Message from Stefan Kipp EMD of AlBihouth
Welcome to our opening newsletter of 2026. Im delighted to announce that our steam turbine and generator were delivered to site this month. Final installation and turbine operation will not be achieved until the start of plant commissioning in Q3 of 2026, however the project now has all major components delivered to site. This is testament to a very slick logistics operation conducted by our EPC contractor. January sees the start of the peak construction period for the Abu Dhabi waste to energy plant. We have 2,200 staff on site now and this will rise to over 2,500 in March when major erection works are due to finish. The focus for mechanical works in the next few months involves completing welding activities in our two boilers so we can pressure test the steam system. Following pressure testing our EPC contractor must insulate all the steam pipework and membrane walls. Only then can we begin to lay the cables needed to operate the plant electrical equipment. January was a busy month for guest visits to site, as we hosted members of our Management Board at the quarterly meeting and representatives from Atkins Realis our lenders technical advisor attended for their quarterly site inspection. We were also pleased to host guests from Tadweer, KVI and Marubeni our project shareholders. Interest in this exciting project has increased as we move into the new year.
Project Summary to Date
Works in the turbine annex have intensified this month, with pipe spools, tanks and miscellaneous equipment being installed for the steam condensate system.
Alignment and boxing up of the membrane walls in Line 2 is ongoing with additional staff mobilized to assist with pipe fitting and weld preparation works; steam pipe welding on the roof of Line 2 is also underway. In Line 1 the outer sections of the cube structures have been lifted into place, installation of the Economizer units has begun and the 12 super-heater units have been moved into the waste bunker to prepare for lifting into position in February.
The Primary Air Duct in Line 2 has been lifted into final position, and works on the ACC are progressing, with preparations for installation of the first fan and motor assemblies due in early February. Cable trays are being installed around the process area, in preparation for the major cable laying/cable pulling works that will follow after the boiler pressure tests and insulation of steam pipework.
The main gas insulated busbar and gas insulated switchgear skid (plant side) was delivered to site in January
At the 400kv substation our EPC contractor is completing the foundations for the interface building, that will connect the plant supply to the EWEC network. We are expecting delivery of switchgear components for the substation in February; these will be laid down in the yard at the substation. Civil works are ongoing with crews engaged in plastering and MEP works in the administration building.
The base structures that will support the waste crane control cabinets are in place at fourth floor level, and the main control suite on the fifth floor is progressing. The air compressor building is substantially completed, and compressors and tanks are being installed here. MEP works have started in the workshop and maintenance building and shuttering has been removed from the walls in the IBA storage area. The main fire water tank is being pressure tested. Works in the underground network are ongoing around the site area, and the excavation for the 400kv power export trench is being cleared.
HSE Update
As the site manpower has increased, our EPC contractor has also increased the number of HSE officials on site. The project standard requires 1 HSE specialist for every 50 workers. The revised HSE Organization Chart released by EPC in January shows that the ratio is better than 50:1. Our project procurers Tadweer started a monthly HSE review of their assets in January, and we were pleased to attend and provide an update on our HSE performance. Our risk profile during this peak construction phase focusses on hot works and working at height, and our site teams will be maintaining vigilance to ensure work is carried out safely in line with our procedures.