The joint venture to explore and develop limestone and dolomite resources in Oman.

The Lhoist Group of Belgium and the Suhail Bahwan Group of Oman have decided to join forces to explore and develop limestone and dolomite resources in Oman.

A joint venture agreement was signed by both partners on January 18th 2010. The new joint venture, 60% owned by the Lhoist Group and 40% owned by the Suhail Bahwan Group, will be called Bahwan Lhoist LLC and will be supervised by a board composed of three members each from the Lhoist Group and the Bahwan Group.  The Lhoist Group will be represented by its Group Chairman Baron Jean-Pierre Berghmans, the Deputy CEO Mr. Jean Pierre Henin and the Executive Vice President Mr. Patrick Andre.  The Suhail Bahwan Group will be represented by its Group Chairman Sheikh Suhail Bahwan, the Managing Director of the Group’s holding company Sheikh Ahmed Bahwan, and the Advisor to the Group Chairman Mr. Divyendu Kumar.

H.E. Darwish Bin Ismail Al Balushi, Secretary General at the Ministry of Finance officially inaugurated Bilad Oman’s Sohar factory on 23rd December 2009. Also gracing the occasion was H.E. Engineer Ahmed Bin Hassan Al Dheeb, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The function was also attended by Sheikh Said Bin Hamdi Al Harthy, Deputy Wali of Sohar and Sheikh Ahmed Suhail Bahwan, MD of Suhail Bahwan Group along with a number of Officials, Businessmen and Sheikhs of Al Batina region.

Bahwan Wagenborg Heavylift & Oilfield Services LLC (BAHWAN WAGENBORG) is a strategic alliance between the Suhail Bahwan Group, one of Oman’s foremost Business Houses and Royal Wagenborg Group from The Netherlands, a strong multi-discipline provider of worldwide logistics services including Shipping, Stevedoring and Warehousing, Road Transport and Forwarding, Special Heavy Cargo Transport, Mobile Crane and Assembly, Towage and Maritime Services, Off-shore and supply Services, Passenger Services, Logistical Projects, Rig moves – new Rig Assembly, Rig Modifications and Inspections, Derrick packages, conduct piling and many other Oilfield services. The Group provides tailor made logistical solutions that makes difference in a Project.

Sohar International Urea & Chemical Industries SAOC (SIUCI) has achieved yet another milestone with the commencement of trial production of granular urea from its Sohar Fertiliser Project. The mega fertiliser project, conceived and promoted by Sheikh Suhail Salim Bahwan, has been constructed without any change orders and within the original budgeted cost. With a production capacity of over 1.2 million tonnes per annum of granular urea, the fertilizer project is one of the largest industrial investments by an individual within the GCC countries.