Bechtel has announced that a new regional office it has set-up in the UAE for its mining and metals business will serve better its clients in the GCC countries.

"The GCC mining and metals sector has been identified as one of the main pillars of industrial diversification in the region and this trend is reflected in the scale of awards made during the last 12 months, which reached around $6 billion. Two other factors that have driven growth of the sector are urbanisation and industrialisation of the GCC economies," the company observed in a statement.

David Welch, president, Europe, Africa, Middle East at Bechtel, one of the world’s leading engineering, procurement and construction companies, said: "We recognise the growing importance of the Gulf region as a strategic hub for our business. The opening of a regional office for our mining and metals business is a reflection of our on-going commitment to this region."

He added: "Our mining and metals business has a rich history here. Bechtel has been present in the region for around 70 years. We are optimistic about the business opportunities here and we believe the outlook is strong. In addition, the region has excellent connections to European and North African markets. The office puts us closer to our customers."

Welch

The new office will draw upon Bechtel’s global experience and expertise in mining and metals and will offer services from master planning studies through to engineering execution. Bechtel has completed several hundred major mining and metals projects and more than 1,000 studies across six continents around the world. Projects have included 26 aluminium smelters, 42 major copper projects and 36 major coal projects. The company is currently constructing one of the world’s largest greenfield aluminium smelter projects – Ras Al Khair – for the Ma’aden Alcoa joint venture in Saudi Arabia.

Bechtel, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in the UAE in 2012, opened a centre of engineering excellence in the UAE in May of this year.

Among the most respected engineering, project management and construction companies in the world, Bechtel operates through five global business units that specialise in civil infrastructure; power generation; communications and transmission; mining and metals; oil, gas and chemicals; and government services.

Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 22,000 projects in 140 countries on all seven continents. Its 53,000 employees team with customers, partners and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 50 countries.