US-based Fluor Corporation said it has won a $200 million contract from Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) to provide project management consulting (PMC) services for its Umm Wu'al greenfield phosphate project and related facilities in northern Saudi Arabia.

The companies signed the contract on December 1 in the presence of Fluor chairman & chief executive officer David Seaton and other senior Ma'aden representatives at a ceremony held in the Maaden office.

The Fluor's scope of work includes supervision and management of the feasibility study including the development of basic design packages which is undertaken by FEED contractor; manage the development, strategy, and tendering of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) packages; and
also manage and supervise all EPC contractors during EPC stage until project turnover closeout.

On completion, the Umm Wu'al project will have an annual capacity of 100,000 metric tons per annum (MTPA) of food grade purified phosphoric acid; 90,000 MTPA of industrial grade sodium tripoly phosphate; 250,000 MTPA of animal feed grade dicalum phosphate/monocalcium phosphate; along with 280,000,000 MTPA of phosphate and compound fertilizers.

Commenting on the win, Rick Koumouris, Fluor's business line lead for Mining & Metals said, "The Middle East has always been an important market for Fluor and we are delighted that our relationship with Ma'aden is expanding with the award of this significant project."

"We are honoured that our client in Saudi recognizes the value that Fluor brings to a complex project like Umm Wu'al," stated Koumouris.  

"We will look forward to working closely with our client and bringing to bear all of the tools in our arsenal - especially our world class safety culture and rigorous processes and procedures - to secure the success of this project," he added.

Fluor will execute the Umm Wu'al project from its offices in Al Khobar with support from other global Fluor locations.

The company has set a goal of at least 20 per cent local Saudi labor content on the project beginning in the first year, said Koumouris.

The project will likely leverage much of the existing infrastructure including port, rail and other developments put in place by the Saudi Arabia government, he added.-TradeArabia News Service