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Areva Eyes Bigger Presence
DUBAI - France-based Areva T & D, a global leader in the energy transmission and distribution business is eyeing a bigger presence in the Middle East despite the financial crisis that is slowing down economic growth in the region.
“We expect to be very busy in 2009 as electricity consumption is still high despite the slowdown. We are not in a cyclical industry, electricity is a product that is used constantly and you do not stop using it because of fear (of the crisis), “ said Philippe Guillemot, chairman and CEO of Areva T & D in a recent visit to Dubai.
Guillemot said some of its projects in the region are being pushed back or re-evaluated, but these setbacks are temporary and can be expected in the changing environment.
“In Dubai, these are in the property sector and in some infrastructure contracts, but otherwise, we expect to push ahead once the situation normalises.”
Guillemot said Areva T & D which went “from being small to having a full- time presence and being a market leader in the region,” is keen on growing in the region and remaining as one of the industry’s strongest players.
“Our market share in the region is currently around 20 per cent, we hope to increase that by at least a third four or five years down the line,” said Guillemot. Areva T & D currently maintains a workorce of 1,300 in the Middle East, a 40 per cent increase from 2007, and has 13 sales offices in the region including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Its businesses include turnkey systems for expert engineering and project management, automation systems contracts and product sales for high and medium voltage products.
“Our ambition is to remain a leader in the industry and that would be impossible without having a strong presence in the Middle East. We have to be here.”
Guillemot said he expects the ongoing $600-million GCC interconnection grid project between Saudi Arabia and several Gulf states including Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait to be completed before the end of the second quarter.
The project involves linking these countries’ power generation facilities though a single transmission and distribution grid which will maintain the reliability and quality of power supply in the area.
Guillemot said his company would also be eyeing future energy projects in the UAE, in particular Abu Dhabi’s push for developing a nuclear energy programme as well as renewable energy.
Areva T & D’s parent firm, Areva is ranked number one worldwide in the field of energy with a 30 per cent market share.
“We are the only one right now building two nuclear plants of the third generation. We have a definite advantage in that area.”
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