Ghaslan's mention of company projects like Khurais and Petro Rabigh drew special interest. But his presentation extended well beyond Saudi Aramco energy programs to encompass King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the King Abdulaziz Center for Knowledge and Culture and the ambitious series of economic cities planned for the Kingdom's central and upper western regions. Even though global demand for construction declined in mid-2008 to 2009, Al-Ghaslan said, the outlook from 2010 through 2015 anticipates a return to greater activity. That will improve competitive bidding and bring more stable capacity, better quality control and longer lead times for many capital projects. In conclusion, Al-Ghaslan cited the Saudi Aramco experience as indicative of the way forward. The company's more than 75 years of industrial growth have provided a wealth of lessons learned. Working the engineering, procurement and construction value chain, he said, has positioned the company not only to identify best practices but also to effectively expand its resource base to encompass the world stage. "The role of ASC in helping secure engineering, procurement and construction solutions to meet Saudi Aramco's immense requirements remains integral to its corporate mission," he added. With a current five-year capital program focused on key natural gas, refining, petrochemical and infrastructure projects, he sees the company confidently up to the challenge.
