Lamprell PLC: UAE’s Engineering Powerhouse Driving Energy Solutions Worldwide

The company was established in 1976 in Dubai by Steven Lamprell, who provided a base from which to pursue the strategic blend of experience in the oil and gas sectors with pioneering investment in the renewable energy industry. The first work comprised the fabrication and refurbishment of jack-up rigs for shallow-water drilling. From this period, Lamprell has scaled its business significantly from rig conversions to building complete jack-up rigs, lift boats, and land rigs – infrastructures that are highly needed for offshore energy exploration and production. Currently, Lamprell is a pioneer in oil and gas but also one of the significant contributors in renewable energy projects, including building wind turbine foundations and installation vessels that power sustainable initiatives across Europe and the Middle East.

Throughout its existence, Lamprell has maintained a reputation based on its technical capabilities and innovative projects. Its successful listing on the Alternative Investment Market in 2006 and later full listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2008 further reflected its credentials and opened more investment avenues. It continued with that trend through strategic acquisition and mergers, as with Maritime Industrial Services bought in 2011 for $336 million, where its portfolio increased and also increased operational capacity. Still, it did not go smoothly as in 2012 the company was hit with losses and delayed projects with several profit warnings. This sent the company into realigning operations, where there would be transparency on its management of projects in an attempt to regain the market’s confidence.

One of the success stories of Lamprell can be dated back to the year 2014 where it achieved a Guinness World Record by transporting a colossal Production, Utilities, and Quarters deck weighing above 13,000 metric tons for Nexen Petroleum. This engineering feat manifested Lamprell’s capability in executing large-scale projects while being under strict technical specifications. In its renewable energy endeavor, Lamprell won a first-ever contract in 2016 from ScottishPower Renewables to construct 60 wind turbine foundations for East Anglia One, considered an important milestone in the expansion to the renewables sector.

Increasingly over the last several years, Lamprell strategic focus has been on its core sectors and digital innovations. In 2021, it founded a specialized Digital business to enhance operational efficiencies in oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors besides others. This specialized unit utilizes technology to ensure streamlined project workflows and better data-driven decision-making, which is of the essence to meet increasing demands by the energy market. The new digital projects signal the commitment of innovation and adaptability in this ever-changing industry, triggered by the technological advancements, the growing sustainability concerns and demands for change.

Indeed, beyond the UAE’s border, Lamprell also managed to create significant footholds in Saudi Arabia under a partnership with Saudi Aramco and other high-stake players in the complex established by King Salman – Global Maritime Industries Complex. This collaboration allows entry to one of the biggest maritime engineering markets globally, thereby supporting the vision to establish the Kingdom as a global maritime hub. Main operational yards are located in Hamriyah, Jebel Ali, and Dubai Investments Park; it is here that fabrications and installations of significant sizes can be executed in more logistically advantageous positions.

In 2022, a consortium of Thunderball Investments and AlGihaz Holding won Lamprell’s bid at approximately £38.8 million. This acquisition would make the company stable financially and support further portfolio growth in conventional and renewable energy sectors. With renewed vision under new ownership, Lamprell finds itself well-equipped to expand its influence in offshore energy projects and digital services in order to solidify its position as an indispensable player in the Middle Eastern and global energy market.​