UK firm secures vendor approval status from Saudi Aramco

British energy services firm, Sparrows Group, announced that it has secured the vendor approval status from state-owned 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 business will also transfer its knowledge and expertise to the local workforce through its globally recognized crane operator, lifting and fluid power training courses, the Aberdeen-headquartered firm said in a statement.

“This opens up the extensive supply chain within Saudi Arabia and provides significant growth opportunities for Sparrows in-country,” chief executive officer of Sparrows, Stewart Mitchell, said.

“We are committed to the development and training of Saudi citizens in support of the In Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program and have recently hired local personnel to support our operations,” Mitchell added.

The company was granted commercial registration to operate in Saudi Arabia in August last year. As part of the process, its Houston-based manufacturing facility became an approved supplier for offshore pedestal cranes for Saudi Aramco in 2017.