METITO was awarded the contract by the Agip Kazakhstan North Caspian Operating Company (AGIP KCO), the operator of the mammoth Kashagan oilfield in the Caspian Sea, on behalf of the consortium that operates the concession of the world's largest oil find in the past three decades. METITO's strong capabilities and long and distinguished record of safeguarding the environment were important factors in helping the company to win the contract.

Left to Right - Patrick Benzynie, Senior Contracts Engineer, AGIP KCO and Bassem Halabi, METITO Group Director for Business Development.

AGIP KCO operates the giant oilfield for a seven-member consortium, which includes BG, ENI, ExxonMobil, Inpex, Phillips, Shell and TotalFinaElf. Already active on a number of major projects worldwide, this will be METITO's first industrial waste water treatment project in Kazakhstan.

METITO (Overseas) Limited Group Director for Business Development, Mr. Bassem Halabi, said: 'The Kazakh project is a very prestigious contract in nature for METITO in this region. We are delighted to be able to apply our world-class expertise in water treatment for industrial purposes to this project.'

The company has a broad range experience in the oil and gas sector on projects stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Iran and Indonesia.

The scope of work in Kazakhstan includes the design, manufacture, delivery and supervision of the commissioning of surface water treatment, brackish reverse osmosis and electrodeionisation treatment plant, an effluent water treatment plant, an oily waste water treatment plant and spent caustic treatment system. Apart from this, METITO is required to commission a sludge dewatering system, potable water plant, acid dosing packages as well as providing building materials and services.

'We have extensive expertise in the petrochemical sector around the globe. But this will be our first project in this sector in Kazakhstan. A project of this nature requires highly specialised systems and equipment to meet the highest international environment standards – aspects that are fully met by all METITO projects' added Mr. Halabi.

The Kashagan geological oil reserves run at over 38 billion barrels, with estimated recoverable reserves of seven to nine billion barrels, making it almost equal to the reserves of the whole of Algeria. 'The sensitive treatment and handling of industrial waste water is an important part of the project, since the operation must ensure that the north Caspian ecology remains unharmed,' said Mr. Halabi.

'The Kashagan oilfield project is one of the most important hydrocarbon developments around the globe and we are very proud to award the waste water treatment contract to METITO,' said Patrick Benzynie Senior Contracts Engineer, AGIP KCO.

The contract also involves training the local Kazakh personnel in operation and maintenance of the facilities. 'The contract for main supply and design of the plants is for a period of 18 months. Following that, we have to provide technical support on operation and maintenance for two years during which the local Kazakhs will be trained. Phase I will be managed by a team of 14 engineers from METITO, while Phase II will involve sending our team for operational support on site,' added Mr. Halabi.

As the leading international company in its field, METITO currently operates its European, Asian and African operations from its regional headquarters in Sharjah and has a factory and laboratory facility in the Hamriya Free Zone. Work recently started on the company's new global AED50 million headquarters at Techno Park in Dubai. When completed, the facility, built on an area of 500,000 square feet, will house 500 engineers, scientists and executives in this strategic location off the main highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.