Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil exporter, awarded long term agreements to eight contracting companies for a number of plant upgrade projects.
The six-year contracts, which come with a provision to extend for another six years include engineering, procurement, construction, start-up and pre-commissioning of each project, as well as the installation of the upgraded facilities in the designated operating areas, Aramco said on Wednesday.
The companies that won the contracts include a consortium of Nasser Saeed Al Hajri and Contracting and Samsung, Daelim, ENPPI, GS Construction Arabia, Snamprogetti, JGC Gulf Engineering, Technip as well as Hyundai Engineering and Construction.
The company did not disclose the value of the contracts.
"These LTAs [long-term agreements] which are associated with huge business ... allow us to boost the performance of our brownfield and upgrade projects," said Ahmad Al Sa'adi, Aramco’s technical services senior vice president.
Earlier this year, the world's largest oil-exporting company signed partnership agreements worth more than $21 billion with international companies to work across its value chain in the energy sector. Saudi Aramco also signed a $110 million joint venture with Baker Hughes in the non-metallics sector.
The company is also planning to increase the amount it procures locally, aiming to meet at least 70 per cent of procurement spending from Saudi Arabian companies by 2021.
Aramco, which floated a 1.75 per cent stake on Tadawul in December last year, returned to global bond markets last week.
The company will begin issuing senior, unsecured bonds denominated in US dollars, but said the amount issued and the bond values are "subject to market conditions".
Sweet%20Tooth
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
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Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
THE%20SWIMMERS
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Pieces of Her
Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
