Jeddah Airports Company has awarded a five-year contract outlining operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the King Abdulaziz International Airport Terminal 1 to Alstom, the latter has confirmed. The $53mn contract win is said to position Alstom as the leading O&M provider in Saudi Arabia.

According to Alstom, the contract period with Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) began in June 2022 and will run through to 2027. The company said it first secured the contract in August 2019 which ran until June 2021 – it was previously awarded due to positive performance.

“We are honoured to sign this contract and solidify our partnership with JEDCO. Alstom has been present in the Kingdom for more than 70 years and our strategy is one of long-term partnership cementing a sustainable legacy within the Kingdom. It also reiterates Alstom’s commitment to supporting the development of Saudi Arabia’s public infrastructure in line with Vision 2030. We will continue to enhance the performance of King Abdulaziz International Airport by continuing to offer world-class operations and maintenance, with a best-in-class team,” said Mohamed Khalil, Managing Director of Alstom Saudi Arabia.

In September 2021, Alstom said it had delivered the first two trains for the Cairo Monorail project and, later in the month, appointed new members to its AMECA leadership team.

The contract will see Alstom continuing to provide O&M services for the Innovia automated people mover (APM) within the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), Terminal 1 in Jeddah. The airport is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest and is said to welcome up to 30m passengers every year.

A fully staffed team of Alstom experts will provide 24/7 operations and maintenance services at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, Terminal 1, it said.

The O&M contract is one of many Alstom projects in Saudi Arabia. It also supported the Haramain high-speed rail line between Mecca and Medina and also supplies an integrated Metro System for Lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 and the maintenance for these lines, the firm stated.

In November 2021, the firm said it was appointed for a railway modernisation project by ENR.

The post Alstom signs five-year $53mn O&M contract with Jeddah Airports Company appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Terex Tower Cranes has added its latest flat top tower crane with “city class” design features, the company has announced.

The highlights of the new CTT 222-10 include Terex Power Plus (TPP), which enables the crane to increase power by 10%, and Terex Power Match (TPM), a feature that puts the crane into an energy saving mode, the company said.

The crane also uses T-Link, Terex’s telematics system to ensure remote access to fleet data, while Terex slewing technology, T-Torque, offers operators high control and precision over the crane slewing, regardless of wind direction, tower system and jib configuration, the firm added.

In June 2022, General Construction Company said it was using Terex Cranes on the Dubai Creek development while, in August 2022, Terex said it was investing in Acculon Energy to accelerate MEWP electrification.

The CTT 222-10 can be set up and erected with a 1.60m, 1.95m or 2.10m tower mast, depending on the needs and requirements of the user and setting it’s in. This particular model is fitted with the industry-known S-pace cabin, while it has a 10t maximum capacity and a maximum jib length of 65m.

“We are excited about this new model that will enlarge our offering in a key capacity class; this will help us to even better support our customers with many residential, commercial but also infrastructures projects,” says Angelo Cosmo, Terex Cranes Senior Marketing Manager

Lee Maynard, Global Sales Director, Tower Cranes adds, “This new model has already attracted a lot of attention and our first TEN cranes will be shipping to France in the fourth quarter of this year. We are already filling the order book for quarter one next year, with more units planned to ship to France and other parts of Europe. It’s an exciting time and there are further models planned in this mid-size range early in 2023.”

Also in August 2022, Terex MP said it was acquiring specialist producer of mobile volumetric concrete mixers, ProALL.

The post Terex adds new flat top crane to its city class range appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) has signed a MoU with the National Housing Company (NHC) to facilitate collaboration on mutual areas that serve the housing sector, including urban planning and offering designs that meet building codes around Wafi Hanifah and its tributaries.

The agreement aims to facilitate further integration between the two parties and offer more design options to NHC clients within the authority’s jurisdiction. The two entities will also conduct a series of joint workshops, initiatives and projects to help exchange data, statistics and expertise, a statement from DGDA said.

Commenting on the deal, Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said: “It is significant since one of the workshops involved is a joint design studio between DGDA and NHC and its affiliated architects, who would be informing the authority of all its initiatives within the latter’s jurisdiction.”

In May 2022, DGDA announced that it would transform Wadi Hanifah into a nature-focused getaway.

He stated that the two sides will also explore avenues for further collaboration as and when agreed upon. In addition, the authority will be holding workshops to clarify the building codes applicable around the Wadi Hanifah area.

National Housing Company CEO Mohammed bin Salih Al Batti added that the MoU lays out a road map for collaboration between the two sides.

This includes the creation of a DGDA microsite as part of NHC’s Sakani website for users of residential units within DGDA-managed areas, to show that designs meet building codes around the Wadi Hanifah area, as well as the authority’s designs and platforms, he added.

In June 2022, DGDA and Saudi’s OSP inked a MoU to use sustainable polymer construction material and, in July 2022, a waste management agreement was signed between DGDA and SIRC to cover the handling and processing of all waste within the DGDA jurisdiction.

The post DGDA and NHC to collaborate on mutual areas that serve the housing sector appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Five million man-hours with zero Lost Time Injury (LTI) has been achieved at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant according to facilities management firm Inspire Integrated (Inspire). The achievement was celebrated by plant owner Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) at the Butinah Tent at the plant to award Inspire’s employees for their dedication towards consistency in safety, security and employee welfare.

In its quest to provide a healthy working environment for employees and safe service delivery for its clients and other stakeholders, the Inspire team are setting a benchmark for industrial safety. With a robust and transparent reporting system including near miss and safety culture in the organisation, the zero LTI initiative is recognised by ENEC and monitored on a monthly basis through the project’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) key performance indicators, a statement from Inspire noted.

“Constant efforts and contributions towards safety from every single person have culminated in this great achievement. With open communication, meticulous supervision and management, we have achieved this milestone and intend to continue the upward journey towards the health and safety of our team. We are thankful to each and every member of the site team for their contributions and efforts to ensure we have introduced and maintained the highest HSE standards at BNPP,” said Andrew Law, Executive Director, Inspire Integrated.

In November 2021, ENEC said construction of Unit 3 was complete and, late in September 2022,  completed its successful start-up.

Located in the Gharbiya region of Abu Dhabi, the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is the UAE’s first nuclear power station and the first commercial power station in the Arab world. It comprises four nuclear reactors and has a capacity of 5,380MW which is intended to supply up to 25% of the UAE’s energy needs. The site comprises over 100 buildings including residential, offices, utility areas and a guest house and the services provided by Inspire include total facilities management, hard services, catering services, specialist sub-contractor management, soft services and landscaping services, the firm explained.

Law continued, “It is an honour that the team at ENEC have awarded us for the achievement of five million man-hours with no injuries. The act of rewarding only motivates the team to perform better, stay vigilant and endorse safety measures among all colleagues.”

The five million man-hour milestone was accomplished through implementation of a combination of proactive factors and achievements, including: compliance and procedures; employee welfare, and health & safety.

Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the Barakah Nuclear Plant are already in commercial operation and have been generating clean electricity 24/7.

The Inspire team will continue to strive for zero LTI and retain the progressive HSE journey throughout the company, the statement concluded.

The post Inspire marks five million man-hours with zero LTI at Barakah Nuclear Plant appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has confirmed daa International as the operator at Red Sea International (RSI), which is on track to become the region’s first-ever carbon-neutral airport. TRSDC said the agreement covers the operations and general maintenance services and is worth close to US $266mn.

“Ahead of welcoming our first guests early next year, Red Sea International is ushering in a carbon-neutral, Net Zero era for airport designs and operations. As the region’s first-ever airport powered by 100% renewable energy, RSI will serve as an innovative blueprint for decarbonised urban destinations of the future,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of TRSDC.

TRSDC welcomed a delegation of Irish dignitaries to its offices in Riyadh to celebrate the signing of the agreement. Minister of State at the Department of Transport in Ireland, Hildegarde Naughton TD, and Ireland’s Ambassador to the Kingdom, Gerry Cunningham were both present, alongside Enterprise Ireland, the country’s trade organisation.

In June 2022, TRSDC and ARCHIRODON completed the installation of the last connecting piece for crucial Shura Bridge project and, in July 2022, the developer inked its first strategic partnership deal with Almutlaq Real Estate Investment.

The event was also attended by His Excellency the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Mr. Abdul-Azeer bin Abdullah Al-Duailej.

“Our agreement with leading industry player daa International, with a proven track-record of excelling in international aviation, marks our latest step towards materialising a sustainable, regenerative gateway that will open this under-explored region of Saudi Arabia to the world,” added Pagano.

daa International will serve as the airport operator for RSI in 2023, overseeing design consultancy, management, and operations in accordance with the provisions of General Authority of Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (GACA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Services will also enable the seamless integration of green technology and waste and resource management, aligned with the highest standards of sustainability, while prioritising safety and security, TRSDC noted.

In August 2022, Ian Williamson, Group Chief Projects Delivery Officer at The Red Sea Development Company shared an exclusive piece with Middle East Construction News (MECN) on the project’s numerous achievements over the past five years. In early September 2022, the Red Sea Development Company said contracts worth $1.7bn have been signed for AMAALA to date.

Nicholas Cole, CEO of daa International commented, “The Red Sea International airport is primed to deliver luxury guest experiences unlike any other. We are thrilled to partner with TSRDC to bring to life a seamless, ultra-premium, highly personalised experience for each passenger traveling through this unique gateway, underpinned by stringent sustainability goals.”

The partnership will harness daa International’s extensive credentials in airport operations. Together with TRSDC, collective efforts will integrate innovative solutions across all RSI operations to eliminate and offset carbon emissions, optimise energy consumption, and advance efficiencies in resource and waste management.

TRSDC and daa International are working together towards ACI Europe’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Program with the intention of securing the highest current standard Level 4+, which would make RSI the first new airport to ever secure this standard before operations commence. Discussions are also in progress with regards to creating a new ‘Level 5’ standard, in turn making RSI the first airport in the world to acquire this new industry leading rating.

Later in September 2022, TRSDC unveiled the design for the Red Sea Marine Life Institute at AMAALA.

As a regenerative airport, RSI has been designed by international architecture firm Foster + Partners. The project is on-track to welcome its first passengers in 2023, with capabilities to serve an estimated one million domestic and international tourists per year by 2030 – at a peak of 900 travellers per hour.

The airport was successfully registered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and recently completed test landings and take-offs on the 3.7km main runway. The team also celebrated eight million safe man-hours with 2,400 workers.

RSI will be the first and only airport in the region with a dedicated runway for seaplanes and water aerodromes, regulated by a new set of GACA safety guidelines. The destination will also service hydrogen-powered seaplane variants, supplied by hydrogen-electric aviation firm ZeroAvia, as well as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft technology.

The post TRSDC confirms daa International as operator of Red Sea International airport appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Liebherr’s component segment will introduce the first prototype of hydrogen combustion engines, the H964 and H966, at this year’s Bauma exhibition. Each prototype will employ different hydrogen injection technologies such as direct injection (DI) and port fuel injection (PFI), the firm said.

The first machine running with a 100% hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine (ICE) is the Liebherr R 9XX H2 crawler excavator. In it, the zero-emission six cylinder engine, H966, fulfils the specific requirements in terms of power and dynamics. The R 9XX H2 with the H966 engine in its port fuel injection configuration will be on display at booth 809/810 and 812/813, it noted.

Liebherr said it will also present its four cylinder engine, H964, equipped with DI technology at booth 326 in hall A4. In this case, hydrogen is injected directly into the combustion chamber, whereas with the PFI solution it is blown into the air intake port.

In July 2022, Cummins and Komatsu said they were collaborating on zero-emissions mining haul trucks and, in August 2022, Liebherr said it would display its rail-road excavator with hydrostatic drive at Bauma 2022.

“DI offers increased potential in terms of combustion efficiency and power density, which makes hydrogen engines an attractive alternative to diesel engines when it comes to more demanding applications,” Liebherr stated.

In the future, combustion engines will no longer be powered solely by fossil diesel. In order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, fuels from sustainable energy sources will have to be used. Green hydrogen is one of them, since it is a promising carbon-free fuel, which does not cause any CO2 emissions whilst burning inside the ICE, the company concluded.

In September 2022, the first Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 in Saudi Arabia was said to be delivered to ACT.

The post Liebherr to premiere its hydrogen prototype engines at Bauma 2022 appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

The first concrete produces produced using Geoprime, billed as a next generation low carbon solution and a sustainable alternative to cement, have been introduced for Indian construction markets by Finnish materials technology firm, Betolar.

Geoprime enables concrete manufacturers to create cement-free concrete by leveraging industrial side streams such as Fly ash and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS). Durability and strength for the manufactured concrete are comparable to cement-based products, yet it outperforms the traditional products with its significantly lower carbon footprint, the firm explained.

The company said Geoprime products will be on display at the World of Concrete India event in Mumbai between 13-15 October. The products on display include various types of paving blocks, concrete blocks and floor tiles produced by local concrete manufacturers in India.

In April 2022, the World Cement Association called for MENA cement firms to decarbonise, while, in July 2022, NEx and ExxonMobil said they were working together to advance the development of sustainable nonmetallic building materials.

“We are happy to introduce our first products to our customers for the Indian markets. We have now moved from laboratory tests into the production phase and can show concretely how well this solution works. It is great to hear the feedback from the concrete industry in the region towards our sustainable solution. Decarbonisation of the concrete industry is a very current and important topic”, says Abhishek Bhattacharya, Managing Director, Betolar India.

“We are satisfied that our operations in India and the Asian region are growing, and we have reached production stage with our first customers in India. It is only a few months since we published these cooperations in India and are moving forward according to our strategy in the region,” added Juha Pinomaa, VP, Head of Asia, Betolar.

Betolar said its innovations can significantly reduce CO2 emissions at a competitive cost compared to conventional cement-based concrete manufacturing, leveraging existing manufacturing processes.

In early October 2022, CPS unveiled plans for a 28-storey residential tower in Zanzibar that will be built using hybrid timber technology.

The post Betolar unveils first India-made low carbon concrete products appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Dubai Municipality has announced that its extensive project to revamp the city’s various public beaches will be completed in December of this year.

The Beach Rehabilitation project includes Al Mamzar Corniche, Jumeirah 1 and Jumeirah 3 beaches, in addition to the expansion work to increase the area of the Umm Suqeim 1 beach, according to Dubai Municipality.

The scope of work includes covering the beaches with additional beach sand and carrying out breakwater and other works to protect public beaches from erosion due to strong waves, providing the safest possible beach conditions.

In March 2022, Dubai Municipality said that the Dubai Waste Management Centre was 60% complete while, in June 2022, the municipality launched several technical activities around 3D printing technology.

The initiatives have been in operation for the last 18 months and are now entering the final phase of work, having significantly enhanced the profiles of 12 of Dubai’s most popular beaches, from as far afield as Burj Al Arab to the borders of Sharjah.

Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality said: “The project aims to develop and beautify Dubai’s beaches, which are among the emirate’s most significant tourist attractions. The municipality seeks to take care of all its facilities in the emirate, especially the beaches, as they are important tourist attractions. This is also part of its efforts to preserve the aesthetic and elegant appearance of Dubai’s facilities.”

In September 2022, Dubai Municipality said it had completed 85% of construction work on the world’s largest waste-to-energy plant.

The post Beach Rehabilitation project nearly complete says Dubai Municipality appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister  His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s recent decision to revoke the Flexi Permit system in the country has been welcomed by the Bahrain Contractors Society.

According to the society, the Flexi Permit cancellation will enable 2,000 local contractors to resume operations and creates ideal conditions for employees.

In addition, the society lauded Prince Salman’s move to scrap the existing system of recovering infrastructure costs related to the issue of building licenses, and thanked him for the investment possibilities that will be provided to encourage public-private partnerships.

In August 2022, Bahrain’s real estate transaction volumes were on a positive trajectory according to the CBRE.

The society said it applauded the Prince’s commitment to preserving Bahrain’s labour market and enhancing the function of the private sector in the national economy.

Society Secretary and businessman Nawaf Al Jishi said initial monitoring by the society revealed that the Crown Prince and Prime Minister’s significant decision will restore more than 2,000 records of Bahraini-owned firms, as the flexible visa policy had negatively impacted their operations and prompted them to exit the market.

Al Jishi commented, “Other contracting firms’ business has dropped dramatically as a result of the dominance of flexible visa holders and workers of other nationalities in the contracting market, as well as a halt in construction operations due to infrastructure expenses. Contractors believe that these crucial decisions, particularly the suspension of fees for recovering infrastructure costs, will considerably assist in the revival and recovery of the real estate industry.”

In September 2022, CBRE said that it was appointed to manage and lease Bahrain’s Once Mall while a little later in the month, NBB Group announced that it had outfitted four branches with solar panels to cut carbon emissions in the Kingdom.

He added, “With the upcoming real estate exhibitions in Bahrain over the next two months, it is expected to offer rewarding investment opportunities and will likely see the launch of key real estate projects in the Kingdom that will contribute to progressing the real estate and contracting markets together,” remarked Al Jishi.

He also pointed out that both these decisions were significant ones for the contracting and real estate markets, as they are linked to more than 40% of other economic activities such as loans, transportation, storage, and others.

He concluded by saying these sectors are amongst the largest in Bahrain that contribute to the Kingdom’s GDP, after the oil and financial sectors.

In September 2022, Diyar Al Muharraq said it had completed secondary infrastructure works at Mozoon.

The post Cancellation of Flexi Permit system welcomed by Bahrain Contractors Society appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) said its subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company, has safely and successful connected Unit 3 of Barakah Nuclear Plant to the UAE’s transmission grid.

The announcement means that the unit – the third of four – has begun delivering the first megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the national grid, following its recent successful start-up. Unit 3 has 1,400MW of zero-carbon emission electricity capacity and Nawah added that the connection represents a major step forward in guaranteeing the UAE’s energy security and sustainability.

“Our leadership’s long-term vision and decisions more than 13 years ago are paying dividends today, as we celebrate another proud moment for the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program. Connecting Unit 3 to the UAE transmission grid adds thousands more megawatts of clean electricity to power all aspects of society, replacing the need to burn $4bn worth of gas which can be diverted for export, and through Clean Energy Certification, gives many companies in the UAE a unique competitive advantage,” said ENEC Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi.

Unit 1 and Unit 2 of the Barakah Nuclear Plant are already in commercial operation and have been generating clean electricity 24/7. With Unit 3 now close to commercial operation, Barakah will also be helping to accelerate the decarbonisation of the power sector and will form an essential part of the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy, he added.

ENEC said that the connection represents a major step forward in guaranteeing the UAE’s energy security and sustainability. Following the grid connection, it explained that Unit 3 will go through the process of gradually raising its power levels – a procedure known as Power Ascension Testing (PAT). It will be continuously monitored and tested until maximum electricity production is reached.

All local regulatory requirements and the highest international standards of safety, quality and security will be followed, the company added.

The nuclear sector is set to be a vital part of the UAE’s clean energy system of multiple low-carbon technologies. It aims to ensure the reliability, efficiency, and resilience of the UAE grid for at least the next 60 years. The four units at Barakah alone will contribute 25% of the UAE’s National Determined Contributions to Net Zero and is the country’s largest source of dispatchable clean electricity.

In November 2021, ENEC said construction of Unit 3 was complete.

“The plant demonstrates how nuclear energy projects can be delivered safely, successfully, and competitively to tackle growing carbon emissions. Through clean electricity generated at Barakah, nuclear is helping to decarbonise some of the most energy intense sectors,” the statement concluded.

In June 2021, ENEC said it had achieved the 100mn safe man-hours safety milestone at Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.

The post Unit 3 of Barakah Nuclear Plant successfully connected to UAE power grid appeared first on Middle East Construction News.

Source: MEConstructionNews