MEP Middle East

MIDDLE EAST NEWS UPDATE |06THE BIG INTERVIEW |10

PROFILE |24OPINION |26

PRODUCTS |30THE LAST WORD |32

MEP AWARDSAll the winners from the leading industry event of the year

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

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An ITP Business Publication | January 2010 Vol. 5 Issue 1Essential information for mechanical, electrical and plumbing professionals

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January 2010 | MEP Middle East 1www.constructionweekonline.com

JANUARY 2010 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1

CONTENTS

03 CONSTRUCTION WEEK ONLINE

05 COMMENT

06 UPDATEFrom the groundbreaking ceremony for Ducab’s new HV factory to an exclusive distribution agreement for new technology clinched by US Chiller Services.

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

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

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

26 OPINIONMark Bull on project fi nance.

27 LEGAL

28 METAL MONITOR

29 BUSINESS LEADS

30 PRODUCTS

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

10

32

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

ASSESSMENTSelina Denman,Editor, Commercial Interior DesignKenneth Laidler has proposed the continual assessment of interior design practioners. Over the next few issues, CID will be publishing ex-clusive extracts from his position paper.

LONG WAYConrad Egbert, Editor, Construction WeekIt’s often diffi cult to focus on the real issue. The media-bashing of Dubai is based on negative speculation. It’s upset-ting to see journalists who have never set foot in Dubai rip into the emirate.

FLOWN BYGreg Whitaker, Editor, PMV Middle EastWow, is it really that time again? Despite, or perhaps because of, a turbulent and punishing year, the time seems to have simply fl own by. Soon we can hopefully move on to lucrative new projects.

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

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

IN PICTURES MOST POPULAR

• Nakheel to clear debt within 14 days

• Abu Dhabi to fi nance Dubai World debts

• Contractors say US$10bn will see industry breathe

• Construction starts on world’s biggest sea bridge

• HVAC controls upgrade can slashenergy costs

• Water scarcity drives green building

• MACAir appoints new MD

• ASHRAE joins forces with UNEP

EDITOR’S CHOICE

SPOT POLL

What’s your main aim for 2010?

31.4%Tender for more work

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

25.7%Survive

11.4%Upsize

5.7%Downsize

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

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COMMENT

Iconic structures are bygonesB

y the time you read this, the world’s tallest building should have been inaugurated on January 4, 2010. This is indeed an auspicious event. It also marks the end of the iconic era

in Dubai, according to Wael Allan, regional MD of Hyder Consulting Middle East – which, ironically, worked on both the Burj Dubai and the accompa-nying Dubai Fountain, two of the most iconic struc-tures in the Middle East.

“I guess the last three years has been the era of iconic projects. I think iconic is great, but now that Dubai has gone through that phase, it will not come back very shortly. Projects will now be looked at in terms of meeting their objectives of making money, whether it is a publicly-listed company that wants to give good returns to shareholders, or an infrastruc-ture or healthcare project that needs to give value to locals,” says Allan.

“So I think it is really about bringing value to our shareholders and also to the communities we are working in. I am seeing a lot more maturity in the market – people are talking about the real drivers of a business; how much can they make if they build a mall; how many people will visit that mall; what is the likely return on invested capital, rather than I want the tallest, the biggest – I think all of that is gone for now.”

It sounds eminently practical when spelt out like this, but it is exactly this sort of practicality that has been in such short supply. Interestingly, Allan says the ongoing debate about ‘green’ building and sus-tainability – which the MEP sector in particular is grappling with, especially with regard to such issues as energy effi ciency – could also be faced with the same crisis of credibility.

“Sustainability and ‘green’ building will only be-come a reality globally if there are fi nancial benefi ts, and seeing projects becoming more fi nancially viable if they were green. My experience has been that, if there is a value and a return on invested capital shown through ‘green’ sustainable models, then I think people will adopt it naturally. I think it is a chal-lenge for the professional community, companies and the regulatory bodies to ensure these are aligned.

“This is the only thing that can drive sustainability and make it a reality. It is almost parallel with the concept of quality and safety, where cost should not be compromised, and this is an integral part of Hyder’s service offering. If you do a quality product, you are spending more money, but in the long run it gives you more value, and if the client is convinced of this value, they will adopt it.

“If you give them quality and are spending a lot

MIDDLE EAST

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more money, but there is no tangible value, then I think people will question why are they doing this, and the same applies to sustainability. We are devel-oping and adopting methodologies that really look to sustainability being integrated in all aspects of the design, construction and operation of any facility or asset. It is not an add-on; it actually should be an in-tegral part of what you deliver,” says Allan.

These are worthy sentiments from the 2009 win-ner of the MEP Consultancy of the Year Award, which should serve to fortify the MEP sector as it faces the ‘undiscovered country’ that is 2010. It is unlikely this year will reach the temperature of 2009’s crucible of fi re. But it is equally likely that the tough times are not yet over, as companies start to dip into their dwindling order books.

It is clear that those who survive in this tougher en-vironment will be focused on customer needs and de-livering maximum value at minimum cost. These are the qualities that distinguish the winners of our 2009 MEP Awards, who are indeed all fi rst among equals.

GERHARD [email protected]

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

5

Burj Dubai, the fi rst and last of its kind?

UPDATE

6 MEP Middle East | January 2010 www.constructionweekonline.com

Ducab breaks ground for HV factoryThe offi cial ceremony was in honour of Ducab’s 30th anniversary of operations in the UAE

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

GROUNDBREAKING

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Prime Minis-ter and Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman of the Higher Cor-poration of Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp), and HH Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chair-man of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, broke ground for Du-cab’s new high-voltage factory in a ceremony held at the Ducab head offi ce and factory in Jebel Ali.

The ceremony was attended by HE Saeed Al Tayer, Managing

Director and CEO of DEWA, and HE Eng. Ahmed Al Mureikhi, representative from ADWEA. Du-cab managers, business partners and key media were also present at the event. The new factory will be Ducab’s sixth plant, catering to high-voltage and extra high-voltage projects already planned by ADWEA and DEWA, as well as projects around the region.

The Ducab Special Cable Unit (SCU) was also launched. This signifi cantly expands Ducab’s ca-pacity for specialised cables suit-able for oil and gas projects.

“Ducab is a perfect example of what joint initiatives between Dubai and Abu Dhabi can achieve,” said Ahmed Al Shaikh, Chairman of Ducab. “With strong

support from ADWEA and DEWA, we are expanding our operations to meet customers’ demands across the region.”

LATE 2010The AED500 million Ducab HV factory is already underway, and commercial operations will commence in late 2010. It will manufacture cable systems in the range 66 kV (66 000 V) to 400 kV (400 000 V) covering the high-est voltage currently used in the larger GCC.

With a built-up area of 22 000 m² on a site plot of 50 000 m² at the Ducab Jebel Ali site, the factory will be the fi rst dedicated high-

voltage facility in the region, and will have an output of

30 000 tons a year of cable in the 66 kV to 400 kV

range, and conductor sizes from 300 mm² to 2 500 mm².

“As our regional economies continue to grow, the need for electricity and power infrastruc-ture grows too,” said Al Shaikh. “The Ducab HV factory is de-signed to meet these needs, sup-porting ADWEA, DEWA and other regional utilities with the highest-quality high voltage and extra high voltage cables.”

Ducab has come a long way in the past 30 years, originally

110 000 TONS/YEAR

Ducab’s current manufacturing capacity

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

PARTNERSHIPThe late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, former Ruler of Dubai and grandfather of Sheikh Majid, opened Ducab 30 years ago in partnership with the UK company BICC Cables.

Ducab began expanding its product line over time, as well as venturing into the cable accesso-ries and components market.

By the 1990s, Ducab was achiev-ing sales of over AED200 million, and by 2008 these had grown to AED3.2 billion. Ducab was also the fi rst Gulf manufacturing com-pany to obtain ISO9001:1994 and ISO14001 Environment Manage-ment Standard certifi cations.

Last year, Ducab commis-sioned a major expansion of its Abu Dhabi facilities, with the ad-dition of a new factory, the UAE’s fi rst copper rod mill.

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

Ahmed Al Shaikh


UPDATE

Kuwait sanitary masterplanSANITATION

Atkins Kuwait, in partnership with local company SSH, has signed a major sanitary master-plan contract with the Kuwait Ministry of Public Works.

The offi cial signing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ahmed Al Fahed, Minister for Public Works Dr Fadel Safar and Atkins Kuwait GM in Kuwait Bryan Willey.

Atkins project director Graham Warder commended the Ministry for its holistic approach. “Kuwait is a great example of a state ac-tively improving its infrastruc-ture network. We are delighted

DISTRICT COOLING

A team of Teesside consulting en-gineers has clinched a major con-tract in the Middle East. Simpson Coulson & Lees, of Billingham, has secured a contract to provide technical expertise on an 80 000 TR district cooling plant on Al Sowwah Island in Abu Dhabi.

The project will supply cooling to more than 95 000 mixed-use units on the island. “The proj-ect is already under way, and we

that the municipality recognises our partnership approach and our ability to deliver technically demanding projects.”

The masterplan will develop a national strategy for the upgrade of the current sanitation system for Kuwait, covering 17 818 km². Delivery of the study and propos-als is due in December 2011.

It will become a key strategy document for future growth and development. “Atkins and SSH are well-placed to assist the Ministry in resolving their local issues in water supply, environ-ment and sanitation issues,” con-cludes Warder.

need to recruit around 20 staff,” reported partner Trevor Arnold.

The company is also in the run-ning for a luxury Rosewood Hotel project in Abu Dhabi. Opening in early 2012, Rosewood Abu Dhabi will be located on Al Sow-wah Island. “Our order book for the next nine months is strong,” added Arnold. “We are aiming to hit £2m in turnover next year.”

Simpson Coulson & Lees’ ori-gins date back to 1965.

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An impression of Al Sowwah Island in Abu Dhabi

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UPDATE


ENERGY-SAVING

Smartcool Systems Inc. has signed an exclusive agreement with the largest chiller services specialist in the Middle East to distribute its energy savings module (ESM) in the UAE and Bahrain. US Chiller Services will also market Smart-cool’s ECO3 on a non-exclusive basis. As well as having offi ces in Dubai, UAE and Manama in the Kingdom of Bahrain, it also has lo-cations in California and Florida.

As part of its due diligence process, US Chillers installed the ESM on a large-tonnage centrifugal chiller at a location managed by Palm District Cool-ing in Dubai. The test began in July 2009 and required 14 days of operation, with readings taken prior to activation of the ESM.

Readings were then recorded for a 14-day period with the ESM

activated. To verify results, read-ings were compared to a 14-day period whereby results were re-corded with the ESM turned on and off on alternate days.

The results from the testing period indicated energy savings of 13.16% when comparing the 14 day on-and-off period, and 16.63% energy savings for the alternate day period. On average, the ESM provided savings of 2,925 kWh a day, an average savings of 14.89%. This is about US$95 000 a year on a single chiller application.

“The test was conducted un-der real operational conditions during 42 days under the peak Dubai summer of up to 50°C, yet Smartcool provided impressive results,” said Dan Mizesko, presi-dent of US Chiller Services.

Not only did the ESM save sub-stantial kWh input power to the chiller, it was also able to slightly improve the chiller’s kW per ton effi ciency. “We were able to confi rm that the technology can be integrated to mul-tiple chillers. Our fi rm con-clusion is that Smartcool is a powerful energy-sav-ing technology on single or multiple chiller installa-tions,” said Mizesko.

“We are pleased to be working with US Chiller Services,” said George Burnes, president and CEO of Smartcool Systems Inc.

US deal with local chiller specialistExclusive agreement will see energy-saving module distributed in UAE, Bahrain

26 000The number of Smartcool

EMS units installed worldwide Dan Mizesko, president

of US Chiller Services

PV under the spotlight at Masdar CityAGREEMENT

Masdar and Instituto De Siste-mas Fotovoltaicos de Concentra-cion S.A. (ISFOC) have signed an agreement to test and study concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technologies under Abu Dhabi’s environmental conditions.

The study will be carried out with the support of the govern-ment of Spain, which has ex-tended a 2007 memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Abu Dhabi that calls for technical co-operation between the two parties in the fi elds of transport, environment, tourism and renewable energies.

The Masdar-ISFOC feasibility study will examine the effects of dust, ambient temperature and haze on the energy output and reliability of CPV technologies from a variety of manufacturers. A key aim will be to determine

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

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

renewable energy in the future.”Together with a similar project

currently underway by ISFOC at Puertollano, Spain, the Masdar City study will provide valuable data that will signifi cantly en-hance the potential for the adop-tion and commercialisation of CPV technologies worldwide.

ISFOC aims, through its vari-ous projects, at promoting CPV technologies, developing indus-try standards and serving as a test bed for the latest technology and high-level training.

Masdar CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber andISFOC director-general Dr Pedro Banda

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

10 MEP Middle East | January 2010

llan joined Hyder as recently as April 2009, which he admits “was an interesting time to start when things were slowing down and the whole world economy was in doubt.” But he is no stranger to a challenge. A chartered scientist and engineer with more than 20 years’ experience – in fi elds as diverse as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and pro-cess engineering – his main background is in multina-tional business management.

“I have worked in a number of countries, starting with the UK and Europe, especially Germany and Swit-

zerland. I moved to the Far East for a while, working in China and Japan, and then I ended up in the US for ten years. Being an Arabic speaker, I was always very keen to come to the region and actually work here, and Hyder offered me a golden opportunity to do so. I have to say that so far I have enjoyed bringing a different perspective to the region and under-standing the cultural drives of businesses from both sides,” says Allan.

Allan lived in Saudi Arabia at the age of four, which he says instilled an appreciation of the country from this early age, culminating in a deep understanding of “the way business is done there.” Even though he is not in favour of diversifi cation or regionalisation as a business strategy to cope with the downturn, he is clear about the inherent potential of

EXCELLENCEMEP Middle East speaks to Hyder Consulting Middle East regional MD Wael Allan about the changing market, his passion for Saudi Arabia, and his preference for pursuing operational excellence over diversifi cation.

In pursuit of

this vast country. “Most companies operating in the region are anxious of going into Saudi Arabia. To them it is an unknown. However, I believe it is core to our strategy to be in Saudi Arabia. It is the largest country in the GCC, offering the most attractive opportunities for multinational companies in design and consulting.

“To be honest, I believe we should have been there much earlier, but it is never too late. Saudi Arabia is spending a huge amount on infrastruc-ture, and also on the private sector as well, so it offers both public and private sector opportunities,” says Allan.

So what strategy did he have in mind upon joining Hyder? Allan points out that “the economic landscape in Dubai had changed drasti-cally in terms of business.” This called for a particular approach. “The best strategy is a simple strategy. It is about having a sustainable busi-ness. I guess during the boom we tended to do things differently, where we designed things simply for the sake of design. I think with the boom people tended to forget some of the basics of client care,” he says.

“A key strategy for us was to restructure based on market sectors. This brings with it a heavy focus on clients and their needs, and cer-tainly the needs have changed drastically in the Middle East.” The restructuring was based on three sectors, namely property, transport and infrastructure and water and environment. “That really helped us

January 2010 | MEP Middle East 11

THE BIG INTERVIEW

A successful project iswhen we understand what a

client wants, help them design the right brief, and then align

ourselves and our technical team with the client’s objectives.“

Wael Allan

break the barriers between different offi ces, and look at the whole Middle East business as one. So that was part of the key strategy. During the recession, resources become scarce, and there are obvious issues created by the credit crunch, such as cash issues. For us, di-versifi cation – geographically and product-wise – is not a strategy. Our strategy is to focus on our core compe-tency, enhance that through operational effectiveness, and concentrate on what we know well,” says Allan.

Has this strategy borne any fruit to date? “I would say defi nitely, especially in terms of transport and infrastruc-ture. We have strengthened our offering signifi cantly, and it became a core focus for us as a business. The same applied to water and environment, and we have seen a signifi cant growth in the number of projects in those ar-eas. The fact that property has slowed down, combined with our decision to be sector-driven, means we have got a better balance of the business than just being profi tabil-ity-driven by the property sector.

“Currently in Saudi Arabia we are working with a part-ner, and some work we are doing directly with specifi c clients. We are involved signifi cantly with NWC (National Water Company) in a PPP-type engagement. We are bring-ing great value to Saudi Arabia; this project is on a national ba-sis from Jeddah, Mecca and Taif in the Western region, to the central and eastern parts, looking at Dammam and Riyadh with regard to water. We have also won, in conjunction with our partner, the tallest building in Saudi, which we are just nearing completion of that design, namely the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Tower in Riyadh,” says Allan.

“I think the other thing in the region in terms of expansion is we are see-ing more projects that are design-build, and also the delivery mechanism through PPP is gaining ground, certainly in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. We are establishing strong links with people who fi nance projects, and also construction companies who normally get involved heav-ily in the PPP model.” So what impact has the down-turn had on both growth and prospects? “My view is that the slowdown in property was predictable. I think people just did not want to recog-nise that fact gen-erally.

The future of Dubai is refl ected in its infrastructure,in its ability to still continue as a modern and thriving city.“Wael Allan

www.constructionweekonline.com12 MEP Middle East | January 2010

“With regard to Hyder specifi cally, the only slowdown we have experienced has been in property. Only less than 18% of our business is Dubai-based; the rest of the business is diversi-fi ed enough. The fact when we went sector-driven has helped cushion the problem, as we are now looking at it as a total market rather than offi ces or geography. We are looking at it as a wa-ter business, a transport business or a property business, and then try and streamline between the areas for the maximum benefi t of our clients and our shareholders,” explains Allan.

“I think whenever there is a crisis in the economy it brings maturity to the market. Ex-pectations from clients become a lot higher be-cause now they are questioning why they need something much more, and why do they need to spend a certain amount of money. Therefore I believe only competent companies that bring operational effectiveness to bear will survive in the region. In the past, there was so much work I think clients were looking for anyone who was willing to do it; now it is going to be a lot more focused on the value proposition.

OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS“So I believe operational effectiveness is ab-solutely key, and that is what we are trying to do in all our sectors: to improve performance, to do things better with less cost and shorter time, and obviously then you have got to bal-ance those parameters depending on the cli-ent needs. I think another thing that has really changed in terms of ensuring growth in the fu-ture is that we as professionals tend to defi ne excellence from our own perspective, when excellence really has to be defi ned by what the clients think excellence is. Some clients

may want quality at any cost; other clients may require a specifi c level of quality for a certain cost; we have to customise our offering to suit client needs, rather than what we defi ne as their needs,” says Allan.

Being a multinational is an added advantage as well. “That is a great differentiator,” concurs Allan. “We can bring to the table state-of-the-art techniques and knowledge and know-how with the ability to deliver locally; unlike local compa-nies, which may have the local knowledge but not the multinational expertise. I think that is a transformation bound to happen: only multi-nationals, in my view, will survive in the long run, because they have the ability to bring in knowledge and know-how from everywhere – especially in the Middle East, where expecta-tions are becoming higher, and certain nations are becoming wealthier, and with that comes a much higher expectation of the end product.”

Hyder is also actively pursuing global design solutions, with a global design centre in Manilla in the Philippines dealing with property, trans-port and infrastructure, and one in Bangalore in India dealing with water and specifi c elements such as rail. “Standardised design is absolutely key,” says Allan. “If some items are off-the-shelf, you are not reinventing the wheel every day

THE BIG INTERVIEW

34%of Hyder’s total revenue is generated

from business in the Middle East

and can focus on what is important to the cli-ent.” Just how important is the Middle East to Hyder in the bigger picture? “Almost 68% of Hyder’s revenue is international, with about 34% generated in the Middle East. The Middle East is a very signifi cant part of our business. We have experienced growth in the Middle East during 2008-9. Going forward, in terms of the focus for 2010, we will sustain growth, and probably improve on it slightly, because now the focus is not on the top line and more on the bottom line as a business,” says Allan.

“We really do not see the Middle East as very different to any other market. Each mar-ket generally has its distinctive local fl avour, but as a multinational we are familiar with deal-ing with different types of projects in different environments. We have been in the Middle East for over 45 years, so we have the expe-rience and know-how of the local issues. We will always remain committed to the Dubai market, but I think with a much more control-led growth. We do not anticipate the kind of growth experienced in the last three to fi ve years, at least for the foreseeable future defi -nitely. I think 2010 will be a tough year. A lot of the backlog of companies has been exhausted, so they are looking for new work. And I think companies that have reacted properly to the slowdown will survive and do well.”

CHALLENGING YEARAllan says he has just returned from a visit to the US, where the majority consensus is that 2010 will be a “challenging” year. But a wel-come caveat is that “if there is any region to be in during a recession, I would say the Mid-dle East offers the best opportunity, compared to much more developed economies like the US and the UK.” Allan says the construction industry has made great strides in Dubai in a very short space of time. “I would say they have done a very reasonable job considering the time scale and where Dubai was and where Dubai is now.

“I think though value now has got to be brought in through optimum solutions for cli-ents. At Hyder we are looking at the lifecycle model of an asset – that asset being a building or a piece of machinery. Buying the cheapest is not necessarily the best – that is a challenge for us as a multinational, faced with clients say-ing you are more expensive than a local, what value do you bring? We will work with clients so they can recognise the value proposition we bring to the table. That value is through an optimum asset selection rather than through what is the cheapest capital expenditure. It is really looking at capex versus opex, and how we deal with this on behalf of our clients,” con-cludes Allan.

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MEP AWARDS 2009

www.constructionweekonline.com14 MEP Middle East | January 2010

FIRSTAll the shortlists, highly commendeds, winners, category sponsors and social pictures

from the MEP Awards 2009, held at Grosvenor House on 9 December.

among equals

www.constructionweekonline.com January 2010 | MEP Middle East 15

MEP AWARDS 2009

he MEP Awards 2009 acknowl-edged the outstanding achieve-ments of the Middle East’s

mechanical, electrical and plumbing sector. Like the rest of the construc-tion industry, MEP has been affected adversely by the economic crisis. Some projects have been cancelled, scaled down or delayed; there is a limited pipeline for new projects; and some staff have been retrenched.

But the MEP sector has risen admirably to the challenges and opportunities offered by the new market, as evinced by the large and enthusiastic audience at the awards.

Furthermore, whatever the market condi-tions, MEP continues to be one of the most vital cogs in the construction process, as build-ing services typically account for up to 35% of the capital value of a large commercial scheme.

Irrespective of the scale and complexity of the installation, good-quality design and installa-tion work, effective co-ordination and thorough commissioning are essential for the long-term, effi cient operation of building assets.

Despite the downturn, more companies entered this year’s awards than ever before, and the commitment to continued excellence and quality in the face of adversity was clear. A total of eleven awards were presented in fi ve categories, ranging from individuals to companies and projects.

The awards were adjudicated by an inde-pendent panel of judges comprising a selec-tion of industry luminaries. The judging proc-ess itself was totally impartial and inclusive. This year our judging panel consisted of:

• Yousef Alshaer, president of the ASHRAE Emirates Falcon Chapter

Yousef Alshaer Andrew Shaw Colin Morris Ian Neale

• Andrew Shaw, managing director of cable maker Ducab

• Colin Morris, regional MD of ALR Learn-ing & Development

• Ian Neale, director of Arup Gulf Limited

Our sincere appreciation to these gentlemen for their sterling efforts, and for taking time out of their busy schedules – often at short notice – to attend to matters of deliberation for the awards. Without their enthusiasm and input, this event would not be possible, or be nearly as successful. MEP Middle East would also like to extend its sincere appreciation to all the companies who either sponsored award categories, or the event itself.

It is your continued support that makes the MEP Awards such an industry-leading event. Here then are the shortlists and winners of the MEP Awards 2009.

BACK ROW (left to right)Mick Cairns, Red EngineeringS. Nizar, ETA M&E DivisionMarnitz Schutte, ALEC MEPWael Allan, Hyder Consulting Middle EastBenjamin James, Hyder Consulting Middle EastT.K. Viswanathan, Trans Gulf Electro-MechanicalRoger Mohamed and Terry Mack, Atkins.

FRONT ROW (left to right)Hussam S. Sbayteh and Ahmad Al Naser, Drake & Scull

Anas Al Rifai, Rental Solutions & Services (RSS)Sander Trestain, Enviromena Power Systems

Illyas. P Mohamed, KEO International Consultants.

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MEP AWARDS 2009

16 MEP Middle East | January 2010 www.constructionweekonline.com16 MEP Middle East | January 2010

MEP AWARDS 2009

IN PICTURES


MEP AWARDS 2009


MEP AWARDS 2009

MEP AWARDS 2009


ENGINEER OF THE YEARSHORTLISTBushra Anwar, KEO International ConsultantsK. Syed Rohin, KEO International ConsultantsSander Trestain, Enviromena Power SystemsMohammed Saleh, Rotary Humm LLC

WINNERSander Trestain, Enviromena Power Systems

Sander Trestain is vice president: technical and a founding partner of Enviromena Power Systems, the leading solar power developer in the MENA region. He trained as a mechanical engineer at McMaster University in Canada, and has been based in Abu Dhabi promoting, developing and constructing solar power sys-tems since 2007. He was chief project man-ager overseeing the design and installation of the largest solar power in the Middle East, the Masdar 10 MW solar power plant.

This highly-innovative, utility-scale solar project located at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is 55 acres in size, includes over 87 000 solar panels and produces 17 500 MWh of clean, carbon-neutral electricity a year. The AED180

million project took eight months to design and construct, and was completed and be-came operational in March 2009.

Trestain was the main representative to the project client, Masdar, and the responsible engineer for technical issues. For the duration of the six-month construction period he moved from Enviromena’s corporate head-quarters to the site offi ces to provide direct leadership to the project team and oversee all aspects of construction. The project was executed on time and on budget. He has undertaken a similar engi-neering and project management oversight role on various other projects as well.

YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEARSHORTLISTBenjamin James, Hyder Consulting Middle EastEng Bryan Monds, Al Shirawi US ChillersRaja Mohamed, AtkinsRaymond Choi, Red Engineering Middle East

HIGHLY COMMENDEDRaymond Choi, Red Engineering Middle East

WINNERBenjamin James, Hyder Consulting Middle East

James is MEP function leader: Northern Gulf. He is currently pur-suing an international MBA on a part-time basis with the University of Liverpool, UK. His most promi-nent involvement in the industry to date has been the design of two

iconic super high rise towers, both over 100 storeys. He formed part of

a three-person MEP technical project management team based in Hyder’s Qatar

offi ce, which was responsible for the delivery of the two projects to construction-issue level, based on the design centre delivery model.

The two towers are among the world’s top-ten towers constructed or under construction. James’s involvement in his fi rst super high-rise tower saw him take over the project from the design development stage to completion of contract drawings and associated tender-ing responsibilities. When the opportunity arose for him to design the MEP solutions for a second super high-rise tower from its infan-cy, he used the knowledge gained to provide a cutting-edge system design, drawing on his experience both locally and abroad. The cli-ent received value in design that will benefi t its own-operate brief.

Trestain has gained impressive experience in the solar energy industry, and has contributed to notable projects within a short period of time.“

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

YEAR


MEP AWARDS 2009

MEP CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTAtkinsHyder Consulting Middle EastKEO International ConsultantsRed Engineering Middle East

WINNERHyder Consulting Middle East

Hyder Consulting Middle East’s MEP team has worked on a range of projects in 2009, such as ski centres, mosques, super tall buildings, resi-dential buildings, hotels, leisure/entertainment centres, golf cours-

es and infrastructure.Examples include Ski Egypt in Cairo, the

Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi (40 000 worshippers), the Pentominium Tower in Dubai (second-tallest building in the

world), the Michael

Schumacher Tower in Abu Dhabi, the Co-lonial Hotel in Dubai, Dubai Mall Entertain-ment Centre (the fi rst Sega Republic outside Japan, plus the unique Kidszania experi-ence), the Gary Player Golf Course in Abu Dhabi (fi ve-star championship) and Educa-tion City in Doha (the largest education cam-pus in the Middle East).

All of these projects are unique in their own right and showcase Hyder Consulting Middle East’s MEP experience and exper-tise. However, the jewel in its crown in terms of its engineering capability is its work on the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, and the Dubai Fountain, the world’s largest and tallest performing fountain.

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

MEP CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTALEC MEPETA – M&E DivisionDrake & ScullVoltas

WINNERETA – M&E Division

With over 33 years’ experience in the industry, ETA – M&E Division, with AED2 billion on its books, and a dedi-cated workforce of over 20 000, has become one of the leading and big-gest companies in the fi eld of elec-tro-mechanical contracting in the UAE, effi ciently carrying out MEP services for a number of prestigious buildings in the UAE and beyond it.

SPONSORED BY DUCAB

SPONSORED BY DRAKE & SCULL

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MEP AWARDS 2009


SHORTLISTEmicool DC Plant, Mott MacDonaldDubai Fountain, Hyder Consulting Middle EastDubai Metro, Emirates Trading Agency LLCKAUST, Drake & ScullThe Yas Hotel, Red Engineering Middle East

WINNERThe Yas Hotel, Red Engineering Middle East

The 500-room, 85 000 m² complex opened in October 2009 to coincide with the Formula 1. The Yas Hotel is one of the main architectural features of the ambitious US$36 billion Yas Marina development and accompanying For-mula 1 raceway circuit.

The brief was to design unobtrusive MEP systems that would meet the expectations of VIP customer, be sympathetic to the life expectancy of the building without effecting future operation (i.e. fully replaceable), and facilitate construction at high speed.

To achieve these ambitious objectives, Red

Engineering worked closely with all team members, including the main and special-ist contractors, to identify innovative design solutions, producing some 1 300 drawings in just 12 weeks. This short timeframe required high levels of collabo-ration. Adopting an approach of continued involvement allowed client change to oc-cur on a project constructed in about 18 months. Red Engineering also maintained a team of 15 site-based personnel, whose man-date was to oversee the design development and installation quality.

MOST SUSTAINABLEDESIGN OF THE YEAR

KAUST is the fi rst LEED-certifi ed project in Saudi history, as well as being the largest LEED Platinum rated project in the world. Inaugurated in September 2009, KAUST was designed and built to become a major centre for global hi-tech re-search, housing some of the most advanced research equip-ment and facilities in the world. In order to assure that the project attained LEED Platinum level, DSI had to eschew conventional design in favour of various engineering solu-tions, including:• Designing a system to sustain a lifecycle of 100 years;• Maximising the effi ciency of installed systems and using specifi c special materials to construct the laboratories;• Adopting photovoltaics for power generation; and• Installing solar towers and solar water heaters.

This is a very impressive landmark building, an accolade in no small part due to the contribution made by MEP. It is a remarkable achievement for the short design period.“

BEST OVERALL MEP PROJECT OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTADEC Headquarters, Abu Dhabi, KEO International ConsultantsEmicool DC Plant, Mott MacDonaldKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),Drake & ScullMasdar Solar Power Plant, Enviromena Power Systems

WINNERKAUST

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MEP AWARDS 2009

SPECIALIST CONSULTANCY OF THE YEARSHORTLISTAtkinsMott MacDonaldSpecialised Engineering Consultants (SpEC)

WINNERAtkins

Atkins is best known in the region for its building design and engineering expertise, thanks to iconic projects such as the Burj Al Arab and Bahrain World Trade Centre. It has a strong capability and market presence as a leading provider of largescale infrastructure, heavy civil engineering, utilities, transporta-tion planning and engineering. In the past several years, it has also established a signif-icant showcase for its multi-disciplinary tal-ents in the transport sector as lead designer for Dubai Metro’s Red and Green Lines.

Atkins was the fi rst large multi-discipli-nary company in the Middle East to inte-grate specialist consultancy services into its design teams. With the increasing complex-

ity of projects in the region, and a clear client emphasis on delivering international standards in terms of quality, a perfect springboard was created for the introduction of acoustics, fi re and life safety, vertical transportation, ICT, AV and security consultants.

Specialist sub-consultancy services now control a large percentage of the project capex. The role of specialist consultants and engineers in the design team is pivotal. Atkins' Middle East specialist teams have been integrat-ed into its design teams for four years.

Atkins is one of only a few consultants that operate globally and provide a truly multi-disciplinary consultancy service to the industry.“

SHORTLISTAl Shirawi US ChillersEnviromena Power SystemsMolden Technical & ConsultingRental Solutions & Services (RSS)Septech

WINNERRental Solutions & Services (RSS)

RSS provides temporary power and cool-ing to various companies in the GCC. It is able to bridge the gap between sup-pliers (such as district cooling) and end users (such as the RTA’s

Dubai Metro) in various applications. RSS is able to come to the rescue of various

suppliers that could not deliver their power

projects on time, as well as district cooling compa-nies who were delayed in their handover schedule. In terms of the Dubai Metro,

for example, RSS provided temporary cooling to stations in various locations, from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali, so as to allow the overall system to be launched offi cially on 09/09/09. It sup-

plied 29 acoustically-containerised generators ranging from 400 to

1 250 kVA and 53 air-cooled chillers (total cooling load of

9 940TR). RSS states this is the largest temporary cool-ing project for a utility cli-ent to date. The 12 depots achieved cooling on-time to allow full commissioning

and handover of secondary systems to RTA.

RSS has made its mark by supplying a much-need service to fi ll a niche in the construction industry. Its impressive client list showcases its capability to play a leading role.“

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MEP AWARDS 2009


SHORTLISTRoseweath Rodrigues, Hyder Consulting Middle EastT.K. Viswanathan, Trans Gulf Electro-Mechanical LLCWael Salah, Drake & Scull

WINNERT.K. Viswanathan, Trans Gulf Electro-Mechanical LLC

HEALTH & SAFETY/TRAINING OFFICEROF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTAlastair David Mitchell, Hyder ConsultingMiddle EastMarnitz Schutte, ALEC MEPMuthiah Karuppasamy, Trans Gulf Electro-Mechanical LLCSatish G. Dandekar, Voltas Ltd.

HIGHLY COMMENDEDAlastair David Mitchell, Hyder Consulting Middle East

WINNERMarnitz Schutte, ALEC MEP

PROJECT MANAGEROF THE YEAR

WINNERIllyas P. Muhamed, KEO InternationalConsultants

TECHNICIANOF THE YEAR

SPONSORED BY TRANS GULFELECTRO-MECHANICAL

HEALTH, SAFETY & TRAINING OFFICER OF THE YEARSPONSORED BY FINO

T.K. Viswanathan from Trans Gulf Electro-Mechanical

TECHNICIAN OF THE YEARIllyas P. Muhamed from KEO International Consultants

PROJECT MANAGER OFTHE YEARSPONSORED BY TRANS GULFELECTRO-MECHANICAL

Marnitz Schutte from ALEC MEP

YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEARBenjamin James from Hyder Consulting

ENGINEER OF THE YEARSander Trestain from Enviromena Power Systems

SPECIALIST CONSULTANCYOF THE YEARAtkins

SPECIALIST CONTRACTOROF THE YEARRental Solutions & Services (RSS)

MEP CONSULTANCY OF THE YEARSPONSORED BY DRAKE & SCULL

Hyder Consulting

MEP CONTRACTOR OF THE YEARSPONSORED BY DUCAB

Emirates Trading Agency LLC (ETA)

MOST SUSTAINABLE DESIGNOF THE YEARKing Abdullah University of Science &Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia,submitted by Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI)

BEST OVERALL MEP PROJECT OF THE YEARSPONSORED BY LEMINAR

The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi,submitted by Red Engineering

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PROFILE


udges selected Septech on the basis of its work at the Royal Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. Septech was responsible for the design, construction, manufac-turing, installation, commissioning and installation of MMS software. It was a turnkey project from design approval to the management of sub-contractors,

MEP services and additional berthing points for the F1 on 1 November.

Designed by Septech, this was the fi rst ma-rina of its kind to be installed in the dry. MEP services were installed in all berthing points and landing platforms prior to fl ooding along with MEP repeater stations, pedestal boxes, pump out stations and power/water connec-tions and customised lighting.

Founded by David Heffernan in 1997, Sep-tech is the leading water infrastructure com-pany in the region. Septech provides in-house business units that specialise in offering solu-tions to the water, wastewater, mobile water, precast infrastructure, marina and utilities management sector. Over the years, the group has increased its investment profi le and talent pool to include the establishment of offi ces in Saudi Arabia, Oman and North Africa.

Septech has a 20-year exclusive partnership with Bellingham, the world’s largest marine developer. Septech locally designs, manufac-tures and installs Unifl oat fl oating concrete marina systems, fl oating wave attenuators

and dry stack storage solutions as well as pro-viding marina management and consultancy services. Internationally renowned for their superior stability, durability, attractive appear-ance and quality, all of its marine products are designed, engineered and manufactured to the highest international standards.

The latest development at the group is the extension of its presence across the Middle East through the creation of a regional offi ce in Muscat, Oman. Septech Muscat LLC forms part of an ongoing overall GCC expansion strategy. The offi ce, which includes a group of ten engineers and water specialists, is dedi-cated to building long-term relationships to identify future opportunities, as well as man-aging all Septech projects in Oman.

While Oman shows great potential for wa-ter, wastewater and marine manufacturing, Septech plans on supporting the Omani gov-ernment to deliver key future infrastructure projects in years to come. To date, Septech has been heavily involved with Aldar, Tatweer, Atlantis, Jumeirah, Emirates, Dubai Holdings, Al Futtaim, Arabtec, Etisalat, TDIC, GCC Au-thorities, Authority for Water and Electricity in Oman, along with most of the recent ma-rina projects built there.

“Septech is very excited about the estab-lishment of our Oman regional offi ce. The current opportunities in Oman in relation to specialised infrastructure have been a key

strategic driver for growth of the Omani gov-ernment and developers across the sultanate, and we look forward to working closely with these entities to ensure that a world-class wa-ter and wastewater infrastructure is built for the population of Oman,” commented CEO David Heffernan.

Septech invests heavily in extensive inter-national market research and development in order to stay abreast of industry devel-opments, and to proactively iden-tify opportunities for both clients and stakeholders. “We are looking at three market verti-cals in and across Oman, which will in-clude our offerings in desalination, sewage-treatment solutions and emergency mobile water applications, including an emphasis on the long-term management of these liq-uid assets,” revealed Heffernan.

With eight years’ experience in manufacturing fl oating pontoon systems and allassociated MEP works for marinas in the Middle East, Septech was shortlisted in the ‘Specialist Contractor of the Year’ category at the 2009 MEP Awards.

SEPTECHin pole position at Yas Marina

Septech CEO David Heffernan

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OPINION


Mark Bull from Illumine Middle East FZE argues that project fi nance sidesteps the snares posed by the use of sovereign or governmental funds.

n late November 2009, the Dubai government announced it would not, despite common belief, underwrite State-controlled holding companies. Thus Dubai World, having declared corporate debt of US$59 billion, stood fi rmly on its lone two feet, fully exposed to a string of creditors queued up at its

door. The upshot was to be expected: mass international criticism and, worst of all, mass panic on the part of investors.

Dubai is not alone. Each and every world economy, notwithstanding its home policy and fi nancial practices, has to a greater or lesser extent been paralysed by the global fi -nancial turmoil rooted fi rmly in the collapse of Lehman Brothers of the US.

The simple reality is this: the scope of mod-ern economic development goals translate into project requirements that are by and large far in excess of any single hegemony’s fi nancing mechanisms.

Extensive and often very complicated do-mestic commercial debt market vehicles en-couraging the pooling of project credit risk transnationally through infrastructure banks and private corporate fi nancers provide a means to an end, altogether safeguarding gov-ernmental agencies from the requirements of fi nancial accountability.

What is needed is the upheaval of domestic practices and the positive promotion of mutu-ally benefi cial international project fi nancing arrangements such as Public-Private Partner-ships (PPPs). The concept of project fi nance is celebrated for stepping away from the use of sovereign or governmental funds.

The debt terms are not based on sponsor’s credit support or on the value of the physi-cal assets of any one party. Instead both the technical and economic project performance of any one venture is the nucleus. The meas-ure is the asset of the facility, including the revenue-producing potential of any contracts or any other cash fl ow revenue generated by

the facility. In the UAE, this tool is still in its infancy. Comprehensive legal reform facili-tating such a fi nancial vehicle, together with specialist contractual legal expertise, will de-termine the speed of project implementation and indeed the pace of market recovery.

Alternative project fi nancing will not elimi-nate age-old construction risks. Development risks (including the failure to obtain permits or governmental approvals, public opposition, weaknesses to the business framework of the deal), design engineering and construction risks (including changes to the scope of work necessitated by technical design require-ments, price changes caused by currency fl uctuation or infl ation, construction delays, material shortages, regulatory changes and other fl uctuating market conditions), start-up risks and general operating risks will, as al-ways, still persist.

Tight drafting of commercial arrangements can overcome deal breaking impediments and ensure the allocation of risk to the project par-ticipant most suited to shoulder it. What inter-

national project fi nance will do is afford Dubai a viable alternative to current custom prac-tices banking on over-waged sovereign funds. Legislative reform provides a route map. To secure a safe journey, contractors will need to stop signing up to ad hoc top-down heavy commercial conditions of contract, and place greater weight on (i) project fi nance credit ar-rangements, (ii) project fi nance debt commit-ment letters and collaterals, (iii) the detail of the contracting arrangement, (iv) contractual risk allocation between the project partici-pants, and (v) commercial insurance and rein-surance. Similarly, investors will need to take advice on international law – in particular:

• The integrity of domestic laws governing debtor-creditor relations, the creation and perfection of security interests, the grant-ing and registration of mortgages, creditor rights, bankruptcy laws and its enforce-ment;

• Laws that regulate international transac-tions or disputes which apply to conduct within the UAE and extraterritorially;

• Cross-border risks, confl icts of law. Laws of foreign countries and public international law; and

• Dispute-resolution mechanisms. Proce-dures of various arbitration organisations such as the International Chamber of Com-merce that may be nominated in priority.

In conclusion, international project fi nanc-ing paves the way to a brighter future in a time of fi erce commercial instability.

PROJECT FINANCEBanking on

What international project fi nance will do isafford Dubai a viable alternative to the current practices banking on over-waged sovereign funds.“Mark Bull

US$ 59 BILLION

Dubai World’s corporate debt, announced in November 2009

METAL MONITOR


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

relation to the preparation or publication of the data contained in the report.

THE FOLLOWING STERLING EQUIVALENTS HAVE BEEN CALCULATED, ON THE BASIS OF DAILY CONVERSIONS:

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

PrimaryAluminium(dollars)

AluminiumAlloy(dollars)

Copper

(dollars)

Lead

(dollars)

Nickel

(dollars)

NASAAC

(dollars)Cash Buyer 1,948.60 1,740.00 6,674.24 2,307.62 16,982.62 1,809.00Cash Seller & Settlement 1,949.29 1,750.55 6,675.60 2,308.76 16,991.19 1,817.55

Cash Mean 1,948.94 1,745.27 6,674.92 2,308.19 16,986.90 1,813.27

3-months Buyer 1,981.24 1,770.95 6,696.48 2,328.90 17,053.33 1,835.48

3-months Seller 1,981.95 1,782.71 6,698.12 2,331.26 17,071.67 1,845.57

3-months Mean 1,981.60 1,776.83 6,697.30 2,330.08 17,062.50 1,840.52

15-months Buyer 2,087.38 1,856.67 6,717.14 2,348.43 17,011.19 1,948.81

15-months Seller 2,092.38 1,866.67 6,727.14 2,353.43 17,111.19 1,958.81

15-months Mean 2,089.88 1,861.67 6,722.14 2,350.93 17,061.19 1,953.81

27-months Buyer 2,170.43 1,940.24 6,683.33 2,340.86 16,714.76 2,021.43

27-months Seller 2,175.43 1,950.24 6,693.33 2,345.86 16,812.38 2,031.43

27-months Mean 2,172.93 1,945.24 6,688.33 2,343.36 16,763.57 2,026.43

LME AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PRICES IN EURO

Metal Euro SettlementConversion Rate

Primary Aluminium 1306.70

Aluminium Alloy 1173.50

Copper 4474.99

Lead 1547.77

Nickel 11392.95

Nasaac 1218.35

$6588Copper 3-months seller

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

Settlement Conversion Copper Cash Seller & Settlement: £4,022.51 Exchange Rates Copper 3-months Seller: £4,038.51 Stg/$ 1.6596 Lead Cash Seller & Settlement: £1,391.19 $/JY 89.1481 Lead 3-months Seller: £1,405.59 Euro 1.4917


NON-FERROUS METAL PRICES


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

PrimaryAluminium(dollars)

AluminiumAlloy(dollars)

Copper

(dollars)

Lead

(dollars)

Nickel

(dollars)

NASAAC

(dollars)

Cash Buyer 1,877.80 1,682.27 6,286.77 2,239.23 18,514.09 1,716.95

Cash Seller & Settlement 1,878.57 1,689.59 6,287.98 2,240.77 18,525.23 1,727.27

Cash Mean 1,878.18 1,685.93 6,287.38 2,240.00 18,519.66 1,722.11

3-months Buyer 1,914.07 1,713.82 6,309.61 2,263.41 18,590.91 1,746.59

3-months Seller 1,914.80 1,723.68 6,310.84 2,265.89 18,620.23 1,757.50

3-months Mean 1,914.43 1,718.75 6,310.23 2,264.65 18,605.57 1,752.05

15-months Buyer 2,014.95 1,799.77 6,298.64 2,270.82 18,427.95 1,865.00

15-months Seller 2,019.95 1,809.77 6,308.64 2,275.82 18,527.95 1,875.00

15-months Mean 2,017.45 1,804.77 6,303.64 2,273.32 18,477.95 1,870.00

27-months Buyer 2,081.05 1,883.18 6,237.73 2,247.00 17,978.64 1,936.59

27-months Seller 2,086.05 1,893.18 6,247.73 2,252.00 18,078.64 1,946.59

27-months Mean 2,083.55 1,888.18 6,242.73 2,249.50 18,028.64 1,941.59

$6513Copper 3-months seller

LME AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PRICES IN EURO

Metal Euro SettlementConversion Rate

Primary Aluminium 1,267.38

Aluminium Alloy 1140.05

Copper 4,241.99

Lead 1511.65

Nickel 12,497.32

Nasaac 1,165.41

Settlement Conversion

Copper Cash Seller & Settlement: £3,883.92 Exchange Rates

Lead Cash Seller & Settlement: £1,384.12 $/JY 90.3605



BUSINESS LEADS

For the latest Middle East MEP project information, visit

PROJECTS IN OMANMEP Middle East and Ventures Middle East have teamed up to provide you with essential project information

Project Title Client Consultant Main Contractor

MEPContractor

Value(US$. Mn)

ProjectStatus

Type ofProject

Buraimi University College Building

Buraimi University College Gulf Engineering Consultancy

Not Appointed Not Appointed 31 - 100 Project under design Educational Facilities

Renovation of Intercontinental Hotel in Muscat

Omran Offi ce Pentago Spowers International

Not Appointed Not Appointed 16 - 30 Project under design Hotel

Development of Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Hotel

Omran Offi ce AW2 Not Appointed Not Appointed 31 - 100 Project under design Hotel

Fairmont Hotel Fairmont Hotel & Resorts/The Wave Muscat

Echo Designer Consultants Not Appointed Not Appointed 101 - 250 Project under design Hotel

Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort Omran Offi ce/Inter Continental Hotel Group

KEO International Not Appointed Not Appointed 251 - 500 project under design Hotel

The Malkai at Barka Al Maeen Real Estate Services Company

Triad Oman/AW2 Not Appointed Not Appointed 250 Project under design Mixed-Use

Bone Marrow TransplantUnit Block

Sultan Qaboos University Hospital

Gulf Engineering Consultancy

Not Appointed Not Appointed 16 - 30 Project under design Hospital

Redevelopment of theCrowne Plaza resort Salalah

Ministry of Tourism Consulting Engineering Services

Not Appointed Not Appointed 31 - 100 Project under design Hotel

Court Complex at Al-Buraimi Ministry of Justice Sundaram Architects Not Appointed Not Appointed 2.5 - 15 Award awaited for the construction contract

Others

Natural History Museumin Muscat

Ministry of Heritage & Culture

Not Appointed Not Appointed Not Appointed 16 - 30 Award awaited for the consultancy contract

Recreational Facilities

Khasab Family Resort Majan Gulf Properties Not Appointed Not Appointed Not Appointed 779 Project in concept stage Hotel

Development of Duqum Beach Hotel

Omran Offi ce KEO International Not Appointed Not Appointed 101 - 250 Award awaited for the construction contract

Hotel

CROWNE PLAZA DUQUM RESORTClient: Omran Offi ce/Inter Continental Hotel GroupContact: [email protected]: KEO InternationalMain contractor: Not AppointedMEP contractor: Not AppointedValue: US$251-500 millionStatus: Under design

Crowne Plaza Duqum Resort, scheduled to open in 2011, will comprise 228 well-appointed rooms, including 11 spacious executive suites and six family/junior suites. The property is in close proximity to Duqum on the Arabian Sea, which is reinventing itself as Oman’s next major industrial and commercial hub.

This is the fi rst hotel to be built in the initial construction phase of Duqum’s expansion, and will mainly cater to the increasing business travellers into the area.

The master plan for Duqum’s scale-up includes designated areas for an airport, an oil refi nery, free trade zones and oil storage facilities, as well as a fi shing harbour and fi shery-related industries.

29

Duqum is in close proximity to the Arabian Sea

PRODUCTS


CABLE SOLUTION FOR TIDIER DESKTOPSCable management specialist Marshall-Tuffl ex has launched a smart new range of pre-wired of-fi ce furniture desk units as part of its underfl oor to desk solutions range.

The units provide a neat, safe and stylish method of delivering power to desktop devices such as computers and printers, replacing messy and potentially dangerous trailing power cables. Power can be delivered directly from Marshall-Tuffl ex’s MT32 plug and play 32 A power distri-bution system or via Marshall-Tuffl ex’s Series 507 or any other powertrack sytem.

The system is fully segregated with Clean Earth (CE) and standard versions available, together with optional MCBs and RCD protec-tion. The desk units comply with BS 6396 for Electrical Systems in Offi ce Furniture and with BS 1363-2, where applicable. Colour-coding indicates red for 3.15 A and yellow for 5 A.

The desk units are also compatible with a range of prefabricated wiring systems using stan-

dard 16 A connectors and compact 32 A connec-tors. Units are supplied as standard in black ABS and aluminium. However, aluminium units required with a silver-grey anodised fi nish are also available by contacting Marshall-Tuffl ex’s technical team.

Full details of the new offi ce furniture desk units are available in Marshall-Tuffl ex’s newly-launched underfl oor to desk solutions brochure, a full-colour 40-page catalogue that comprehensively outlines where, when and how its underfl oor to desk systems (including Series 507) work, with photo-graphs, clearly annotated pictures and exploded diagrams detailing technical, specifi cation and installation information that can be downloaded from the company’s Web site.www.marshall-tuffl ex.com

The Daikin McQuay Magnitude frictionless centrif-ugal chiller, featuring an oil-free, magnetic bearing design, is now available up to 550 tons in capacity, making it ideal for mid- to large-size buildings such as schools, universities and hospitals.

With industry-leading effi ciency, low sound lev-els and a small footprint, the chiller helps reduce energy and operating costs, create a comfortable environment and meet requirements for sustain-able design, such as LEED certifi cation criteria.

“The larger units are a natural evolution of magnetic bearing compressor technology,” said Ray Good, director of chiller product management, McQuay International. “This increases reliability and reduces maintenance because there are no conventional bearings and hence no oil manage-

ment system and associated maintenance costs. Thanks to higher sustainable operating effi ciency and reduced maintenance, the Magnitude chiller delivers a lower cost of ownership compared to conventional centrifugal chillers.”

With its positive pressure, oil-free design, the effi cient performance of the Magnitude chiller is sustainable through its operating life because there is no oil to contaminate the refrigerant and degrade effi ciency. By eliminating the high friction losses associated with conventional centrifugal compressors, the Magnitude chiller achieves exceptional part-load performance. Part-load IPLV for the 550-ton unit is 0.312 kW/t, while the full load is rated at 0.531 kW/t.www.mcquay.com

FRICTIONLESS CENTRIFUGAL CHILLER

Kimberly-Clark has launched a line of high-effi ciency fi ltration media for HVAC system air fi lters. Based on the company’s patented, bi-component, non-woven technology, the new media is ideal for a range of HVAC fi lter styles delivering MERV 11-15 performance.

The new fi lter media delivers high initial and high sustained particle capture effi ciencies, helping to deliver excellent indoor air quality (IAQ) and keeping HVAC components clean for more effi cient and less costly operation. It also maintains a low airfl ow resistance, which reduces energy costs, as the HVAC system does not need to run as hard to deliver the required amount of air to the building.

The new media can be used in a variety of fi lter types, including pockets/bags, rigid cells, mini-pleats, v-banks and aluminum separator fi lters. Ap-plications include commercial and institutional buildings, industrial fi ltration systems, gas turbine fi ltration systems, paint booths, laboratories, air purifi ers, offshore oil rigs and more.

The 100% synthetic media is thermally bonded to prevent fi bre shedding during manufacture or in use. This is an advan-tage over micro-fi breglass media, which can be more easily damaged during manufacture, transport or installation, causing the tiny glass fi bres to shed and become airborne and respirable.www.kcfi ltration.com

HIGH-EFFICIENCY FILTRATION MEDIA

www.constructionweekonline.com

Marshall-Tuffl ex’s stylish

new desk unit

Insulation of pipes has not been given enough importance or attention, previously the main focus has been on condensation prevention.Now Engineers, designers and owners NEED to consider the environmental impact AND the opportunity to SAVE ENERGY and REDUCE CO2

Emissions. INSULPHEN is THE MOST EFFICIENT THERMAL INSULATION vs Fibre or Rubber. YOU WILL SAVE ENERGY - ask us for comparisons.

Also in High Occupancy buildings Thermal Insulation MUST be Fire and Smoke safe - low flame spread and low smoke emission is critical to enable people to escape in the event of a fire.Products selected must meet the regulations - Class 0 to UK buildings regs AND ASTM E84 25/50 flame spread/smoke emission rating!!

Only Insulphen WORLD CLASS Insulation gives you the best of all worlds.

ARE YOU REALLY INSULATING?

ARE YOU PROVIDING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT?

THE LAST WORD


Keat explains that the Middle East FZE is the

local representative of KHiND Holdings Berhad, established in Malaysia in 1961. It has had a presence here for the past 22 years. “Dubai was our fi rst so-

called export market. In 1988 we supplied a customer in Deira with electrical accessories in the form of cable clips. Since then we have grown in leaps and bounds, and to-day the Middle East is our biggest export market.”

The company’s six-person offi ce in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, lead by GM Adil Jimmy Mistry and as-sistant manager Nikhil Bagga, is responsible for the entire MENA region. “We one of the most estab-lished brands in terms of electrical accessories. Our name is well-en-trenched,” says Keat.

“We are different as we are known to be a world-class company with headquarters in Malaysia, and Ma-laysia has a reputation for offering quality products. Also, the length of time we have been in the region means we have forged good relation-ships with many importers, who trust us on an implicit level. We fi rst started selling here just through importers, and then over the years we expanded into Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, until today where we effec-tively cover the entire region.

“The Middle East contributes

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

Many companies choose not to launch new products in these times. For us, we see it as the best time to do this.“

Cheng Ping Keat

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

NEW RANGEThe company has just launched a new range of energy-saving lamps aimed at the construction, hotel and retail sectors. “This is a very competitive market, with about 15 different brands, but we still fore-see a lot of opportunity. There has been a huge surge in the demand for such products, due in part to increasing consumer awareness of energy effi ciency as a result of ris-ing electricity prices.

“Our new energy-saving lamps have also been launched bearing in mind global environmental issues,” says Keat. They are claimed to save 80% of the total energy consumed by ordinary lighting, as well as hav-ing a lifespan up to eight times lon-ger – which translates into reduced maintenance costs.

“We have such confi dence in the new product that we are offering a 14 month warranty to dealers,” says Keat. Some initial stock is being re-tained at the Middle East offi ce to allow importers to place minimum-order quantities for demonstration

purposes. The range is available from 5V right up to 65V, from the Saturn spiral series to the Mars 3U/2U series.

LED LAMPSKHiND has also launched two new series of ESL LED lamps. The LED rechargeable light tube has a long lighting duration of about 11 hours. It is lightweight for effortless in-stallation, and has a long lamp life of over 50 000 hours. The AC/DC LED rechargeable lightbulb has a long lighting duration of up to fi ve hours. KHiND also manufactures and distributes a range of home ap-pliances, kitchen appliances, light-ing appliances and fan series.

The new products are manufac-tured in China to international stan-dards. “These days the country of manufacture is a less important

factor than the level of support and back-up offered,” comments Keat.Presold orders have been secured, which is a good indication of its ready acceptance. “The opportuni-ties here lie not only in new projects, but also in the refurbishment and replacement market,” says Keat.

His advice to companies in the current downturn is to acknowl-edge two main factors affecting performance: one is external fac-tors such as changing consumer preferences. The other is factors beyond our control. “Financial cri-ses emerge every eight to ten years. We cannot stop or slow these.

“However, what is important in remaining competitive in such ad-verse conditions is to maintain a good cash fl ow, to have motivated staff, and to have high-quality prod-ucts,” concludes Keat.

KINDOne of a

HARVESTwww.balmoralrainwatersystems.com

STOREwww.sectionaltanks.com

TREATwww.sewagetanks.com

LEARNwww.balmoraltankstraining.com

BALMORAL TANKSOur products mean [email protected] T +44 (0)1224 859000

MEP Middle East - Jan 2010

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