GLOBAL Pipe Company (GPC) has received its first direct order from Saudi Aramco, Ahmed Hamad Al Khonaini, managing director of the company has announced.

The total volume of the deal is 84,000 tonnes for the length of about 150 km of the East West Gas and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) pipeline. In order to meet the tight delivery schedule for this project, GPC says it will start the manufacturing activities in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Located in Jubail Industrial City, in Saudi Arabia, GPC is a joint venture company between German major Erndtebruecker Eisenwerk (EEW), Saudi Steel Pipes, Ahmed Hamad Al Khonaini and Pan Gulf Holding, with an investment of over SR660 million ($176 million).

The company specialises in producing longitudinal submerged arc welded (LSAW) pipes with outside diameter from 16 to 62 inches and thickness from 9.53 to 51 mmline pipes for oil and gas line pipe applications, as well as diameter up to 200 inches (5 m) and thickness up to 130 mm for structural tubular.

It is equipped with the most advanced technology, systems and modern manufacturing facilities and has an annual production capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes.

Al Khonaini expressed his special appreciation and gratitude to Saudi Aramco for the continuous support during the design, the commissioning and the starting operation phases.