Qatar Shell signs maintenance contracts with two local firms

Qatar Shell has signed electric motor maintenance contracts with two local companies — Manweir and ABB Oryx — for its Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) plant at Ras Laffan.

Pearl GTL has approximately 4,500 electrical motors installed on the plant that need to be regularly inspected and maintained.

The deals come as Qatar Shell increases its drive to support Qatar’s private sector and increase the number of qualified local suppliers retained in its operations locally, paving the way for them to become the supplier of choice for Qatar Shell as well as the Pearl GTL plant.

At the signing ceremony, Wael Sawan, Qatar Shell Companies managing director and chairman said: “Our experience has taught us that supporting local manufacturers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is core to achieving a sustainable economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. We have been very much impressed with the quality of our local providers and we continue to look at opportunities to broaden that partnership base. Today, we are proud to add two new local companies, Manweir and ABB Oryx to this list.”  

“A healthy private sector, which begins with SMEs and entrepreneurs, is beneficial to large organisations. We hope that Qatar Shell will become a leading example of delivering and then operating world-scale projects in partnership with local suppliers,” he added.

Sawan stated that the companies won the bid after demonstrating their ability to adhere to Shell’s global standards including its strict requirements on health, safety, security and environment (HSSE).

ABB Oryx Motors & Generators Service is a joint venture between ABB and Oryx Engineering Solutions, based in Ras Laffan, which provides a wide range of electrical motor and generator services to operations in the oil, gas, water and energy sectors in Qatar. The service already extends to some 10,000 ABB-manufactured electrical motors operating around Qatar.

On behalf of the joint venture, Juha Alopaeus, ABB country manager (Qatar) said: “Shell’s decision to choose ABB Oryx Motors & Generator Services is a testament to the quality of service and convenience of our location in Ras Laffan.”

Abdulla Ahmed Mannai, managing director, Oryx Engineering Solutions said: “We are pleased to offer Qatar Shell with easy access, quick turn-around and best-in-class service levels under the new agreement.”  

Manweir, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mannai Corporation, is one of the leading local engineering services company that has been serving the onshore and offshore oil and gas, petrochemical, power, marine and industrial sectors for the last 37 years. Key services offered by Manweir are, machine shop services, electrical equipment repair, turbo machinery repair, static equipment repair, welding and fabrication, valves repair, instrument calibration and manufacturing of oil field products and other associated services.

“We are honoured to be awarded this contract with Qatar Shell.  At Manweir, it is our constant endeavour to align our business with Qatar National Vision 2030.   We strive to contribute towards a sustainable economy and Qatar’s growing industrial sector by investing in our human resources and cutting edge technologies,” said Khalid Mannai, executive director, Mannai Corporation.“Today we mark yet another association with Qatar Shell GTL for the maintenance and repair of electrical motors and we stand by our commitment to provide quality, safe and on time services to meet Qatar Shell’s service requirement,” said Alekh Grewal, Group CEO and director, Mannai Corporation.

In May this year, Qatar Shell partnered with Qatar Development Bank to provide local companies and manufacturers access to four specific new business opportunities.