Essar Projects wins $50-mn contract in Papua New Guinea

Essar Projects Ltd (EPL) has won a mixed construction project worth $50 million in Papua New Guinea that would be completed in 22 months. With this, the company said its total order book has increased to over $4 billion.

This is the sixth international EPL contract for this year and the second by the company in Papua New Guinea, where it earlier constructed and commissioned the Komo Airport for Exxon Mobil.

''This project is a historic win for EPL reaffirming the entrepreneurial nature of the company and the proven ability to operate in the most challenging of environments, and underpins a clear strategy to consolidate and build on our operations in Australasia, just as we are successfully doing in the Middle East and Africa,'' EPL President and Chief Executive Officer Alwyn Bowden said.

The project involves construction of Kapal Haus in Mount Hagen Western Highlands Province.

The Dubai-headquartered engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company would design, construct and commission the mixed use development project.

The project includes construction of an office comple which would house the Governor's office, a residential building for diplomats, ministers and high profile professionals.

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter Charles Paire O'Neill will inaugurate the project next month, it said.

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter Charles Paire O'Neill will inaugurate the project next month accompanied by four former prime ministers in a ceremony that will be graced by the regional head of the Catholic Church and all foreign diplomats.