The Company’s first insight into major pipeline construction in Africa was the award of the Mombasa to Nairobi Oil Products Pipeline project for the Kenyan Pipeline Company Ltd. The works, completed within 13 months, entailed the installation of 425 km of 14 inch diameter steel welded, pipe inclusive of testing and commissioning. Later, in 1991, Zakhem installed the 450 km extension of this line from Nairobi to Kenya’s Western border with Uganda, and in I 992, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) awarded Zakhem its largest contract, the $230 million US dollars Pipelines and Depots Project Phase III, Contract 3.This turn-key contract comprised the detail design, procurement construction and commissioning of 832 km of 16,12 and 8 inch diameter oil pipelines, storage tanks, pump stations, ancillary works and the crossing of the river Niger by use of the directional drilling technique.

In the Middle East Zakhem completed a number of major cross-country pipeline works — notably 110 km of 30 & 16 inch diameter gas pipelines for the Khuff Gas Field Development, Qatar 600 km of 42 & 16 inch diameter oil pipelines for the Messla Oil Field Development Project, Libya and 65 km of 30 & 24 inch gas pipelines from Dukhan oil fields to Abu Fontas power station. Recent works include the replacement of the 30 inch Khuff Gas Pipeline Project for Qatar General Petroleum Company.The original line was installed by Zakhem in the mid seventies but in this “turn-key” contract the replacement work comprised engineering, procurement and construction of 40 km of 30 & 16 inch diameter steel welded pipes together with instrumentation, telecommunications and ancillary works.

Zakhem have executed several major contracts for water and wastewater distribution systems in the Middle East, Africa and America — namely the Mombasa & Coastal Water Supply Project where over 182 km of 32 inch diameter ductile iron pipeline was installed a wastewater & irrigation scheme for the city of Jubail in Saudi Arabia where 40 inch diameter asbestos cement pipes and 16 inch diameter welded pipes were laid ;the 76 km 56 & 30 inch Chania to Thika water supply steel welded pipeline, Kenya and recently various water pipeline works in the Lebanon and similarly in Texas, USA, for the City of Houston.

A number of water supply projects have been executed and these include the Aguthi. Litein, Ndia and Nyakach water supply schemes in Kenya Iju and Isashi water rehabilitation projects in Nigeria the Fuijeira.Ajman and Sharjah water schemes in the UAE and a number of others such as the Baalbeck water supply in Lebanon. Construction included concrete reservoirs, treatment facilities, pump stations and metering control systems.

The Group has participated in many major road and bridge projects throughout Africa, Middle East and USA. Among these, are the contracts Zakhem won in 1984 to rehabilitate the war stricken roads between Beirut and other principal towns of Lebanon. Over $100 million US dollars of road reinstatement was carried out and included all underground services, overhead supplies and infrastructures. Recent work in Lebanon includes 75 km of new bitumen roads in Beirut and New Byblos City. In Africa Zakhem have completed a number of road works that includes among others the 54 km Mwanza highway in Tanzania, with its eight reinforced concrete bridges and box culverts. In Botswana 200 km of urban and rural roads have been completed inclusive of widening of city roads and roundabouts, upgrading of drainage system, paving of pedestrian areas and resealing of existing roads for the city of Gabarone. Similar work was executed in Kenya and included the 70 km new Kisii to Chemosit road project.

Other civil work includes a new marina complex constructed to provide moorage and fuelling facilities for 44 boats together with two swimming pools,a beach club and lounging areas as part of the Riviera Hotel extension in Lebanon. Plus the development and construction of the Parque Da Floresta Golf Complex in the Algarve, Portugal comprising 18 hole golf course, club house, roads and all related infrastructure set in 300 acres of rural land.