Egypt Coordinates with Aramco to Manufacture ‘Static Equipment’

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla inspects locally manufactured equipment for the petroleum sector (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla inspects locally manufactured equipment for the petroleum sector (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Coordinates with Aramco to Manufacture ‘Static Equipment’

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla inspects locally manufactured equipment for the petroleum sector (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla inspects locally manufactured equipment for the petroleum sector (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum has said Petrojet is coordinating with Saudi Aramco to establish workshops for manufacturing static equipment in the oil sector.

The ministry explained on Monday in a press statement, a copy of which was obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, that the new workshops are scheduled to be established in King Salman Energy Park (SPARK), as approved by Aramco.

It added that they are coordinating with Saudi Luberef regarding cooperation in the manufacture of static equipment.

The central workshops have already been approved and contracts have been made to manufacture several static equipment.

The ministry will also coordinate with the Algerian company Sonatrach regarding cooperation in manufacturing static equipment in Algeria.

Petrojet has established five workshops in Egypt; two are being built in el-Alamein and Tebbin. The company also has an affiliated manufacturing workshop in Iraq.

According to Petrojet President Waleed Lotfy, the workshops' most important specialized equipment are heat exchangers, distillation towers, pressure vessels, heat treatment furnaces, air coolers, and repair and maintenance of obsolete static equipment.

Lotfy pointed out that this equipment helped implement the Zohr gas field development project, the West Delta gas field development, the nitrogen fertilizer complex project in Ain Sokhna, and the new asphalt complex at the Suez Petroleum Manufacturing Plant.

He explained that equipment manufacturing work developed from 6.8 tons in 2021 to 12 tons in 2023, noting that metal structure manufacturing work increased in the same period from 23 tons to 40 tons.

Workshops are valued at $160,000 compared to $105,000 in 2021, while the total manufacturing work carried out in the central workshops between 2021 and 2023 amounted to $594 million, including integrated manufacturing work by Porsche valued at $297 million.

Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla stressed that localizing and increasing the local manufacturing base of petroleum equipment and supplies necessary for oil and gas activities are among the main pillars for completing the strategic and vital projects.

The Minister inspected the work progress in the central workshops for manufacturing static equipment in el-Katameya, affiliated with Petrojet, followed up, and reviewed the results of developing the workshops to maximize the local product and reduce imports from abroad.



UN Official Says Israel Strikes Lebanon-Syria Border Crossing

 People carry their belongings while crossing from Lebanon into Syria, as they walk past a crater caused in the aftermath of an Israeli strike that occurred early on Friday morning, at Jousieh crossing between Syria and Lebanon, Syria October 28, 2024. (Reuters)
People carry their belongings while crossing from Lebanon into Syria, as they walk past a crater caused in the aftermath of an Israeli strike that occurred early on Friday morning, at Jousieh crossing between Syria and Lebanon, Syria October 28, 2024. (Reuters)
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UN Official Says Israel Strikes Lebanon-Syria Border Crossing

 People carry their belongings while crossing from Lebanon into Syria, as they walk past a crater caused in the aftermath of an Israeli strike that occurred early on Friday morning, at Jousieh crossing between Syria and Lebanon, Syria October 28, 2024. (Reuters)
People carry their belongings while crossing from Lebanon into Syria, as they walk past a crater caused in the aftermath of an Israeli strike that occurred early on Friday morning, at Jousieh crossing between Syria and Lebanon, Syria October 28, 2024. (Reuters)

UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said an Israeli air strike hit "humanitarian structures" Saturday at a border crossing between Lebanon and Syria that was previously hit last month.

The crossing, known as Jousieh on the Syrian side, became a key escape route for those fleeing the Israel-Hezbollah war after the main border crossing between the two countries was hit.

But it was put out of service late last month when an Israeli strike created a large crater that blocked vehicle traffic.

"A new Israeli air strike hit the border post of Jousieh, where many Lebanese and Syrians cross from Lebanon to Syria," Grandi said on social media platform X.

"Humanitarian structures were also struck," he said, adding that "even fleeing and taking care of those who flee are becoming difficult and dangerous as the war continues to spread."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said two Israeli strikes hit the Jousieh crossing on Saturday.

The raid came after the main crossing between Beirut and Damascus, known as Masnaa on the Lebanese side, was forced to close by an Israel strike on October 4.

There are six official crossings between Lebanon and Syria, although there are many unofficial routes across the porous border.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of transporting weapons to Lebanon from Syria through the crossings.