Abu Dhabi: Dolphin Energy yesterday awarded Germany's Salzgitter Mannesmann International an order of more than $200 million to manufacture the pipes for its new Taweelah-Fujairah gas pipeline.
In a statement, Dolphin said Salzgitter will manufacture the pipes at the Europipe steel mill in Germany.
"Around 120,000 tonnes of X70 48-inch coated line pipe will be supplied. First deliveries are expected in the summer of 2008, with delivery completion in spring 2009," it added.
The pipeline will link Dolphin Energy's gas receiving facilities at Taweelah on the coast of Abu Dhabi with the Adwea power and water desalination plant at Qidfa in Fujairah.
The pipeline will be laid over an environmentally approved cross-country route, through more than 240 kilometres of desert and mountainside. The bids for the design and construction of the pipe-line are due by January 31, 2008. Dolphin Energy has invited nine contracting companies.
Ebrahim Ahmad Al Ansari, UAE general manager, Dolphin Energy, said: "We undertook a fast-track procurement process, and we have been able to achieve a very competitive price and delivery schedule in difficult market conditions."
Dolphin Energy was created to develop substantial energy projects throughout the GCC. Its major strategic initiative, the Dolphin Project, involves the production and processing of natural gas from Qatar's North Field, and transportation of the dry gas by sub-sea export pipeline from Qatar to the UAE, which began last July.
Dolphin Energy is 51 per cent owned by Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Development Company. Total of France and Occidental Petroleum of the US own 24.5 per cent each.
