Bechtel opens GCC mining office
Growing importance of mining and metals in GCC
David Welch is a former US deputy secretary of state
Major international contractor Bechtel has announced that it has opened a regional office concentrating on its mining and metals business in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The office, located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will address the growing importance of mining and metals in the GCC economies. Bechtel 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.
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, said Bechtel.
Two other factors that have driven growth of the sector are urbanization and industrialization of the GCC economies.
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 ongoing commitment to this region,” said David Welch, president, Europe, Africa, Middle East.
“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 in the region and we believe the outlook is strong. In addition, the region has excellent connections to European and North African markets. The regional office puts us closer to our customers.”
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.
The new regional 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.
Globally, the company has completed several hundred major mining and metals projects and more than 1,000 studies. Projects have included 26 aluminium smelters, 42 major copper projects and 36 major coal projects.
