(Left to right): Dr Abdullah Abdullah, CEO, Government of Afghanistan; Ahmad Massih Hami, Secretary to the CEO; Dr Hamidullah Tarzi, SMEC’s Country Director, Afghanistan; and Mahmoud Baligh, Minister of Public Works, Government of Afghanistan
The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has engaged SMEC, member of the Surbana Jurong, to undertake a feasibility study and detailed engineering design for the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Salang Corridor in Afghanistan.
The Salang Corridor is a major highway which connects capital Kabul with north Afghanistan.
The project will be implemented in two phases:
Phase 1: Feasibility Study and Alignment Recommendation, which will be completed within eight months
Phase 2: Detailed Design, Safeguards, and Procurement, which will last about 16 months
Upon completion, the upgraded Salang Corridor will reduce travel costs as well as improve travel time and reliability for users. It will play a key role in transportation and regional transit in Afghanistan, and improve connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia.
The corridor involves a 2.7 km tunnel which was built in 1964. The tunnel which was then the highest in the world held the record until 1973, when the United States built the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel in the Rocky Mountains.
Funded by the Asian Development Bank, this project aims to find an alternate route to the Salang Tunnel, which has fallen into a state of severe disrepair after more than 50 years of service. Present conditions within the tunnel not only constrain traffic flow, but are also dangerous to users, because of inadequate ventilation, poor lighting and safety, as well as a failing road surface.
Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar rail route construction to begin in August (Image source: http://bit.ly/2t3fnPO)
In a joint venture with CANARAIL of Canada and Systra of France, SMEC and its subsidiary ACE Consultants have won the bid to provide consultancy services for the Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Rail Project Preparatory Facility in southeastern Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh team will look into the upgrade of a double track along with the associated facilities for the proposed Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar railway line. Scope of services includes undertaking a feasibility and safeguard study, detailed design and tendering services.
The line will connect Cox’s Bazar district for the first time to the national and sub-regional railway network.
The 120km dual-gauge passenger line, from Chittagong’s Dohazari village to Xilongxa in Cox’s Bazar will enable future direct connectivity toward western Bangladesh and India, where railways are constructed mostly in broad gauge, as well as toward northeastern India and Southeast Asia. Cox’s Bazar is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country and a seamless double track is essential to address the demand for both passenger and freight transport services.
The greenfield project is one of seven investment sub-projects being undertaken by Bangladesh Railway. Marked by the Bangladeshi government as a fast-track project, the new line will also form part of the Trans-Asian Railway network connecting Bangladesh to its regional neighbours such as China, Myanmar and Thailand. It is expected to improve efficiency in implementing regional cooperation and facilitating cross-border railway traffic in Bangladesh.
The project is scheduled for completion in July 2021.
28 June 2017 – The Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Parliamentary Secretary Bronnie Taylor visited Cooma today ahead of investigative drilling commencing for Snowy 2.0.
SMEC CEO Andy Goodwin and Snowy Hydro Limited CEO Paul Broad provided a Snowy 2.0 update and showcased one of the drill rigs.
Mr Broad said the investigative drilling, which is expected to commence next month after all approvals, is a critical milestone for the Snowy 2.0 feasibility study.
“The drilling will provide us with detailed geotechnical information about the rock formations, strength and structure of the area where the tunnels between the Tantangara and Talbingo reservoirs and underground power station will be located. The core holes will be drilled in key locations so that we have a very clear picture of the geology and can better plan and cost the project.” Mr Broad said.
The geotechnical information collected through this process will be shared with research and education institutions for science and research purposes.
The Prime Minister, Deputy Premier and Parliamentary Secretary’s visit was also an opportunity for Snowy Hydro and SMEC to bring together their local project teams to celebrate the reopening of the SMEC office in Cooma.
SMEC’s CEO Andy Goodwin said the reopening of their Cooma office and work on the Snowy 2.0 feasibility study will continue to generate economic activity in the region. “It’s great to be working on such an iconic hydropower project with Snowy Hydro that reflects on our namesake and history. For SMEC this is an opportunity to bring back our local people with global experience to contribute to the legacy for the next generation.”
“The Feasibility Study will generate more than 350 jobs across professional services, construction and administrative support and if Snowy 2.0 goes ahead we expect to create about 5000 jobs over the life of the build,” Mr Goodwin said.
The Snowy 2.0 Feasibility Study will be completed by the end of this year. Snowy Hydro is proud to provide secure, stable and reliable renewable energy to households and businesses. If built, Snowy 2.0 would increase the generation capacity by up to 50 per cent, making up to 2000 megawatts available to the National Electricity Market.
ANZ’s Northern Team has been engaged by Townsville Enterprise Limited (TEL) to undertake the Hell’s Gate Dam and Irrigation Scheme Feasibility Study in the Upper Burdekin catchment of Northern Queensland. The 12-month study will determine the dam’s engineering, environmental and economic feasibility.
The Hell’s Gate Dam project has been in discussion since 1938 and has been the subject of a number of investigations in the 1970s through to 2014. This project will produce the first fully investigated feasibility study into the dam and irrigation scheme, and is a precursor to attracting investment for the construction of a multi-billion dollar project over the next 10 years.
SMEC, member of the Surbana Jurong Group, will lead a team of sub-contractors to complete the feasibility study into the one million megalitre dam and 100,000ha irrigation scheme.
SMEC Regional Manager Graeme Pollock said the company was proud to be leading a consortium of local businesses. “We have specifically partnered with leading local businesses to not only achieve the project objectives but also provide high-level expertise in areas such as cropping analysis, water resource modelling, environmental assessments and economic analysis which will be key to achieving the project,” he said.
SMEC has had a long association with Townsville and the North Queensland region and had conducted some of the original preliminary studies into Hell’s Gate Dam.
The scope of work includes:
Water resource and cropping assessments
Agronomy and field studies on soil conditions
Concept engineering of Hell’s Gate Dam, Big Rocks Weir, irrigation infrastructure, power supply, road and associated infrastructure
Water delivery to the City of Townsville
Ecology and environmental assessment
Stakeholder relations
Economic assessments
There is also a strong possibility to follow the project through further development, detailed design and construction.
Up to 2,000MW of hydroelectric energy could be added to the grid to act as rapid response back-up during periods of high demand and fill the gaps in energy supply
12 May 2017 – SMEC, a member of Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group, has been engaged by Snowy Hydro to assist with the feasibility study of proposed Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme expansion project (Snowy 2.0), the first major expansion of the Scheme since its completion in 1974.
The objective of the proposed expansion is to increase the capacity of the Scheme in order to address current power shortages and help to stabilise electricity supply in the future.
SMEC and Snowy Hydro have a long and proud history, having worked together to develop the iconic 4,100 megawatt (MW) Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme under the auspices of the Snowy Mountains HydroElectric Authority, established in 1949.
The feasibility study will first review existing proposals to expand pumped hydro storage on the Scheme, many of which have existed since the 1960s. Under the most prospective proposal, up to 2,000 MW of hydroelectric energy could be added to the grid to act as rapid response back-up during periods of high demand and fill the gaps in energy supply. The pumped hydro capability means the water utilised for electricity generation can be recycled to provide supply when it is needed most.
Said Snowy Hydro’s CEO Paul Broad, “This project has the potential to deliver one of the largest pumped hydro schemes in the world and underscores the importance of the Scheme’s existing role as the battery of the National Electricity Market.”
Mr Andy Goodwin, SMEC’s CEO and SJ Group’s CEO International (Africa, Americas, ANZ, SAME) said: “Snowy Mountains are part of our namesake and the backbone of our heritage, so the chance to be involved in this project again is a unique ‘twice-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity, both for our organisation and those engineers who worked on the original scheme.”
“We are honoured to be part of the project and looking forward to resuming our presence within the Cooma community again,” he added.
SMEC’s appointment will deliver significant benefits to the local Snowy Mountains community. As part of its commitment to the project, SMEC will reopen its offices in Cooma, which will see more than 30 people based permanently in the town.
About SMEC
SMEC is a professional services company providing high-quality consultancy services on major physical and social infrastructure projects. SMEC provides consultancy services for the lifecycle of a project, ranging from feasibility studies and detailed design, through to construction supervision and commissioning. SMEC services a broad range of industry sectors, ranging from transport and energy, to water and built environment.
SJ acquired Australian-based, SMEC Holdings Limited in August 2016 to be one of Asia’s largest consultancy powerhouses in urban & infrastructure development.
About Snowy Hydro Limited
Snowy Hydro Limited has a long and proud history as an Australian company. The corporatised Snowy Hydro was established in 2002 to operate the Scheme in the National Electricity Market and has grown into an integrated energy company with more than 5,500 MW of generating capacity across New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia including the 4,100 MW Scheme, 1,287 MW of gas-fired generation in NSW and Victoria and 164 MW of diesel generation in South Australia. Snowy Hydro recently finalised an offtake agreement for 100 MW of large-scale solar generation in South Australia. Snowy Hydro is one of Australia’s largest renewable generators, the third largest generator by capacity and is the proud owner of award-winning retail energy companies – Red Energy and Lumo Energy, which together make up the fourth largest retailer in the NEM. Snowy Hydro’s retail business serves more than one million customer accounts in the NEM including households, Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Commercial and Industrial customers (C&I) across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland.
MOU being signed by H.E. Mr. Nimal Weeraratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Singapore and Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group CEO for Surbana Jurong
Singapore, 19 July, 2016 – Following Surbana Jurong’s recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sri Lanka to undertake the master planning of Trincomalee, the company has today signed another MOU with Sri Lanka’s investment promotion agency, Board of Investment to set up a technical consultancy services company which will provide professional services, such as feasibility studies, project management and project implementation for urbanisation and infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka and overseas.
Under the MOU, the consultancy company is expected to accelerate the project identification, planning and implementation process for urbanisation and infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka to attract top-tier investors.
The MOU was signed this afternoon by H.E. Mr. Nimal Weeraratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Singapore and Mr Wong Heang Fine, Group CEO for Surbana Jurong.
Surbana Jurong Group CEO, Mr Wong Heang Fine said, “We are very pleased to be part of this joint initiative. Having developed the Western Region Megapolis Plan (WRMP) and now in the process of developing a Master Plan for the Trincomalee Metro Area (TMA) in Sri Lanka, Surbana Jurong is well-positioned to help Sri Lanka attract investments by providing consultancy services in project feasibility studies and project implementation. Through this company, Surbana Jurong intends to tap on and build up a core local Sri Lankan technical base to support its urban and infrastructure consultancy works in Sri Lanka and globally.”
The joint initiative will encompass both domestic and overseas consultancy work, giving Sri Lankan professionals the opportunities to develop cutting edge management tools in urban redevelopment and implementation of infrastructure projects.
“We are in the process of strengthening Sri Lanka’s position as a more attractive investment destination. The establishment of such a consultancy will help our efforts in making sharper and more accurate assessments of Sri Lanka’s investment potential and priorities,” said the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Singapore, Mr. Nimal Weeraratne.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Alvin Hang
Group Director, Corporate Communications
Surbana Jurong Private Limited
+65 9222 1010 alvin.hangwy@surbanajurong.com
Lyn Lee Foo
Senior Manager, Group Corporate Communications
Surbana Jurong Private Limited
+65 9694 0842 lynlee.foo@surbanajurong.com
About Surbana Jurong
Surbana Jurong is one of Asia’s consultancy powerhouses for urbanisation and infrastructure developments.
We have a distinguished track record in shaping Singapore’s urban and industrial landscape over the last 50 years and we deliver total urbanisation, infrastructure and engineering solutions to support sustainable social and economic growth for our clients.
Our multi-disciplinary team of specialists provides one-stop complete value chain consultancy services harnessed through years of successfully completing a wide array of projects in more than 200 cities in over 50 countries worldwide. We have designed and completed more than a million homes in Singapore, completed masterplans for over 30 countries and developed more than 50 industrial parks around the world.
In June 2015, Surbana Jurong acquired two companies – KTP Consultants Pte Ltd in Singapore and Sino-Sun Architects & Engineers Co. Ltd in China. These two acquisitions grew our staff strength by 25%, strengthened our infrastructure development capabilities and brought our market reach in China to 16 cities.
We announced in November 2015 that we had taken up a 20% equity stake in China’s CITICC (Africa) Holding Limited, a USD300 million investment platform set up between International Financing Company (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group and Chinese multinational construction and engineering company, CITIC Construction Co., Ltd – which would see us potentially developing 30,000 affordable homes in Africa in the next five years.
Surbana Jurong also took up a 8.4% stake (USD 9.25 mil) in an American software company, FLUX Factory, Inc, a spin-off from Google X, which builds collaborative cloud-based software tool used for building design, urban solutions and master planning, which will grow our sustainable and building design capabilities.
With over 600 international and local awards under our belt, we have what it takes to understand, anticipate and exceed our clients’ expectations. Today, Surbana Jurong employs over 4,000 employees from 40 nationalities in 26 offices across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
