PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (NYSE:JEC) announced today it has been awarded a contract by IDEA Soda Ash and Calcium Chloride Company (ISACC) to provide engineering and project management services for the construction of a $300 million soda ash and calcium chloride production facility in Jubail's Second Industrial City, the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Officials did not disclose the contract value, however noted that Jacobs' offices in Winnersh, United Kingdom; Mumbai, India; and Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia are supporting ISACC for the pre-contract award activities.

The facility is the first of its kind in the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council to produce soda ash (sodium carbonate) and calcium chloride. These products, currently being imported, are used in oil and gas drilling operations, as well as in the manufacture of glass and detergents. Following award of the engineering, procurement and construction contract, Jacobs is also providing the project management services up to the plant start-up.

ISACC Managing Director & CEO Abdulaziz A-Muaiyyad stated, "We are excited to be working with Jacobs, in their capacity as our PMC (project management consultant) partner, for this strategic project for the Kingdom. The project will make a significant contribution to the development of Saudi Arabia's non-oil economy with all basic materials secured from mines within Saudi Arabia."

Jacobs Group Vice President Bob Irvin stated, "We are pleased to bring our long experience and expertise in the field of engineering services and project management in the region to this project. It is the first of its kind in the Kingdom and we fully recognize the importance of increasing the participation of the chemical industries sector in the national economy."

The commissioning production run is scheduled to start by end of 2014 and commercial operations are expected to follow in the first quarter of 2015. Work is currently in progress to secure all the other necessary utilities to run the project. ISACC is setting up a new entity -- Jubail Inorganic Chemicals Industries Company -- to run the new facility.

Jacobs is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional, and construction services.

Statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on management's current estimates and expectations as well as currently available competitive, financial and economic data. Forward-looking statements, however, are inherently uncertain. There are a variety of factors that could cause business results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. For a description of some of the factors which may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements please refer to our 2011 Form 10-K, and in particular the discussions contained under Items 1 - Business, 1A - Risk Factors, 3 - Legal Proceedings, and 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

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For additional information contact:
Michelle Jones
626.578.6968

SOURCE Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.