SNC-Lavalin Group, a leading engineering and construction group, has opened it regional head office for the Middle East and Africa in Abu Dhabi.

The opening of the office was attended by Robert G Card, president and CEO of the group.

It coincides with a contract the company recently signed with Ma’aden in Saudi Arabia, which is estimated at $500 million. It includes the engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up of a three-line 15,150-metric-tonne-per-day sulphuric acid plant.  

“With estimated GDP growth of over 5.6 per cent per year until 2018, and with major projects in the infrastructure, oil and gas, mining and power sectors, the Middle East region offers significant development opportunities for SNC-Lavalin,” said Card.

The Middle East and Africa region contributes significantly to the business volume of the company’s mining and metallurgy and oil and gas business units (18 per cent and 25 per cent respectively). As of December 2013, the company had more than 3,000 employees across the region, he said.

Under the leadership of Ziad Awad, senior vice-president and regional head for the Middle East and Africa, the office will work closely with existing offices across the region in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya.

Other projects the company has been involved with in the region include the Dubal aluminum smelter expansion, Emal II aluminum smelter, the general engineering contract services contract with Saudi Aramco and the local joint venture with its partner in Doha. - TradeArabia News Service