Ducab wins second deal to supply Habshan project

Dubai: Following a series of recent negotiations in Japan, Ducab has won its second contract to work on Abu Dhabi's Integrated Gas Development (IGD) project, raising the company's total order for Gasco's Habshan 5 project to more than Dh126 million.

Ducab's most recent agreement with Japan's JGC Corporation is valued at Dh51 million for the supply of custom power cables to the new Habshan 5 gas processing plant.

This follows the company's recent contract with Hyundai Engineering and Construction. The contract says Ducab will support the utilities and offsite part of the development, a Dh75 million agreement which could see Ducab supplying up to 70 per cent of the associated facility's power cable requirements.

Both developments are part of Abu Dhabi's IGD project, a Dh33.8 billion plan that aims to increase offshore gas production and provide a permanent link between the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's offshore Umm Shaif field and new onshore processing facilities at Habshan and Ruwais.

Specialist products

The Habshan 5 gas processing plant will require thousands of kilometres of high-quality cables with special materials that can withstand Habshan's harsh environment and comply with stringent safety and project requirements.

With approved products by international organisations such as BSI, KEMA, Lloyds and Warrington Fire Research, Ducab has a history of supplying major projects in the OGP sector with niche products. Previous partnerships with Gasco include the OGD III project through Bechtel of the US and the third Ruwais natural gas liquids project through Italy's Snamprogetti, among others.

Laith Madi, manager of the oil, gas and petrochemical (OGP) sector at Ducab (above), says that the two contracts fall into the objective for Ducab to become a dominant cable supplier for OGP projects in the region.

"The IGD project is an extraordinary venture within the Abu Dhabi gas sector that is bringing together many specialised groups on the cutting edge of their trade," said Madi. "These kinds of projects and the growth of the oil and gas sector in UAE — and the GCC in general — were the motivation for us to launch the Special Cables Unit at the end of 2009. Focusing on a distinct series of products fitted to the demands of the OGP sector, we work with our clients in designing tailor-made cabling solutions while offering a high level of service and attention through a specialised team within Ducab's OGP division."

Madi added that providing quick and reliable access to cabling products were also one of the client's chief concerns in selecting a supplier for Habshan 5. "With two factories in Abu Dhabi and one in Jebel Ali, we have the capacity to fulfil very large and very specific orders within close proximity to UAE sites," he adds. "Especially on a project of this magnitude, having immediate access to a resource supply backed up by comprehensive technical services as part of the overall cable solutions package, can make a huge difference in keeping the entire development on schedule."