Co Down firm secures major Saudi contract

A Co Down based company has secured a contract worth £500,000 with a Saudi Arabian firm.

Newry-based McAllister Brothers, a specialist in pipeline technology, has opened a depot in Saudi Arabia to service the contract won in the Arabian Gulf state.

The company, which is taking part in an Invest NI trade mission to Qatar and Dubai from 14-20 February, will help construct part of an oil pipeline being developed by Aramco, one of the world's biggest oil and gas exploration organisations.

McAllister Brothers will use its expertise in trenchless technology to drill pipelines under major highways. The contract is the Newry company's first export business and was secured from contacts made during an Invest NI trade mission to Tehran, the Iranian capital, in 2002.

Commenting on the deal, Michael McAllister, a director of the Newry company, said: "The Invest NI mission to Iran was invaluable in helping us meet key people in the Gulf oil industry. We were subsequently invited to bid for a substantial contract and were successful.

"As a result, we decided to set up a depot for our equipment and staff at Al Khobar, near Dammam, last December. We have a team there at the moment and more staff are set to join them shortly. Everyone we've met there has been extremely helpful and welcoming."

McAllister Brothers, which currently employs 58 people, is recognised as a leader in technology for drilling pipelines without having to dig trenches, has developed extensive business in the gas, sewerage and telecommunications industries in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

The company has recently opened an office in Limerick to service the ROI market. The family-run company has been in business for over 30 years and also offers a range of services including pipeline inspection and sewer cleaning.

(MB)