More than 72 per cent of a Dh5 billion contract awarded by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for the construction of artificial islands at its offshore sour gas fields will be spent on locally-sourced materials, suppliers, manufacturers and workforce.
The development of the Ghasha Concession will be carried out over the course of 38 months by the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC). It will construct ten new islands, two causeways and expand an existing island.
#ADNOC awarded the Ghasha concession construction contract to the UAE’s National Marine Dredging Company. The deal will drive substantial In-Country Value back into the #UAE economy - i.e., 70% of the spend (for 10 new islands, 2 causeways & the expansion of an existing island) pic.twitter.com/DfnC9P9wmV
— ADNOC Group (@AdnocGroup) February 6, 2019
This will provide the infrastructure required to further develop, drill and produce gas from the fields.
When awarding the job, Adnoc said it took into consideration criteria that "would maximise In-Country Value" such as creating job opportunities for Emiratis.
At its peak, the project is expected to employ a total of more than 3,500 people.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Adnoc Group chief executive, said that the award of this project to a UAE company will support local economic growth.
NMDC will prioritise sourcing materials from the UAE and mainly use local suppliers and manufacturers.
"We aim to increase the use of local resources, such as products, facilities and infrastructure in this sector of dredging equipment and services. NDMC will contribute to supporting the development and prosperity of the UAE," said Mohammed Al Rumaithi, NMDC's chairman.
The use of artificial islands, such as at the Upper Zakum offshore oilfield, will eliminate the need to dredge over 100 locations for wells and also provide additional habitats for marine life, Adnoc said.
Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, acting secretary general of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, said it had been working with Adnoc to ensure sustainabilty of the project "both for the environment and the people".
"This included conducting one of the largest marine environmental baseline surveys in the UAE’s history in order to assess the marine life in the area, understand any potential impacts and ensure that the development and management plans protect the diverse marine ecosystems and mitigate any potential impact on the sensitive habitats and endangered species,” she said.
The new islands will be named after pearl diving sites in the area.
