Aberdeen-based equipment and integrated engineering services company Sparrows Group said it has bolstered its position in Saudi Arabia after securing vendor approval status from national oil company Saudi Aramco.
The approval allows recently formed local entity, Sparrows Saudi Arabia LLC, to deliver its full portfolio of services to Saudi Aramco including drilling and lifting equipment examination and overhaul, specialist inspection, Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme (DROPS) surveys, mechanical handling and engineering support, the company said.
The business will also transfer its knowledge and expertise to the local workforce through its globally recognized crane operator, lifting and fluid power training courses, it added.
Chief executive officer of Sparrows, Stewart Mitchell, said, “Saudi Arabia holds around 18% of the world’s proven petroleum reserves and is the largest exporter of hydrocarbons. As the national oil company, Saudi Aramco is vital to our growth in the region and securing vendor approval status is a key milestone for us. It opens up the extensive supply chain within the Kingdom and provides significant growth opportunities for Sparrows in-country.
“We are committed to the development and training of Saudi Arabian citizens in support of the In Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program and have recently hired local personnel to support our operations.
“There is a strong demand for our specialist services to support the high level of activity in Saudi Arabia and our local business is ideally placed to provide this. We look forward to building a strong working relationship with Saudi Aramco and the wider local market.”
Sparrows Group said it has been active in the region since 2015 and was granted commercial registration to operate in Saudi Arabia in August last year. Since then, they have established offices and workshop facilities in the Kingdom.
As part of the process, its Houston-based manufacturing facility became an approved supplier for offshore pedestal cranes for Saudi Aramco in 2017.