IT IS almost seven years since Saudi Binladin Group - Petroleum, Chemicals and Mining Division (SBG-PCM) was established as an autonomous division of Jeddah-based Saudi Binladin Group.

The PCM division has been providing leading edge engineering, procurement and management services to many of Saudi Arabia's most prestigious oil, gas and petrochemical projects.

SBG has developed extensive capabilities and technical expertise in the petroleum, chemical and mining industries, by acquiring in-house resources and forming partnerships with specialised international firms.

The PCM division integrates world-class resources, management skills and technical capabilities into a single entity which can mobilise and execute large construction projects and provide world class plant repair and maintenance services to the entire spectrum of potential clients.

This expertise has already been utilised at a number of Saudi Aramco and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) plants this year.

The company has performed HCU, Thermal Gasoil Unit (TGU) and aromatic shutdowns at Saudi Aramco Shell Refinery Company (Sasref).

At Rabigh Refinery, the PCM division is currently retubing two steam boilers, while earlier this year it overhauled 17 exchangers, as well as coolers and vessels.

PCM is also in the midst of a major expansion project at the National Titanium Dioxide Co Ltd (Cristal) plant in Yanbu.

The company is providing mechanical, piping and equipment and installation works, including fixing, design, supply and erection of caustic storage tank for its chlorine plant; chemical cleaning; thermal insulation; and supply and installation of cable trays.

The contract will run until March next year.

Also at Cristal, PCM is providing engineering, procurement and construction services for the new chlorine plant and expansion to the existing titanium dioxide pigment plant.

The project, which started in January this year and is scheduled for completion in March next year, consists of engineering and design; underground and utilities; buildings/foundations/structures; process piping, steel structure and installation of pumps, vessels, exchangers etc; all electrical and instrumentation works with necessary control; site developments such as roads, parking etc; system testing, integration and commissioning and construction of warehouses.

The SBG-PCM facilities are strategically located in the industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu, close to some of the world's largest petrochemical plants and refiners.

The division was formed to consolidate and expand services to the oil, chemical and mining sectors and its expertise gained in these fields is backed up with the financial strength, assets and decades-long experience of the internationally-renowned Binladin organisation.

The division can offer cost effective construction and plant repair/maintenance solutions with an emphasis on continuous improvement of quality, safety, integrity and value. SBG-PCM also claims to be a one-stop-shop for oil, gas and petrochemical companies in need of high quality work.

In an increasingly competitive business environment, SBG-PCM is developing its assets to meet new challenges and to achieve its mission of serving the needs of industries in Saudi Arabia and expanding its services to the neighbouring GCC states.