McConnell Dowell announced today that it has been awarded contracts and granted notice to proceed by FGEN LNG Corporation (FGEN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Gen Corporation (First Gen), to build and deliver the Interim Offshore Terminal Project ("IOT Project") at the latter's Batangas LNG Terminal located in the First Gen Clean Energy Complex in Batangas, Philippines.
Under the contracts, McConnell Dowell will undertake the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of both the Multiple Purpose Jetty and Onshore Gas Receiving Facility. This award builds upon McConnell Dowell’s long history of delivering complex marine infrastructure across South East Asia, and the new Multiple Purpose Jetty will be a permanent modification of the existing liquid fuel jetty which McConnell Dowell constructed for First Gen in 1998.
Once completed, the IOT Project will allow First Gen to accelerate the introduction of LNG into the country and serve the natural gas requirements of existing and future gas-fired power plants in the Philippines.
McConnell Dowell Managing Director for South East Asia, Thomas Dockray highlighted that this energy infrastructure project is one of national significance and is extremely proud to further grow the working relationship with First Gen through the delivery of the IOT Project. It will provide many benefits to local communities and play a critical role in ensuring the energy security of the Luzon Grid and the Philippines.
“The selection of McConnell Dowell reinforces our technical expertise, engineering innovation, hands-on knowledge and extensive international experience in building similar LNG facilities. We work well with First Gen and value the importance of our relationship as we launch and deliver a project of this magnitude.” Thomas stated.
“Some of our key project delivery partners include, First Balfour, GHD and LogiCamms. They will help us to deliver the overall project on time and to the desired standard. Our delivery partners will also bring additional qualified, skilled and local experience to the project.” Thomas added.
First Gen has completed a significant amount of pre-development work to allow the project to achieve an expeditious start. Today’s announcement marks an important milestone and engineering and procurement activities will commence immediately with the initial site construction activities scheduled to take place over the coming months.
McConnell Dowell is pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Targeted Asset Renewal Programme (TARP) contract at the Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant in Auckland, New Zealand.
The award of this project continues McConnell Dowell’s long-term partnership with Watercare.
A three to five-year contract, McConnell Dowell will provide onsite assistance in the upgrading and refurbishment of critical Watercare assets based at Māngere WWTP, ensuring the successful treatment of the growing region’s wastewater. The work is being delivered by our in-house Mechanical Division which has extensive experience in asset renewal, planned maintenance, and fabrication.
The works consist of the refurbishment of:
- Eight digesters
- Twelve primary sedimentation tanks
- Two gravity thickeners
- Three dissolved air flotation systems.
Click here to read more on the project
Connectus, the McConnell Dowell and Downer Joint Venture team, is proud to announce the completion of the first section of the City Rail Link project (Contract 2) in Auckland, New Zealand.
Over 1.3 million hours of work and more than 2,300 workers have played part in delivering 350 metres underground concrete twin rail tunnels underneath Albert Street from Customs Street to Wyndham Street. A 13-metre wide trench, which was 18-metres at its deepest point (about the same height as a five-storey building), was excavated using cut and cover methodology.
The project involved the construction of a new stormwater line from Swanson Street to Wellesley Street, diversion and protection of numerous underground utilities, construction of underground rail tunnels from Customs Street West to Wyndham Street, and the streetscape enhancement.
‘Undertaking this type of work in the middle of Auckland’s CBD was very challenging, but the whole team rose to the task. We are very pleased by what we achieved on this project and are looking forward to handing over the first stage of this transformative public transport infrastructure back to the community’, says Marianne Rogers, Connectus Senior Project Manager.
As well as building tunnels and an enhanced urban realm, Connectus had also worked with City Rail Link Limited to achieve ambitious sustainability outcomes. The CRL project is aiming to build New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project without using unnecessary resources or creating unnecessary waste for both its design and construction phases, using the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) framework to verify progress. It has already been awarded a ‘Leading’ design rating - the highest possible achievement in the ISCA scheme.
The project also won numerous industry awards including:
- NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards 2018
- Efficiency Champion
- Supreme Award: Transforming New Zealand Award
- Deloitte Energy Excellence Awards 2018
- Large Energy User Initiative of the Year
We acknowledge the challenges for project neighbours during construction. Throughout the project, Connectus supported local businesses wherever possible by ordering catering, holding functions at their premises and encouraging staff to purchase lunches and coffees from local vendors.
We are thankful to our project teams and we would like to express our gratitude to the Albert Street community, all our subcontractors and supplies and our customer City Rail Link Limited for their help and support throughout the duration of the project.
To learn more about the project click here.
McConnell Dowell is proud to announce that Leon Richards has been elected as the President of the International Pipe Line Contractors Association (IPLOCA). Leon is McConnell Dowell’s Group Technical Director, Pipelines and is only the 2nd Australian to hold the position in IPLOCA’s 54 year history.
Commencing in 1966, IPLOCA is a global association and its members include leading organisations in the international onshore and offshore industry. IPLOCA aims is to develop, foster and promote best practice construction of onshore and offshore pipelines and associated process engineering facilities.
Leon said that he is looking forward to the future opportunities and challenges within the pipeline industry as the world transitions from fossil fuels to a clean energy future.
“Pipelines play an important role in our day to day lives, both in the supply of fuels for energy production and essential humanitarian services such as the supply of clean water and transportation of wastewater. It is a privilege and honour to have been elected the 2020-21 President of IPLOCA and to be able continue contributing to the international pipeline construction industry.
“The challenges for the industry moving forward are substantial, but consumer demand, improved technologies and new contractor-owner relationships built on frequent dialogue and collaboration through this industry association, herald a new era of progress in the delivery of oil, water and gas.
“IPLOCA has some exciting initiatives being developed and implemented, including the new “Road to Success Application” and the “IPLOCA Technology and Innovation Portal”. It is an exciting time to be leading IPLOCA.” said Leon.
For more information about IPLOCA’s agenda and the pipeline industry in general please contact Leon Richards on +61 417 628 712 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Just 12 months after the arrival of 510 metres of large diameter HDPE pipework from Thailand, the Daldy Street Outfall has been handed over to Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters. Wynyard Edge Alliance (WEA) consisting of McConnell Dowell, Downer, Beca, Tonkin & Taylor and Auckland Council carried out the work.
Relocation of the existing outfall within Wynyard Basin was required to improve water quality within the basin after the breakwaters had been installed that provided tranquility for the forthcoming 36th Americas Cup.
The new extension runs along the entire length of Wynyard Point, an area formed nearly 100 years ago by reclamation from the Waitemata Harbour. A basalt breakwater was formed around its perimeter and infilled with hydraulic fill and excavated arisings from the CBD development. Historically, the area had been used for heavy industry – gas works, fuel storage and was heavily contaminated.
The design of the new pipeline determined the pipe to be 3 metres in diameter for its upstream half, expanding to 3.5 metres diameter for the downstream half. HDPE pipe, in 15 metre lengths was ordered from Uponor in Thailand and delivered onto Wynyard Wharf last September.
A 5 metre deep excavation was required for the new pipeline which was tidally influenced. Key to the successful outcome of the project was the ground stabilisation required to support the western face of the excavation, the eastern face being the existing 100 year old basalt breakwater. The design finalised on the “Cutter Soil Mix” methodology (CSM) which injects grout through rotary cutter heads driven into the ground, forming panels of stabilised ground to a depth of up to 8 metres, locking in place the contaminated material typical of the site.
Excavation for the pipeline was carried out between the CSM stabilised wall and the basalt breakwater, typically 2-3 metres below tide level. A sophisticated array of temporary works schemes were designed to hang concrete cradles at each pipe joint position, lower the pipes into place, flood the annulus of the HDPE pipe to sink the buoyant pipes, pour flowable fill under the pipe to provide support, then adding cement to the excavated material to produce mudcrete and backfill the pipe. This installation cycle was repeated typically every 4 days.
A new outfall end structure was constructed at the northern end of the pipeline, on the tip of Wynyard Point. Pre-cast panels with a featured pattern and black oxide coluring help blend the new structure in with the existing basalt breakwater were used for this structure. A steel frame was set 1 metre below lowest tide, with the aid of divers, to support the precast outfall units. A flap valve was added across the outlet to prevent unauthorised entry up the pipeline.
