Serco has acquired sustainability and engineering consultancy Climatize. The move is expected to strengthen Serco’s end-to-end capabilities to empower governments and businesses to achieve their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals and impact a better future.

According to a statement, the strategic acquisition solidifies Serco’s commitment to delivering top-tier sustainability and environmental services within and beyond the built environment sector, with the announcement taking place one year on from the launch of its Advisory with Purpose division.

The move will create what is billed as a ‘first in market’ offering; the acquisition will blend the best of Serco’s international capabilities, regional network and expertise with the specialist skills and real-world operational experience from Climatize, the statement noted.

Governments and businesses alike will now be able to benefit from a unique offering to the Middle East, with the acquisition being part of the company’s ongoing strategy to lead with purpose, embedding a sustainability-driven mindset in the heart of the work it does, it added.

“Sustainability and leading with purpose is no longer simply a choice, it’s an imperative. Doing the right thing is ingrained in each and everyone one of us here at Serco, and we are excited that our ethos has been matched in the team at Climatize. With this acquisition, we will not only be able to bolster our advisory capabilities, but we will actively be able to help governments and organisations to accelerate their journey towards Net Zero, providing a greater suite of ‘end-to-end’ services that benefits both the business and the planet, impacting a better future,” said Phil Malem, CEO of Serco Middle East.

Climatize was founded in 2018 and will bring a wealth of consultancy-based services to Serco, including Net Zero and green building consultancy, life cycle assessments, resource efficiency management and integrations of green technologies. With an aim to elevate its clients to responsible stewards, the acquisition will ultimately help clients to meet their ESG commitments.

Engi Jaber, Managing Director of Climatize

Additionally, organisations will be able to show their commitments in a way that also enables them to reduce operational costs through digital asset management, impacting a better future for citizens and residents by providing customer experience expertise, all whilst enabling clients to reach their Net Zero ambitions, the statement explained.

“Engi and the team at Climatize have a relentless passion for what they do, and we’re excited to harness their expertise in purpose-driven sustainability so that we can continue to grow and cement our market position as leaders in our field. 2024 is a pivotal year for us, and we’re thrilled to welcome Climatize to the Serco family as our commitment to sustainability goes from strength to strength,” Malem added.

The move is not only expected to grow the capabilities of Serco in the region, but it is also expected to create further employment opportunities in market, as part of Serco’s ongoing commitment to live by its focus of bringing national visions to life. The acquisition is a first for Serco’s Advisory with Purpose division, which is said to have enjoyed a successful first year following its launch in early 2023.  The acquisition is timely as the region is ever-more focused on the environmental agenda in in the wake of COP28, the statement said.

Engi Jaber, Managing Director of Climatize added, “We’ve always had grand ambitions to scale and grow our offering in 2024, and we’re proud to have started the year strong. As soon as we met the team at Serco, we knew that we had a shared passion and culture when it comes to advancing sustainability efforts. The acquisition will enable us to enhance our ability to contribute to more impactful and innovative solutions, whilst expanding our footprint into new markets and sectors, ensuring that the team remains at the forefront of industry advancements.”

“Together with Serco, we are entering a new phase of growth and innovation. 2024 is a transformative year for us, COP28 helped put climate change firmly on the agenda – and so we’re looking forward to working hand in hand as part of Serco to bring our unique expertise to governments and organisations to make operating with purpose a business imperative,” Jaber concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

Saudi-based Riyadh Cables Group has entered into a deal with Larsen & Toubro (L&T), to supply a high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cable system for a major solar project in Dubai.

According to the contract, valued at US $43.5mn, Riyadh Cables will be responsible for the manufacture, supply and supervision of a 260km HVAC cable system for the sixth phase of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park project (MBR Solar Park).

The entire supply work will be completed by Riyadh Cables within the first quarter of 2025, said a statement.

A company representative commented, “As part of its strong push towards environmental sustainability, Riyadh Cables Group has introduced multiple products in recent years catering specifically to the renewable energy sector. MBR 6 will increase the park’s total renewable energy production capacity to 4,660MW, thus making it one of the largest renewable energy projects in the world.”

The MBR Solar Park is the largest single-site facility in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It has a planned production capacity of 5,000 MW by 2030 and on completion, it will save over 6.5m tonnes of carbon emissions per annum.

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Source: ME Construction News

Real estate developer Damac Properties has signed up UAE-based Al Qandeel Contracting to provide main works services for its new Verona Cluster in Damac Hills 2.

Launched in 2014, Damac Hills 2 is a 55m sqft master community and home to more than 30,000 residents. The second phase of the developer’s first master community, Damac Hills, it was then followed by Damac Lagoons in late 2021.

Billed as a major cluster within the community development, Verona will feature rows of four-bedroom townhouses and will offer residents a range of state-of-the-art facilities to enjoy, including water parks and sports activities. Other amenities include an outdoor cinema, a dog park, a petting farm and jogging and cycling track. There are also tennis and basketball courts, a cricket pitch and vast spaces in the Central Park, where residents can do yoga or any other type of fitness activity.

As per the US $49mn contract, Al Qandeel will provide construction of the main works package for 384 villas at the Verona cluster.

Mohammed Tahaineh, General Manager of Damac commented,  “Since the launch of Verona in the second half of last year, we have seen strong interest in the cluster and community. It gives me great joy to see this demand, as well as the progress our second master community has made and continues to grow each day. With a range of new amenities for our residents, including our own Malibu beach and a lazy river, we are happy to see the community continuing to attract investors and residents to Damac Hills 2.”

He also described the ambience of Damac Hills 2 as offering a “Californian coastal vibe” to Dubai, for the residents to enjoy.

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Source: ME Construction News

Two contracts worth more than US $3.3bn have been awarded by Saudi Aramco to a joint venture (JV) between Spanish contractor Técnicas Reunidas and Chinese firm Sinopec.

The JV will serve as an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor for the construction of the Riyas NGL Fractionation Facility in Saudi Arabia.

According to a report, the JV is 65% owned by Técnicas Reunidas and 35% by Sinopec Engineering Group, which means that the Spanish company will account for more than $2.15bn of the total investment.

The works will be developed on the basis of two EPC contracts for the execution of Riyas NGL Fractionation Trains (Package 1) and Riyas NGL Common Facilities (Package 2), which includes utilities, storage and export facilities.

The new facility will produce ethane, propane, butane and pentane, the report concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

A new agreement has been formalised between the European Commission and the African Development Bank. The deal will see increased investment flow into infrastructure projects in Africa.

According to a report, the European Union has increased its co-financing of operations with the African Development Bank to US $1.1bn. The two parties said that figure would increase further following the signing of a new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

The partnership is expected to open up new opportunities for both organisations to deliver joint financing for infrastructure projects, as per the African Development Bank. Planned investments include more funding for strategic transport corridors in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in energy and digital connectivity.

One of the main joint projects is the development of the ‘Lobito Corridor’ to enhance export possibilities for Zambia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For the European Union, the partnership would be in keeping with the priorities of its Global Gateway initiative. Between 2021 and 2027, through the Africa-EU Global Gateway Investment Package, the EU is expected to support the African continent with $162.4bn.

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Source: ME Construction News

A US $4.7bn contract has been awarded to contractor Webuild to build three dams to create a freshwater lake for a ski resort in the Neom special economic zone of Saudi Arabia. According to the contractor, the dams will create a 2.8km-long lake at the Trojena mountain destination.

The main dam will be made of roller-compacted concrete (RCC) and will be 145m high, 475m long and hold a volume of approximately 2.7m cu/m. The second dam will also be built using RCC, while the third will be in rock, with a volume of 4.3m cu/m. The artificial lake will cover an area of 1.5sqkm and will have an island reserved for botanical dives and walks.

Webuild will also develop ‘The Bow’ which will feature a hotel overhanging the mountain’s valley below, it said. It will extend the surface of the lake beyond the front of the main dam. Shaped like the prow of a ship and suspended over the valley, the Bow will house a hotel, residential area, and a large central atrium.

“We are delighted and truly proud to be awarded this important project in NEOM. The 2.8km-long, man-made, freshwater lake will be a key asset in the Trojena masterplan. The project is set to be an international engineering and construction marvel and we believe our team has the global experience and expertise to deliver this exciting infrastructure project,” said Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild.

Philip Gullett, Executive Director – Region Head at Trojena added, “The appointment of Webuild is a significant milestone in our construction progress. We have already completed around three million cu/m of excavation at the lake site, and we continue to excavate 90,000cu/m of rock per week. Most importantly we are implementing a sustainable approach by using all the rock excavated and reusing it for the lakebed lining and dam construction. This is crucial stage of the project’s overall development, and we are excited to see works get underway.”

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Source: ME Construction News

China State Construction (CSCEC) has announced it will build a new 1,020sqm helipad at a Chinese research station that is located on the coast of the Ross Sea in Antarctica.

The structure will be delivered using more than 400 pre-cast concrete panels manufactured from high-strength concrete developed by CSCEC. The panels have already been transported to Antarctica in containers, the firm added.

Once the helipad is complete, it will facilitate the transportation of supplies and scientific research equipment for various research stations on the Antarctic.

According to the firm, the helipad will be designed to withstand the freezing temperatures of the region. CSCEC said that its pre-cast panels demonstrated better overall stiffness, crack resistance, and durability than conventional panels.

A spokesperson for the firm noted, “The prefabricated helipad, characterised by fast construction, minimal material turnover, and a high degree of mechanisation, is better suited to the construction requirements of the station.”

Chinese officials have said the country has already completed the main building of a scientific hub on the coast of the Ross Sea. The whole station is expected to take two months to complete and will house 84 internal modules, with 16 for winter accommodation and 26 for summer.

China has already built four other Antarctic research stations, two serving as all-year stations and two as summer stations. The newest station with be a third all-year facility in the region.

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Source: ME Construction News

Property developer Kleindienst Group has announced that its flagship project, The Heart of Europe, has partnered with IHG Hotels & Resorts for the opening of the Côte d’Azur Monaco – a 198-room voco-branded hotel located on the World Islands Dubai.

The new property will operate under the voco brand, as ‘voco Monaco Dubai’.

A stylish destination with a private stretch of pristine, French Riviera-inspired beachfront, ‘voco Monaco Dubai’ at The Heart of Europe will also be home to a variety of premium dining experiences, such as seafood restaurant ‘La Rive’ and the unique ‘La Brasserie on Raining Street’, the firm said.

Hosting entertainment concepts and music artists of multidisciplinary, international and local talent, ‘voco Monaco Dubai’ will be the first adults-only five-star party hotel on an island in Dubai, with eight suites, five party suites and four suites with private pools.

“It is an honour to once again partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring the voco brand to The Heart of Europe Island. We are confident the hotel will continue to stand as a testament to the seamless blend of global excellence, exclusive entertainment experiences and the unique charm of The World Islands Dubai,” said Group Founder and Chairman Josef Kleindienst.

Haitham Mattar, Managing Director – India, Middle East and Africa, IHG Hotels & Resorts added, “It is an exciting time for us as we partner once again with The Heart of Europe, marking a significant milestone in IHG’s dedication to curating extraordinary hospitality experiences for guests and maximising returns for our owners.”

He concluded, “The transformation of the hotel into a voco-branded property reflects our commitment to delivering True Hospitality for our guests across key tourism destinations in the region. Nestled within the captivating The World Islands Dubai in The Heart of Europe project, the converted voco hotel is poised to redefine ‘premium’ and set new benchmarks for Middle Eastern hospitality.”

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Source: ME Construction News

Acwa Power has signed an agreement with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) for the establishment of a new clean energy and water desalination development centre, located in the KACST campus.

The project aims to conduct studies and scientific research in vital areas linked to the clean energy and water sector, and key topics of focus include development of solar energy technologies, devices for photovoltaic power plants for extreme climatic conditions, as well as energy storage technologies to support future energy networks.

The focus areas are mainly aimed at cutting costs and the emissions connected with desalination processes, as the centre will employ artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies to empower new styles of data analysis and open up fresh areas of research.

The new facility aims to boost the presence of Acwa Power within the complex of national laboratories and innovation ‘oases’ to contribute to spreading the culture of co-operation and innovation between the academic community and the business sector.

After signing the deal with Thomas Altmann, the Executive Vice President of Innovation and New Technology Sector at Acwa Power, Dr Saeed Al-Shehri, the Vice President for the Energy and Industry Sector of KACST, said that the partnership with Acwa Power comes as part of KACST’s efforts to link technical products to the needs of both public and private sectors entities.

On the collaboration, Altmann said, “We are thrilled to embark on an exciting journey with an esteemed organisation such as KACST, as collaboration is key to our approach to research and development. The partnership aims to develop practical, market-ready solutions to address commercial needs with agility and innovation.”

“It also seeks to contribute to the local research and innovation ecosystem, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. Utilising the collective expertise and resources of both organisations, the collaboration will focus on optimising joint programmes through the development of services, pilot plants, laboratories, and cutting-edge simulation and monitoring tools,” he concluded.

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Source: ME Construction News

Meta has awarded a US $800mn contract to contractor Turner for the construction of a 6,500sqm campus in Jeffersonville, Indiana in the United States. The campus includes several data centre buildings and Turner will use prefabricated modular assembly to build them.

According to a statement, Meta will make investments in new renewable energy projects, allowing it to make the claim that the data centre will be fully powered by renewable energy once operational. The campus will be LEED Gold certified by the US Green Building Council, with construction starting this month.

“We are excited to engage the community and begin work on another data centre project for Meta,” said Dan Harmon, Vice President and General Manager, Turner Construction Company.

He added, “At the peak of construction, we will welcome more than 1,250 construction workers a day on to this site. Working with members of the community and great local and regional trade partners, we will build this sustainable data centre that will connect people to others and to resources and information around the globe. Companies interested in working on the project are invited to visit our Subcontractor Prequalification page on our website.”

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Source: ME Construction News