Land port in Shuaiba

Kuwait intends to build one of the Gulf’s largest land ports in Shuaiba, where one of its key seaports is located, according to a report.

The Kuwait Ports Authority has issued tenders for the studies and primary designs for the “large project” which is intended to ease pressure on the seaport south of the capital Kuwait City, the Arabic language daily Al-Anba said, quoting “informed” sources.

“It will one of largest land ports in the region and is designed to ease congestion at the Port of Shuaiba as it will handle a large part of the imports and exports,” it said.

The report said the project comprises logistics area that includes warehouses and other facilities, customs centres, containers area, general cargo stores, car parks, clearance centres, rest houses and restaurants, police centres, and other facilities.

$61.7m pipe deal

Kuwait has awarded an oil pipe supply contract to a local company with a value of around KD 18.7 million ($61.7 million), a local newspaper said.

The government-owned Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), which manages the upstream sector in the OPEC member, awarded the deal to Satco Energy General Trading and Contracting Company, the Arabic language daily Al-Anba said.

KOC has signed the contract with Satco following approval by the Central Agency for Public Tenders, the report said, citing KOC sources.

The contract involves the supply of pipes to be used in oil well drilling operations in KOC’s facilities, it said, adding that Satco won the deal after submitting the lowest bid.

Solar power projects

OPEC member Kuwait has decided to merge a suspended solar power project into another large solar energy project being built in the heart of the Gulf country’s desert, a local newspaper reported.

The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP) will oversee the merger of the 1.5-gigawatt Al-Dibdibah into Shagaya solar power project after the first one was cancelled by the cabinet at the request of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), the Arabic language daily Alanba said, quoting KPC sources.

“KAPP will supervise the merger of Al-Dibdibah into Shagaya (Phase 3) and it will soon invite consultancy bids to carry out a study for the merger and economic feasibility as well as the modification of the project documents,” the paper said.

It provided no further details apart from saying that the “merger serves government plans to expand public-private partnership and achieve the target to increase renewable energy production to 15 per cent of the total power generation by 2030.

Shagaya plant, built on 84 sq km in the desert location of Al-Shagaya, is approximately 100 km west of the capital Kuwait City and comprises multiple renewable technologies as well as interconnection and site infrastructure.

Elsewedy unit inks deal

Elsewedy Electric’s (SWDY) subsidiary, Elsewedy Electric Transmission and Distribution, signed a new contract with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity and Water worth KD 16.1 million, according to the company’s statement to the Egyptian Exchange.

Under the deal, the company will supply and install 400-kilovolt overhead transmission lines for Boubyan main substation.

The project will power the island of Boubyan and Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, currently being constructed by the Ministry of Public Works. The on turnkey basis project will operate within 30 months from signing the contract.

Elsewedy Electric posted a 36 per cent Year on Year decline in its consolidated net profit in the first nine months of 2020, registering EGP 1.73 million, compared to EGP 2.71 billion during the same period the year before.

The listed company is a provider of integrated energy solutions in Africa and the Middle East, and a manufacturer of cables and meters, especially smart meters. It has a portfolio incorporating all traditional and renewable energy areas along with related services.