Larsen and Toubro unit to go on stream in the Port of Sohar

Oman Daily Observer reported that Larsen & Toubro Heavy Engineering LLC will formally launch operations at its state of the art yard in the Port of Sohar next month.

Mr MV Kotwal chairman of L&T Heavy Engineering LLC, who is also a member of the board and senior executive VP of the parent company Larsen & Toubro, said that the project JV of Indian engineering and construction giant Larsen & Toubro and the Zubair Corporation of Oman will help drive the Sultanate's aspirations for a greater market share in the manufacture of critical equipment for the region's rapidly expanding hydrocarbons and petrochemicals industries.

He said that "This facility will help carve out a place for the Sultanate on the world map of countries with specialist know how in the fabrication of mega dimensioned and high tech equipment for the process industry. The project will reinforce Oman's credentials as an emerging engineering technology heavyweight."

Spread over an area of 300,000 square meters, the L&T HE yard features a covered fabrication shop of around 12,000 square meters fitted out with an array of sophisticated manufacturing systems. It is equipped to manufacture precision custom designed and engineered critical equipment and systems for core sector industries, such as refineries, petrochemical and fertilizer projects and other process industries and power plants in the region.

Given its unrivalled expertise in the handling of metals and the engineering of complex metallurgical products, the facility will also cater to the specialist needs of high tech industries across the Middle East. L&T Heavy Engineering is backed by India based Larsen & Toubro USD 8.5 billion globally renowned technology, engineering and construction company, which has manufacturing facilities in eight countries and exports to over 30 countries. The parent organization has a distinguished record of achievements, such as the fabrication of the world's largest coal gasifier made in India and exported to China, the largest tubular reactor for Kuwait, the longest product splitter for Saudi Arabia, as well as the largest continuous catalyst regeneration reactor all executed to internationally accepted quality benchmarks.

A key advantage enjoyed by L&T HE is its access to a dedicated 300 meter long jetty at the Port of Sohar designed to handle load outs of ultra heavy modules in excess of 10,000 tonnes. This waterfront access and load out capability will provide added leverage to the company as it bids for lucrative fabrication contracts in the multibillion dollar regional process industry. Furthermore, its location adjacent to the equally state of the art fabrication facility of its sister concern, the L&T Modular Fabrication Yard LLC, promises complementary synergies that either venture can capitalize on in securing high end contracts.

The Modular Fabrication Yard, which commenced operations 2 years, specializes in the fabrication of offshore marine structures. Its expertise covers the fabrications of jack up and semi submersible rigs, the conversion and integration of Floating Production Storage and Offloading systems and other high end offshore structures.

Mr Sanjay Sharma CEO of L&T Heavy Engineering LLC noted that "With our robust knowledge base and the technical backup of our units in India, we aim to be strongly focused on the Gulf region. Our facility has been certified by ASME for a wide range of technical standards."

Indeed, marking a successful start to its operations, L&T HE has already bagged a contract for the manufacture of 2 critical systems for a major refinery project. Made of special alloy steel with stainless steel overlay, the systems are due for delivery by the end of this year. Significantly, the project will contribute significantly to the transfer of specialist engineering technology and know how to the Sultanate. Key personnel from L&T's premier fabrication facilities at Powai and Hazira in India are already engaged in the training of young Omanis at a state run vocational training institute in the Batinah region. A number of high school graduates are presently being groomed in specialized trades like welding, fitting and so on.

(Sourced from http://www.steelguru.com/news/index/2009/09/29/MTEzNzE4/Larsen_and_Toubro_unit_to_go_on_stream_in_the_Port_of_Sohar.html)