate. It is totally committed to helping create a better and safer environment for residents in the areas where it operates. It has a current Omanisation rate of 72 per cent and is able to offer technically challenging and rewarding careers to young Omanis. The size and scale of Haya Water’s projects in Muscat has also led to the creation of significant numbers of indirect jobs and opportunities through its appointment of lead contractors and sub contractors to implement construction work.

Read your favourite construction magazine on a quarterly basis. Whether you are looking for new partnerships, business contracts, material procurements or experts’ guidance, DOSSIER CONSTRUCTION is the perfect information partner to take you ahead in the business.

For marketing enquiries contact: Shivkumar : 99267159, Email: shivkumar@umsoman.com Girija: 99279359, Email: girija@umsoman.com

PROJECT PROFILE

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TEEJAN TRADING & CONTRACTING CO LLC IS HEADED BY ITS FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN MR HAMED AL HARRASY. THE COMPANY IS RENOWNED FOR SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTING VARIOUS LANDMARK PROJECTS UNDER CHALLENGING CONDITIONS Cruise Terminal at Port Sultan Qaboos

xecuting projects in fast track mode is a special attribute of Teejan. It excels in fast track industrial projects and power plant projects. Civil engineering projects, where structural design and value engineering are parts of contract requirement, also are preferred by Teejan. The Group has been able to add much value to such projects where value engineering was specified. Teejan has been quite successful in achieving stringent specifications and delivery criteria. Human resources are the backbone of Teejan. The company has a full-fledged Human Resources Division with a Director heading the HR function. Periodical, on the job trainings are arranged by the company for both its professionals and workforce. Teejan gives much thrust on systems and procedures and has been an ISO and OHSAS certified organization for last several years. Recently Teejan has embarked upon to secure certification for ISO 14001:

50 DOSSIER July-September 2011

The Salalah Independent Water and Power Plant (IWPP)

2004 for which preliminary audit has been completed and approved by certifying agencies. The Group maintains a healthy Omanisation percentage in line with the Ministry of Manpower stipulations. The following are some of the major projects of Teejan Group of Companies: BARKA FISH MARKET A wholesale fishmarket, the first of its kind in the country, is coming up

at Barka in Oman. It is an industrial wholesale project, housed in 80,000 sq mt space with ice flakes machines and seven cold rooms. Estimated at 4.85mn, the project is under construction. Muscat Municipality plays an advisory role in this project, which is very significant for government of Oman as it is expected to regularize pricing of fish in support of its own fishermen. SALALAH IWPP â&#x20AC;&#x201C; IN PROGRESS The Salalah Independent Water

and Power Plant (IWPP), is a gasfired power and water desalination plant, with 445 MW capacity and a seawater desalination plant which will produce 15 million imperial gallons of water per day. The plant is designed to augment the capacity for power and water in the Dhofar region, demand for which has increased in recent years from 130 MW in 1999 to 230 MW in 2006. With the development of Salalah Freezone and several large tourism developments in the region, the power and water demand is expected to reach 570MW by 2013. Teejan Trading and Contracting is providing complete fire protection system for the Salalah IWPP. LULU HYPERMARKET AT SALALAH The construction, completion and maintenance of Lulu Hypermarket at Salalah and all associated external works in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman was executed within the given timeline with excellent workmanship. It is the biggest shopping mall in Salalah, Oman, sprawling across 45,000 sqm area and finished as traditional architectural building in Dhofar with a massive tent structure. It includes a car park area for more than a thousand vehicles. The hypermarket infrastructure includes 11 transformers with 08 megawatt substation. The second floor houses 4,500 sqm amusement area, international food courts, etc. The three floors are connected with 02 Panoramic lifts

Barka Fish Market

and 03 Cargo lifts and 04 Travalators. CRUISE TERMINAL AT PORT SULTAN QABOOS The cruise terminal at Mattrah Port where the conceptual design envisages â&#x20AC;&#x153;a ship in the sea surrounded by wavesâ&#x20AC;? is the Main Port of call for cruise ship in Muscat with 3000 sqm area. It has a special ship shape elevation. It is one of the landmark buildings in Muscat with remarkable construction of Tower Hand Rail Work, false ceiling works, skylight work, etc. The building consists of a tourist reception hall, shipment office, duty-free zone in addition to a watchtower of 30m height.It is considered to be an important architectural and tourist edifice. FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING Committed to the cause of fire fighting, Teejan group of companies is into fire safety and security engineering. Teejan offers the

Fire Safety Engineering

systems like fire alarm system and fire fighting system on turnkey basis for fire risk and also provide consultancy for fire risk solution. Their fire protection system includes, Fire Hose reel system, Fire Hydrant system, sprinkler system, etc. Major fire engineering projects executed in the Sultanate of Oman: Dhofar Power project, Salalah, Al Kamil Power project, Sur, Duqum Desalination project, 1,000 MW Alstom power plant Sohar, OOT at Sohar, IWPP Salalah and many more. Lulu Hypermarket at Salalah

July-September 2011 DOSSIER

SPONSORED FEATURE

PERI (L.L.C.) FORMWORK SHORING ENGINEERING

Cost-effective solutions Engineers at PERI Singapore have developed a cost-effective formwork and scaffolding solution, ensuring rapid construction progress

or constructing high rise buildings, engineers at PERI Singapore have developed a cost-effective formwork and scaffolding solution, ensuring rapid construction progress. Essentially, they have combined MAXIMO wall formwork, the PERI UP scaffold system and RCS rail climbing system to create a complete solution, a project-specific design to meet the high construction site requirements. Currently, PERI is working on the renowned National University of Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new residential complex comprising three high-rise buildings that are being constructed with 24 and 25 floors for over 7,000 employees. In order to maintain tight schedule, the Tiong Seng construction company has been working with PERI. Walls and columns are formed using MAXIMO panel formwork while the slabs have been realised with

52 DOSSIER July-September 2011

SKYDECK panel slab formwork. The RCS rail climbing system provides crane-independent climbing sequences and with the help of the PERI UP scaffolding kit, safe working platforms and optimal access technology have been created. SINGLE-SIDED TIES For the first time in Singapore, walls and rectangular columns have been formed using MAXIMO panel formwork. The MX tie technology saves a great deal of time and resources because installation requires only one man and takes place from one side. Furthermore, the conical anchor does not need any spacer tubes nor cones. One extremely positive side-effect is: the construction site crew achieves an attractive concrete surface complete with a uniform joint and tie pattern. Upto 16.50 m high wall sections and rectangular columns, which stretch over five floors, are constructed in

one pour using MAXIMO, a system that can be flexibly adapted to match the different building dimensions. MOVED WITH ONLY ONE CRANE LIFT For forming, reinforcement work and concreting, PERI UP reinforcement scaffolding is used. Requiring no ballast, these are extremely stable and can be moved to the next place of use on the construction site with the crane as complete units. In order to adapt the working scaffold to the different heights, extension units can be pre-assembled on the ground and subsequently installed or kept in temporary storage. The PERI UP Rosett Flex modular scaffolding system, with the metric basic grid and 25 cm wide UDI industrial decking, forms a suitable basis for this. Together with the Stair Tower 75, staircase towers are formed which allow access to the RCS working platforms. Assembly heights can be flexibly adapted through 50 cm increments to suit the respective building geometry. CLIMBING WITHOUT A CRANE Together with the RCS rail climbing system, the MAXIMO wall formwork forms moving units that are securely connected to the structure at all times. As a result, climbing takes place quickly and safely, also craneindependently with the help of mobile climbing hydraulics. PERI engineers optimally adapted the RCS climbing solution to match the existing geometry with small wall spacings. Thus, most of the formwork units are suspended on a T-shaped gallows and can be easily moved. The concreting cycle height for the standard floor is 3.15 m.

Contact: Tel: +968(0) 24571090 Fax: +968(0) 24571050 GSM: +968(0) 98825753 Email: devaraj.gowda@perime.com perimct@perime.com

PROFILE

HASAN JUMA BACKER TRADING & CONTRACTING CO LLC

ON THE GROWTH TRAJECTORY

KRISHNAKUMAR TAORI, GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR, HASAN JUMA BACKER TRADING & CONTRACTING CO LLC, TELLS DOSSIER ABOUT HIS COMPANY’S SUCCESSFUL STRIDES IN OMAN’S CONSTRUCTION MARKET

ince its inception in 1975, Hasan Juma Backer Trading & Contracting Co LLC (HJB) has come a long way and positioned itself as a major civil electro-mechanical construction and project management company in the Sultanate. In the later part of 1990s, HJB ventured into the infrastructure projects and today it is one of the leading water supply/ infrastructure contracting company. Some of the projects that the company handled include: Ibra, Miserat, Bahla, Nizwa, Barkha, Seeb, Gubrah, Mawelah and Rustaq water supply projects. HJB is well equipped to handle large scale turnkey projects and specialises in development of roads, highways, bridges and industrial infrastructure projects. Apart from Oman, HJB also has operations in Qatar where it is involved in water supply projects. The company also works with Karama and Qatar Petroleum and is involved in reservoir and pipeline jobs, mostly in government organisations. The Group has also set up many subsidiaries like Urich Building Material, Urich Switchgear manufacturing in Muscat; Urich Concrete Products supplies ready mix concrete materials to various customers in Oman. Urich Tours &Travel Services provides travel and cargo arrangements. Urich Asphalt does roadwork. It is of no surprise that HJB boasts a strong and loyal clientele which includes illustrious names like the Ministry of Defence, PEIE, MHEW, PAEW, Diwan of Royal Court, ROP and Ministy of Commerce and Industry.

HUMAN CAPITAL Krishnakumar Taori, CEO, whose wise leadership has taken HJB to greater heights, attributes this success to HJB’s judicious investment in its resources, be it manpower or machinery. HJB offers special training programmes for its entire staff, including engineers

are one of the few local companies still going strong,” says he. Though the market is becoming more and more challenging now, HJB is growing and expanding. He informed that HJB would like to expand their operation in Qatar. Setting up a new factory in Sohar

“It is vital for organisations to continuously evolve and acclimatize themselves to changing business needs and scenarios. We are in the Greenfield project, right from the design part to the construction” and give employee motivation top priority. The company is a green card holder so far Omanisation is concerned. It is getting difficult to get new talent specially top management to GCC countries due to strength in Indian sub-continent and Asia. HJB faces the challenge with round the year recruitment campaign and attractive packages. Taori strongly believes that it is vital for organisations to continuously evolve and acclimatize themselves to changing business needs and scenarios. “We are in the greenfield project, right from the design part to the construction. We

for Urich Switchgear within three months’ time is another expansion plan. Recently HJB have been awarded the Amerat Water Supply Project worth RO35 million, which will start soon. Also shift to the new spacious office is expected to bring improvement in back office services, thereby helping HJB in implementation of projects. In all probability, HJB is planning to make a foray into real estate and hospitality industry in future. The going is great for HJB even during the challenging times!

Contact: 24811140 Website: www.hasanjuma.com July-September 2011 DOSSIER

PROFILE

SETTING NEW BENCHMARKS DOKA MUSCAT LLC IS EQUIPPED WITH THE MOST MODERN COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS FOR FORMWORK DESIGN ALONG WITH WELL EXPERIENCED, PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

stablished in 2009, Doka Muscat LLC has become a solid formwork partner who offers its customers in the Sultanate of Oman competent and reliable services for formwork engineering and supply. Doka Muscat is the latest addition to Doka Group’s global sales network

present in more than 65 countries. Doka’s Oman subsidiary relies on the Doka Group’s international experience and is a standalone organization with fully operational office at Al Khuwair, Muscat and yard and warehouse facilities at Naseem Garden. Led by Geir Jensen, who has been in

the formwork business for the past 27 years, Doka’s Muscat subsidiary has already become a byword for a solid formwork partner for the local construction sector. By providing competent and reliable services for formwork engineering and supply, Jensen and his team have a solution for any formwork requirement.

Geir Jensen, Managing Director, Doka Muscat LLC

56 DOSSIER July-September 2011

Doka Muscat LLC is equipped with the most modern computer and software systems for formwork design along with well experienced, professional engineers. A wide range of quality-assured formwork systems for walls, columns and slabs with accessories as well as load-bearing systems and formwork climbing equipment are available in Oman for rent and sale. Doka’s establishment in Oman has been appreciated by the contractors. More than 40 contractors have already experienced the benefit of modern formwork systems in more than 60 different projects and the number is growing day by day. The company’s product portfolio includes Top 50 beam formwork, framed formwork Framax and Frami Xlife, Dokaflex & Dokaflex tables for slabs and Staxo & d2 loadbearing towers. Tried and tested Doka systems have proved to be economical all over Middle East for generally all kinds of concrete works, bringing in the added value for the contractors. “We have done a comparison for a 2000 m2 concrete slab in a multistoried mix-use building. When using traditional scaffolding system approximately 12,000 items have to be manually handled. A tableform system has around 1,400 items to be handled by hand and around 100 items of tableforms and shifting equipment moved by crane. This equates to a ratio of eight times less manually handled items when using a tableform system. Less handling means more speed and more costefficiency on site,” explains Geir Jensen, Managing Director, Doka Muscat LLC. Conclusion: Sometimes it is more economical to rent than to mobilize old, traditional equipment from the yard. He continues: “Doka Muscat guarantees timely deliveries, site

supervision, follow up on the site and other services required during project execution. No task is finished before the last concrete has been cast!” The Doka branch in Oman has already logged many sales successes, supplying formwork for large-scale projects in the construction engineering sector and for infrastructure projects. These include bridge construction such as piers and pier heads for a bridge in Wadi Adai/ Al Amerat, Muscat, and dams in Salalah and Muscat. The company is also supplying formwork for the construction of the new airport in Muscat, as well as tourist resorts in Salalah, Al Shifa (Muscat) and Sodah Island and mosques, culverts, retain-

projects are continuously being awarded to Doka. Water treatment plants and water distribution are also important potential projects for formwork. The Pierheads of the Wadi Adai – Amerat Road was an interesting project. Clamping a steel structure to the piers in 40m height to enable forming and casting of the pierheads without any support from the ground was a challenge. The same solution will be used for Tie Beams and Transoms for the Ring Road to the Royal Office, also here in 40m height. The wise handling of the Omani economy with the new 5-year plan

“Doka Muscat guarantees timely deliveries, site supervision, follow up on the site and other services required during project execution. No task is finished before the last concrete has been cast!” ing walls for roads, water reservoirs, desalination plants, hotels, office/ residential buildings and villas etc. all over the Sultanate. The company supplies for any structure with castin-situ concrete. The most challenging project by volume so far is the formwork and shoring supply for bridges and other structures at the New Seeb Airport, MC3 with CCC-TAV JV as contractor. Furthermore, Doka Muscat is supplying to Towell Construction for MC4A at the same airport. Duqm Airport as well as Salalah IWPP are other projects where it supplies construction materials. New road

up to 2015 shows a steady growth in all sectors. The construction companies can look optimistic into the future and accordingly the suppliers as well. “Consultants and contractors should be more open to modern solutions for design and execution.There is a great potential of saving by making a “execution-friendly” design and think “different” by the execution. Old fashioned design and so called cheap, depreciated shoring and formwork do not necessarily give the clients low price for his concrete structure,” says Jensen. July-September 2011 DOSSIER

SPONSORED FEATURE

AL JIZZI TRANSFORMERS AND SWITCHGEARS CO. LLC (AJTS)

Consistent Quality â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the key to success Today Al Jizzi is a well known name and its products are endorsed by Oil, Gas & Electricity distribution companies

stablished in 1997, Al Jizzi Transformers and Switchgears Co. LLC, the manufacturer of transformers, has come a long way and today manufactures Oil Filled Distribution and Power Transformers up to 6000 kVA, 36 kV Class. Transformers for Speed drive units are used in Oilfield applications. Step up, Hermetically sealed, Auxiliary Power Plant supplies are the other special applications. The company has a long term contract for supplying Well head transformers to PDO. With the main manufacturing facility located in Mabelah, Oman, AJTS has set up a complete quality management system. Here all activities from Winding to Core Assembly, Core Coil Assembly, Tanking Testing and Despatch take place. The company has a well established facility for the manufacture of transformers. Due attention is given to good workmanship. In all its manufacturing facilities, importance is also given to quality in Engineering, Manufacturing and in Services. All transformers are subjected to routine tests in the sophisticated laboratory, conforming to current national and international standards IEC 60076 and DEP Specification. These tests ensure the safety and reliability of the transformers in adherence to the stated parameters. Many clients do attend the Factory Acceptance Tests to verify the tests and are satisfied with the Products. The company has been certified for ISO9001:2008 Quality Management System.

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Today Al Jizzi is a well known name and its products are endorsed by all the Electricity Distribution companies in Oman as well as by Petroleum Development Oman, Dhofar Power Co, Ministry of Defence, and a large number of Engineering companies and Contractors, specially related to Oil and Gas sector like Woodgroup, MEDCO, Petrocomp, National Oilfields. Daleel, and others. The company has also successfully catered to various overseas clients.

In order to meet the increasing demand for transformers, the company is expanding its capacity and range and has set up a new facility in Mabelah. The company is also planning to increase its Client base with strategic Marketing and aims to satisfy the growing market demand.

Contact: ajtsoman@omantel.net.om www.aljizzitransformers.com

SPONSORED FEATURE

BAHWAN PROJECTS & TELECOMS LLC

Partners in progress Bahwan Projects & Telecoms has brought the surveying instruments of Leica Geosystems to Oman for construction applications

ahwan Projects & Telecoms (BPT) LLC, which provides technology and engineering services for the development of core sectors such as Telecom and Broadcast etc., has entered into a partnership with Leica Geosystems of Switzerland to represent their instruments in the Sultanate of Oman. With close to 200 years of pioneering activities, Leica Geosystems, Switzerland is one of the leading manufacturers of surveying instruments. Whether to stake out a construction site precisely, perform control measurements, collect height and angle data, align concrete forms, install ceilings and partitions, lay gravity flow pipe, locate underground services or complete site preparation and earthworks – Leica Geosystems offers the right instrument for any of these applications. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO Levels: Automatic, Precise & Digital Levels Leica levels create new standard of leveling at construction site. Leveling measurements are made easier with Leica digital levels. Professional optical levels that are built for the construction site can be quickly set up; they are very precise in operation, and top every comparison of price to performance ratios. Electronic Total Station Perhaps the most important instrument for surveying, a Total Station has made the job of surveying easy. Leica offers highly accurate and productive total stations. Superb

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through Image Assisted Surveying and Documentation. Leica offers a complete range of versatile GNSS solutions for you. From completely integrated, to totally modular solutions; Leica provides a system to master all of your tasks. Built on years of knowledge and experience, the Leica Viva GNSS deliver the hallmarks of Leica GNSS – reliability and accuracy. Construction Lasers Whether it’s general construction, pipe laying, machine control, or interior walls and ceilings, Leica lasers are built to handle any environment.

Users of Leica Builder • Landscape gardeners • Surveying Companies • Construction Companies • Refurbishing designers, • Home builders, • General Contractors angle and distance technology, powerful suite of on-board programs, many sensor and accuracy options, highest reliability. Perfect for all surveying and engineering work. Data can be sent to software, enabling most survey tasks to be carried out quickly and easily. Robotic Total Station The Leica Viva TS15 is Leica Geosystems’ new robotic Imaging Total Station. This state-of-the-art total station provides advanced imaging functionality combined with dynamic tracking capabilities for one-person surveying. Traditional robotic operation is significantly improved with imaging features

Machine Control System Leica Geosystems offers a smart and integrated range of machine control solutions for the construction market. They are accurate, easy to use, upgradeable and ruggedised, helping to get the job done on time and to budget. Working with all major construction companies in the Sultanate, BPT has been supplying Leica instruments to all important infrastructure projects in the Sultanate like, Muscat International Airport, Muscat Express Highway, Sohar Airport, Salalah Airport, PDO, etc. Leica Instruments are used in a number of ministries as well: MOH, MOD, Diwan Royal Court, Muscat Municipality, MRME, Dhofar Municipality, SDO, etc. Together with Ministry of Housing, BPT has successfully completed installation of Continuously Operating Reference Station. “With our continual support and service to customers, we will enhance our presence in the field of surveying instrument,” says Yatindra Zalani, Dy. General Manager, Bahwan Projects & Telecoms LLC.

Contact: 24788798/99 Website: www.suhailbahwangroup.com

SPONSORED FEATURE

BAHWAN BUILDING MATERIALS

Continuous Growth In Oman, Bahwan Building Materials represents the MAXIMUS brand from their showroom at Wadi Kabir

data socket etc for commercial / residential application. This range is tested and certified by Intertek for BS compliance. Industrial Range: ENDURA/ CONSERVA and others are Industrial range apt for industrial / commercial application. This range is as per Italian IMQ standard & EN. MAXIMUS Trust and Care approach lies with Independent inspection module which is widely accepted and recognized as accepted quality assurance programme. Intertek and SGS are the quality assurance partners of MAXIMUS. Most of their products have been tested by one of these reputed testing houses for compliance to standard and issuance of conformity certificate.

AXIMUS Integrated Technologies Ltd of MAXIMUS group is a UK registered company.

MAXIMUS is an association of professionals having rich experience in the field of consumer electrical & electronics and have forged a platform wherein world’s best state-of-art technologies could be seamlessly brought under one marketing umbrella, keeping end customer as the beneficiary and focal point of business. At MAXIMUS, technology helps to make products that can lead to safe, environment friendly and ecological solutions. MAXIMUS has its regional office 62 DOSSIER July-September 2011

located in free zone of Dubai Silicon Oasis for entire Middle East countries and MENA region. This office is managed by professionals and assures excellent marketing support. MAXIMUS has wide range of products meeting international standards and can be broadly classified into three: Light Sources: All lamps sources from T5 lamps, CFL, PL, HPSV, MH, LED lamps are made and tested for IEC standard by SGS. British Standard Wiring Devices: ASTON range is modular polycarbonate polymer having exhaustive range of switch / socket /

“At MAXIMUS, our approach that we are working to make our existing products and processes more efficient for both the environment and for business, while also developing new innovations that can accelerate the adoption of products and services that consume less energy and have lesser environmental impact. We look forward to an opportunity to serve our customers with our best of ability and request to get in touch with us for any further information / assistance,” says an official. MAXIMUS has been blessed with a reputation for being ethical and responsible for adopting fair business practices. In Oman, Bahwan Building Materials represents the MAXIMUS brand which is available at all of the Bahwan building materials outlets/ authorized dealers across the Sultanate.

Contact: Tel: 24810983/262 Fax: 24815755, GSM: 95126865 Email: m.raza@suhailbahwangroup.com

Under the Patronage of

Supported by

Muscat Municipality Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Oganization

Supreme Committee of Town Planning

19 – 20 September 2011 Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat

Attend The 1st Oman Sustainable Urbanisation Conference and beneﬁt from the experiences of leading companies and visionaries showcasing profound innovations driving today's new green economy.

Some of the conﬁrmed speakers:

Transportation

H.H. Sayyida Tania Shabib Al Said, President, Environment Society of Oman

Public Sector / Government Contractors Healthcare

Academia & Others

Prof. Jahn Gehl, Partner, Gehl Architects

WHO WILL YOU MEET?

Gerfried Ramsauer, Chairman, Consatt

Media

Prof. Awni Shaaban, Architectural Engineer, Program Coordinator – Civil & Architectural Engineering Dept, College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University

Consultants

Dr. Anwar Ali Khan, Water Supply and Environmental Ofﬁcer, Department of Urban Development Govt of Uttarakhand,India

Members of the Civil Society

Tourism

Energy Housing / Real Estate Developers Banking & Finance

Adrew Waddelove, Manager, BREEAM Communities (UK) Christa Diener, Vice President of Design, Engineering & Planning, Muriya Tourism Development Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy, Programme Manager, Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Environment Programme Khalfan Al Shueili, Architect, PhD Researcher at Mackintosh School of Architecture – Glasgow School of Art, United Kingdom, Ministry of Manpower, Oman

To sponsor or register, please contact Suhail Iqbal on +968 9509 8034, 24 564303, or email suhail@oite.com

Organised by:

F more information please visit For www.urbanoman.com

CONFERENCES Platinum Sponsor Media Partners

Official Newspapers

Official Trade Publication

Marketing Partner

EVENT

INFRA OMAN 2011 THE SULTANATE’S FIRST INFRASTRUCTURE EXHIBITION WILL PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE MULTIMILLION-OMANI RIALS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

an opportunity to present their projects and achievements while providing them with a one-stop shop for sourcing all their project requirements.”

he range of development projects in the Sultanate as well as all the materials and equipment needed in building these projects will be showcased at Infra Oman 2011, the first-ever international exhibition that highlights the Sultanate’s rapid economic growth as seen in its world-class infrastructure projects. Infra Oman 2011 will be held on September 20-22 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. Organized by Al Nimr Expo, the three-day event is in co-operation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) and supported by the Supreme Committee for Town Planning, Public Establishment for Industrial Estates, Origin Oman, Oman Society of Contractors, Oman Tourism Development Company SAOC (OMRAN), Oman Environmental Services Holding Co. S.A.O.C. (OESHCo), Oman Society of Engineers, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Singapore Business Federation, United Engineers Network, Export Promotion Center of Turkey (IGEME) and the Association of Professional Interiors Designers (APID). Infra Oman 2011 will put the spotlight on the multimillion-Omani rials infrastructure projects that are currently under construction or will be implemented soon as part of the government’s comprehensive strategy to diversify the economy

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and develop all industry sectors. In particular, the international exhibition will focus, among others, on the Sultanate’s tourism projects, power and water projects, health infrastructure projects, industrial projects, oil & gas projects, transport infrastructure projects, telecommunications projects, and residential projects. To cater to the massive requirements of these projects, Infra Oman 2011 will also showcase all types of building materials, heavy equipment, construction supplies, engineering and consultancy services, architectural services, and other products and services that are necessary for the successful implementation of any infrastructure project. The international exhibition will also have special sections focusing on ‘affordable housing development’ and airport build and supply’ and ‘heavy equipment’. Explaining the main objectives of the event, Salim Omar Al Hashmi, CEO of Al Nimr Expo, said: “Infra Oman 2011 is primarily intended to give contractors and developers

He added, “The event is also meant to provide local and international companies the opportunity to introduce range of their products, equipment, technologies and services to their target clients – the decision makers and top officials of companies in Oman’s vibrant building and construction industry.” The Diamond Sponsor is Douglas OHI LLC and Nafal Contracting & Trading Co.LLC, Platinum Sponsor is Target LLC, Gold Sponsor is Qatar Steel Company (Q.S.C.), while the Construction Intelligence partners include Ventures Onsite, Oman Projects, MiddleEast Tenders, BNC Network, Zawya. The Media Partners are Gradimo, OER Dossier, Infobahn Consultancy, Dubai Exporters, Dimension, TPG Publishing LLC, Asia Today, Alam Aliktisaad Wala’mal, Ruwad and Oman Economic Review. To get more information about Infra Oman 2011, please visit www. alnimrexpo.com. To reserve your stand in the exhibition, please contact Jenitha Martin, Project Manager, at tel. no. +968-24790369, mobile no. +968 94041616, or e-mail info@ alnimrexpo.com. Dossier is the media partner for the event