A deal to carry out research into lower-carbon construction products has been inked by Cemex France and Dublin-based Ecocem, a supplier of reduced-carbon cement.

From June 2023, the two firms said they will begin trials of reduced-carbon products at 10 of Cemex’s French readymix plants. The ultimate aim is to be able to offer ‘low-carbon’ mixes throughout France and into other European markets.

Michel Andre, President of Cemex France stated, “We know that if we are to achieve our global ambition of operating as a Net Zero business by 2050, we must prioritise exploring innovation and new technologies with like-minded companies who share our dedication to leading the industry’s transition to a lower carbon and circular economy.”

According to a report, Ecocem uses ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) – a by-product of steel production – as a partial substitute for traditional cement. In doing so, it reduces the need to burn limestone to make clinker, the basic ingredient in ordinary Portland cement. Traditional cement has been estimated to account for more than 90% of concrete’s carbon footprint.

Ecocem says that it has “developed and delivered 20m tonnes of low carbon cement in a range of formats, preventing 16m tonnes of CO2 emissions from ever being produced”.

Donal O’Riain, Founder and Managing Director of Ecocem remarked, “Cemex has been a key partner for Ecocem since the inception of our business in France. Combining our strengths has huge potential to make considerable progress in supplying lower-carbon cementitious material for use in lower-carbon concrete. We are firmly committed to this partnership starting in France. It is only through working together we will make the progress needed to achieve decarbonisation targets.”

Cemex, which is said to be one of the world’s largest producers of traditional cement products, says it wants to get below 430kg of CO2 per tonne of cementitious product by 2030 – a reduction of 47% – and reduce the carbon content of its concrete mixes by 35%.

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Source: ME Construction News

Plans to build the largest bridge in Africa have been unveiled by Tanzania. The 50km structure will connect the mainland to the Zanzibar islands in a bid to boost trade and economy. The move is said to align with goals to diversify the economy of the Zanzibar islands, which is currently driven mainly by tourism.

Deputy Works and Transport Minister Godfrey Kasekenya said the government was talking to prospective Chinese investors about plans to finance a 50km bridge between the coastal city of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Outside of tourism, the island’s economy almost exclusively revolves around agriculture and fishing. The principal commodities produced in the island are cassava, sweet potatoes, rice, corn, plantains, citrus fruit, cloves, coconuts and cacao.

Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has made boosting trade with the rest of the continent and taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement a priority for her administration. She has promised to improve trade relations between Tanzania and other east African countries, as well as creating better trading links with countries in areas like West Africa, said a report by state newspaper, the Citizen.

According to the report, the Tanzanian government is discussing potential investment with China Overseas Engineering Group (COVEC). Once completed, the new bridge would become the longest in Africa, eclipsing the 6th October Bridge in Cairo, Egypt, which is 20.5km long.

So far, the government has given no indication of when construction might begin. However, Tanzania has been debating the idea of a bridge to connect Dar es Salaam with Zanzibar since 2020. Tanzania is also in discussions with Kenya about building a rail link between the two countries to reduce trade barriers. In addition, it is seeking proposals to design and build an electrified railway to connect with Burundi that will pass through the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The report noted that the Zanzibar government said that it had yet to receive an official communication regarding the construction of the bridge.

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Source: ME Construction News

The shortlist for the second Construction Machinery Middle East Awards has been revealed following a region-wide industry vote.

The Construction Machinery Middle East Awards take place on 8th June at the Habtoor Polo Resort  in Dubai.

Categories, such as Excavator of the Year and the increasingly important e-machinery segment, were open to a public vote which closed last week.

The votes have now been collected and verified with the winners set to be announced on the night.

“We have been astounded by the response from this year’s voting campaign and I’m please to share that we had over 13,000 votes registered by our data team,” said head of content Stephen White.

“It goes to show the passion that people have for the brands and the machines in the market. Congratulations to everyone that put themselves forward.”

White added that many of the categories were keenly fought and voting had been intense.

“In an ideal world we would be able to shortlist every nominee, but the final selection reflects what the market believes is the very best the fleet sector has to offer in the region. ”

The Construction Machinery Middle East Awards is supported by the following companies:

• Platinum Sponsor: JCB
• Silver Sponsors: Dayim Equipment Rental, Lissmac, TVH
• Supporting Sponsors: Al Marwan, CASE CE, Rapid Access

If you’d like to attend the gala event, please email: brian.fernandes@cpitrademedia.com or andy.pitois@cpitrademedia.com to discuss costs.

 

The Shortlist for the Construction Machinery Middle East Awards is as follows:

Access Machinery of the Year

Bobcat T40.180SLP Construction Telehandler

Genie Z-45 articulating boom lift

JCB AJ48D

JLG X33J PLUS

Manitou (Aerial Work Platform)

Platform Basket Spider 43T

Access Rental Company of the Year

Dayim Equipment

Johnson Arabia

Rapid Access

Compact Equipment of the Year

Bobcat S450 Skid-Steer Loader

CASE SR130B

Volvo EC35D

Crane of the Year

Liebherr LTM 1100-5.2 Mobile All-Terrain Crane

Manitowoc Grove GRT8100 Rough Terrain Crane

Spider Plus URW 706 Mini-Crane

Tadano GR-500EXL Rough Terrain Crane

Distributor of the Year

Al Shirawi

Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company

Al-Marwan

Arabian Auto Agency

CMC

Galadari Truck and Heavy Equipment

GB Equipment Solutions (UAE)

Genavco

Kanoo Machinery

QER

Earthmoving Equipment of the Year

Bobcat B730 Backhoe Loader

Case 570T Backhoe Loader

JCB Backhoe Loader 3DX

Komatsu WA 470-6R Wheel Loader

Volvo A40G

Electric Machinery of the Year

Bobcat E10e ZTS Mini-Excavator

Genie Z-45 FE hybrid articulating boom lift

JCB 19C-1E Electric Mini-Excavator

JLG EC520AJ

Excavator of the Year

Al Marwan – Kobelco SK850 Long-Boom Excavator

CASE CX 220C LC-HD

JCB Tracked Excavator 205NXT

Kobelco SK220XDLC Crawler Excavator

Komatsu PC500LC-10R LC

Sany Large Excavator SY750H

Volvo EC480DL

Heavy Equipment Rental Company of the Year

Al-Marwan

Dayim Equipment Rental

Johnson Arabia

O rental

QER

Innovation of the Year (GCC)

Al-Marwan – ALMARWAN.COM

FAMCO / Volvo Uptime Center

MANLIFT

Salim Equipment Trading FZE – SAC-HHK16A-1-21625 Hammer

Innovation of the Year (Manufacturer)

Bobcat – S7X

JCB Hydrogen Engine

JLG – 670SJ Telescopic Self-Leveling Boom Lift

Manufacturer of the Year

Ammann

Bobcat

CASE

Genie

JCB

JLG

Komatsu

Volvo

Sany

Material Handling Equipment of the Year

Doosan D30NXP Diesel Forklift

JCB Rough Terrain Forklift 940

Linde Material Handling – X30 BR1252-01

Manitou MRT Vision +

TOYOTA 62-8FD30

Road Making Machinery of the Year

Ammann AP240

Bomag BW211

CASE 1110EX

JCB Soil Compactor JCB 116D

Volvo P6820D

Wacker Neuson RD45 Tandem Roller

Temporary On-Site Solution of the Year

AGG – C275D5

Al Shirwai Enterprises’ Kirloskar Generators

Doosan G300XW

JCB G115QS Power Generator

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Source: ME Construction News

The Big Project Middle East editorial team has confirmed that the second edition of its Energy & Sustainability Summit saw attendance by 214 delegates. The summit took place at the Habtoor Grand Resort in JBR, Dubai on 23 May, and has been green lit to return in 2024.

The event featured a keynote on achieving Net Zero delivered by Majd Fayyad from the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, in addition to four panel discussions, one fireside chat with ECC and two presentations by Thinkproject and Mott Macdonald. The panel discussions were centred on COP28, energy and the energy transition, Net Zero and decarbonsation of the built environment, and smart and sustainable mobility. Check out the event’s full agenda here.

Speakers and delegates included officials from government & municipality, developers, operators, consultants, contractors and suppliers.

“The second edition of the Energy & Sustainability Summit was larger than its predecessor in terms of overall scope and attendance. With 31 high-profile speakers from government, developers, legal, consultants, contractors, technology companies and other suppliers, it’s obvious that the topics of energy and sustainability are front of mind. We look forward to building on the momentum of this conference with Big Project Middle East during the year, and look forward to the third edition in 2024,” stated Jason Saundalkar, Head of Content at Big Project Middle East.

Check out the event’s image gallery here.

The Big Project Middle East editorial team also said it is now working on its next event, the inaugural Future of Water Summit. The event is scheduled to take place on 21 June at the Habtoor Grand Resort, JBR in Dubai. Registration is complementary but mandatory for industry professionals.

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Source: ME Construction News

Two Nemetschek Group solutions (Allplan and Solibri) have been deployed by the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) to create a digital twin of the Köhlbrand Bridge in Hamburg, Germany. The smartBRIDGE Hamburg project is said to enable more effective maintenance and operations of the bridge, and will make it possible for authorities to implement predictive maintenance instead of reactive maintenance.

Allplan and Solibri were used to create a detailed model of the bridge that enabled continuous real-time monitoring to identify repairs and minimise disruption to traffic, the HPA stated.

The project required a BIM Execution Plan and agreement between all parties on the element taxonomy and Level of Detail requirements, and multiple BIM applications were utilised to create a BIM model of the bridge from scratch.

The use of OPEN BIM, a core functionality of Allplan, made managing and exchanging data between different parties and applications possible and efficient says the Nemetschek Group.

Solibri added value to the project by ensuring that models complied with the requirements outlined in the BEP and other quality standards, giving the HPA the assurance the model was correct before being used as a digital twin.

The HPA said it also integrated IoT sensor data and traditionally collected bridge inspection and maintenance data with their bridge model. Over 500 IoT sensors were connected to a digital sensor in the bridge model, providing real-time monitoring and automatically issuing alerts if problems are detected. Both sets of data were made available to the asset management system of the bridge, enabling predictive maintenance to be better planned and executed.

The digital twin also enables various simulations to be undertaken, allowing the HPA to test different solutions and scenarios and assess the results prior to implementation.

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Source: ME Construction News

The NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC) has announced that following the signing of financial deals with 23 local, regional, and international banks and investment firms, it has achieved financial close on the world’s largest green hydrogen production facility, with a total investment value of US $8.4bn. The plant is currently being built at Oxagon, in NEOM, Saudi Arabia.

NGHC said it has also concluded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement with Air Products as the nominated contractor and system integrator for the entire facility.

Additionally, NGHC also announced that the non-recourse financing structured for the project has been certified by S&P Global (as the second party opinion provider) as adhering to green loan principles, and is one of the largest project financing deals put in place under the green loan framework.

Air Products has already awarded major contracts to various technology and construction partners, said a statement.

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company also secured an exclusive 30-year off-take agreement with Air Products for all the green ammonia produced at the facility, which will unlock the economic potential of renewable energy across the entire value chain.

An equal joint venture between ACWA Power, Air Products and NEOM, NGHC’s plant will integrate up to 4GW of solar and wind energy to produce up to 600t per day of carbon-free hydrogen by the end of 2026, in the form of green ammonia. Carbon-free hydrogen is a cost-effective solution for the transportation and industrial sectors globally.

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, Chairman, NEOM Green Hydrogen Company, and Chief Executive Officer, NEOM stated, “This substantial financial backing from the investment community shows the unmatched potential of NGHC’s green hydrogen project. With the financial close announced today, we are taking a massive leap towards opening the plant, in line with NEOM’s vision to accelerate renewable solutions. At scale, this project is the first-of-its-kind internationally, leading the world in the hydrogen revolution. Harnessing the energy of NEOM’s abundant natural resources, NGHC’s project will pave the way for the large-scale adoption of green hydrogen, while driving Saudi Vision 2030’s sustainable development goals.”

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Source: ME Construction News

A 62% increase in the number of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) living in Dubai from 2012 to 2022 has placed the city’s real estate market on a trajectory to achieve US $81.69bn in sales this year, according to Dubai real estate agent Unique Properties.

The emirate is said to house over 68,400 HNWIs and with individuals from this demographic increasingly flocking to the UAE, the country’s prime real estate segment is flourishing.

Dubai has become a preferred destination for the world’s highly affluent to settle down, as a result of the UAE’s convenient geographic location, its tax advantages and favourable commercial and ownership policies. Dubai’s real estate market is forecast to witness 46% growth in 2023, the statement from Union Properties noted.

Sitting at the top of the Middle East’s HNWI rankings, Dubai’s reputation is continuing to attract wealthy investors. Turmoil in different parts of the world has seen an influx of Europeans migrating to the UAE, and this trend is expected to continue, while a predicted uptick in Chinese investors is also set to further drive growth in the luxury property segment of Dubai.

Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and JBR are among the major districts spurring this growth. Increased demand for luxurious residences in these areas is seeing the price of high-end homes in Dubai spike from 6% to 7.9% in 2023 to represent the highest value increase worldwide. Transactions worth more than $270mn are being seen on a daily basis.

Arash Jalili, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Unique Properties, commented, “Dubai’s real estate market has maintained its post-pandemic momentum and this has unlocked the potential to shatter last year’s historic growth with HNWIs consistently relocating to the UAE. Real estate transactions have already surpassed $3.3bn since the beginning of the year and with total property transactions in April increasing by more than 16% compared to the same period last year, the emirate remains on an upward trajectory.”

According to the most recent data, total property transactions in April stood at 7,615 and real estate prices increased by an annual average of 14.5% with the off-plan market spearheading this growth.

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Source: ME Construction News

The $260mn Centerm Expansion Project at DP World Vancouver has been completed according to DP World. The project aims to increase port throughput by 60% and position British Columbia as a leader in sustainable trade. The newly expanded terminal can now handle 1.5m TEUs a year, compared to 900,000 TEUs previously, while adding 15% to the terminal’s overall footprint.

As per DP World, the project reduces the terminal’s environmental impact by adding capacity for container ships to connect to electrical shore power and converting its diesel yard cranes to electric ones. It further reduces greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating wait times for vehicles at train crossings and building to LEED and Envision certification sustainability standards.

“This expansion represents a significant investment in the future of international trade, and we are honoured to continue to play a vital role in connecting Canadian businesses to markets around the world, while contributing to sustainable economic growth and prosperity for all,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World.

The expansion was completed by Centennial Expansion Partners (CXP). DP World and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the port’s marine terminal operations. These two events are said to highlight British Columbia’s (BC) ongoing leadership in sustainable trade, technological innovation and introducing Canadian goods to new markets supported by partners such as DP World in Canada, the statement added.

The 100-year anniversary marks an opportunity to celebrate the ongoing commitment of DP World employees, and the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) handling over 20m loaded twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Along with its partners, DP World said it is making the global supply chain more resilient, establishing Canada’s leadership in sustainable trade and exporting Canadian goods to global markets.

DP World continues to support and advance the long-term growth of Canada’s ports and terminals, including the Port of Vancouver, through new technologies and commitment to innovation and sustainable trade infrastructure. As the country’s gateway to over 170 trading economies around the world, Vancouver handles one in every $3 of Canada’s trade in goods outside of North America. This enables the trade of approximately $305bn in goods, while the port’s activities sustain 115,300 jobs, $7bn in wages, and $11.9bn in GDP across Canada, the statement pointed out.

Bin Sulayem remarked, “The 100th anniversary of terminal operations on the west coast is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Canada’s rich maritime and port history and look ahead to a future that includes DP World’s industry-leading technology and innovation in supply chains. It’s also a chance for us, along with our employees and partners, to celebrate a responsible, sustainable, strategic approach to managing Canada’s network of ports and terminals.”

DP World said that it has committed to investing US $500mn globally over the next five years to help cut its carbon emissions by 700,000t to become a Net Zero carbon enterprise by 2050.

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority also completed the South Shore Access Project earlier this month in partnership with the Government of Canada and with funding from the National Trade Corridors Fund. The final part of the South Shore Access Project, including upgrades to Waterfront Road and the removal of road and rail conflicts in the area to connect terminals directly to the Trans-Canada Highway are now complete.

Robin Silvester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority stated, “Expanding the footprint of the Centerm container terminal and improving road and rail links in the area will increase container trade capacity and resiliency at the Port of Vancouver in the near term.”

He concluded, “As recent years have shown, a robust container sector is critical for Canadian exports and for reliable access to the goods Canadians depend on every day from markets around the world-and these projects represent an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to enabling Canadian trade. We’d like to thank our project partners including DP World and the federal government for their support and collaboration, as well the local community and south shore tenants for their patience and understanding during construction.”

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Source: ME Construction News

A contract to develop, own and operate a large-scale seawater treatment and water transportation project in the UAE has been awarded to Orascom Construction and its consortium with Metito. The project is being jointly developed by Abu Dhabi-based Adnoc and Taqa, at a total investment of US $2.4bn.

Once complete, the project will provide sustainable water supply for Adnoc’s onshore operations, and will reinforce the duo’s position as responsible energy leaders and underscoring their efforts to drive sustainable initiatives that deliver long-term value.

According to a statement, the project will replace the current high-salinity, deep aquifer water systems at the fields, thereby reducing water injection-related energy consumption by up to 30%. The project will be connected to the grid and will receive 100% of its power from clean energy sources.

The mega project will comprise a greenfield seawater nanofiltration plant with a treatment capacity of more than 500,000cu/m per day, in addition to seawater intake and outfall facilities, pumping stations, a water transmission pipeline of 75km, and an in-field distribution network of more than 230km to support reservoir pressure maintenance in the Bab and Bu Hasa fields in Abu Dhabi.

“We are delighted to partner with Taqa and other industry leaders in this strategic project that will reduce our environmental footprint and unlock significant value as we continue to decarbonise and future proof our operations. The project will enhance our onshore energy efficiency by replacing less-efficient, high-salinity, deep aquifer water systems with a centralised seawater treatment facility and transportation network. More than 60% of the project value during the development and operation phases will flow back into the UAE’s economy under Adnoc’s highly successful In-Country Value (ICV) programme,” said Adnoc Upstream Executive Director Abdulmunim Al Kindy.

The greenfield project will be funded through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which Adnoc and Taqa will jointly hold a 51% stake, while the rest 49% stake will be with Orascom Construction and Metito (who will each have a 24.5% stake). The project will also enhance energy efficiency by up to 30% and reduce Adnoc’s environmental footprint compared to the current injection system, the statement noted.

As per the deal, the Orascom consortium will arrange the project financing for the construction phase and develop the project under a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model, with the full project being returned to Adnoc after 30 years of operation.

Taqa’s Group CEO and Managing Director Jasim Husain Thabet remarked, “As a champion for low carbon power and water, Taqa is pleased to partner again with Adnoc, this time to advance the UAE’s sustainability goals by providing treated seawater for Adnoc’s onshore operations. As a major utility, Taqa is especially committed to partnerships like this that use our expertise to help drive environmental stewardship while maintaining water security and supporting economic growth.”

Commenting on the partnership, Orascom Construction CEO Osama Bishai remarked, “We are proud to partner with Adnoc and Taqa to deliver a project that is key to the sustainable development of the UAE’s oil and gas sector. We started our focus on important water projects over a decade ago and have since played a major role in undertaking some of the most complex projects in this sector. We are also pleased to strengthen our presence in the UAE as we continue to target strategic projects in the region across sectors in which we have developed strong expertise.”

He added, “The project also plays a key role in our growth strategy to pursue infrastructure investments that provide both construction opportunities and long-term recurring income.”

Metito Managing Director Rami Ghandour concluded, “With UAE as a global hub for innovations and sustainable practices, this mega project is testament of how capitalizing on technology can revolutionize industry norms and practices to best preserve valuable water resources and the environment. Over the years Metito has built a strategic project portfolio of mega concession projects and iconic world and industry firsts and we are confident this will be a landmark project and a global milestone. We are honoured to be part of this.”

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Source: ME Construction News

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