Construction and Infrastructure

Work is progressing well on South Africa’s Mossel Bay desalination plant project, according to a report by marine services provider SMIT Amandla Marine.

The Cape Town-based company submitted a tender to provide marine services on the project last September and subsequently won the contract.

South Africa's Afripalm Resources has signed an agreement with Steel Authority of India (SAIL) to build a steel mill in South Africa, according to a report in the Business Day newspaper.

The paper said the two companies would carry out a feasibility study for a R21 billion plant with a production capacity of between three to five million tonnes of steel a year.

Under the terms of the agreement, Afripalm will also establish a distribution business for SAIL’s products in South Africa, the paper said.

France’s Lafarge and UK mining company Anglo American have announced they are to combine their tarmac and cement businesses in the UK.

The 50-50 joint venture will see the two companies merge their cement, aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and contracting businesses in the UK—currently operating as Tarmac UK and Lafarge Cement UK.

The combined sales of the two businesses in 2010 was £1.8 billion.

2011 will see Taggart South Africa emerging as a one-stop-shop for bulk materials handling projects for all southern Africa’s mining projects, plus the ability to offer full EPC and EPCM services to its clients.

From humble beginnings in Germany as the “plaster master”, to a major facilitator of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project, Putzmeister America has had an eventful fifty years.

Specializing in concrete and material placing equipment for the construction industry, Putzmeister America is the North American division of one of the world's most recognized and respected heavy equipment manufacturers, Putzmeister Concrete Pumps GmbH.

The consolidation of the Canadian Forces Station at St. John’s, Newfoundland will see the demolition of 16 aging buildings, and their replacement by two modern facilities.

Bird Construction, established in Canada in 1920, has experience in most construction market sectors, but having built a reputation in military construction projects during World War II, it retains a special foothold and expertise in projects for the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND).

The £5.5 billion redevelopment of Battersea Power Station in London has been given the green light following approval from the UK government’s communities secretary.

Treasury Holdings plans to redevelop the site with 10 million square feet of office space, shops, hotels, a conference centre and 3,400 homes.

Siemens Energy, Inc. has been awarded a contract for gas-insulated transmission lines by Northeast Utilities as part of the New England East-West Solution (NEEWS).

Siemens will produce 115 kV and 345 kV gas-insulated transmission lines (GILT) for the Agawam (Massachusetts) and North Bloomfield (Connecticut) substation additions as part of the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, one of four major transmission projects comprising the New England East-West Solution.

Irish engineering group Kentz has announced the acquisition of South African engineering services firm RNE Engineering and Projects for €7.4 million (R73 million).

Kentz said the deal will enable the group to offer a wider range of niche engineering, procurement and construction solutions in southern Africa, as well as supporting the opportunity to jointly tender for certain EPC contracts.

General contractor American Bridge Company, has awarded a $13 million contract for steel grid decking and galvanized drainage grating for the Walt Whitman Bridge Suspension Span & Anchorages Project to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based LB Foster Company.