Message from Stefan Kipp EMD of AlBihouth
Welcome to our August newsletter. My site team have moved to larger offices this month, to provide additional space for new staff members joining us shortly. We will be welcoming two seconded engineers from Tadweer in September, who will provide support to the on and offsite electrical installations and connections agenda.
Colleagues from our Steering Committee attended site this month and undertook a tour of the construction area, followed by a project update briefing ahead of the monthly committee meeting. We were pleased to host a delegation from our O+M team on the 27th August. As the construction schedule progresses, interactions with the O+M team will increase, as we track the development of operations procedures, staff recruitment and training prior to the commissioning phase. Senior plant management from O+M are being recruited, with a plan to begin site mobilization in Q1 2026.
Project Summary to Date
Both civil and process works have intensified this month, and our EPC contractor continues to onboard additional staff to site. Erection works in Line 2 are progressing well, with the complete combustion grate and ash riddling hoppers fitted, the ram feeder installed, and bottom section of the feed hopper now in position. The first consignment of membrane walls began arriving at site this month. These form the walls of the boiler and contain the pipework that will convert process water into the super-heated steam needed to drive our turbine generator. Our EPC contractor will weld sections together at ground level in the pre-assembly areas, prior to lifting into position. This reduces the amount of works needed at height which is both a safer and more efficient method of modular construction. The first boiler drum also arrived this month from our manufacturer in China. At 23 meters long and weighing over 70 tons, this heavyweight component will require careful handling when it is lifted into position.
Mechanical erection in Line 1 is also well underway, with much of the supporting steelworks in cube 101 installed, and the grate riddling assemblies fitted.
Our administration building is now at first floor level, and the main staircase is being cast this month using the slip form process. The fire water tank structure is now complete, the first-floor level in the workshop installed, and the concrete base for the incinerator bottom ash (IBA) storage area cast. In the turbine building the turbine springs have been installed on the main plinth, and the first support members for the turbine building walls have been erected. The civil frame of the HV substation is nearing completion, and the main compressor building frame is erected, awaiting the infill of side walls. Installation of the composite roof assemblies for the waste bunker is well under way, with 50% of these structures lifted into position in August. Works fitting the fireproof wall panels for the waste bunker will begin in September, once method statements have been reviewed and accepted. Sub surface pipework for the mains sewage transfer line are being pressure tested this month, and the foundations for the main diesel tanks are completed.
We carefully record and track the civil and process erection progress to ensure that critical path milestones are achieved.
HSE Update
Our tenth monthly HSE award ceremony was held on the 27th of August, with 22 recipients rewarded for their commitment to safe working at site this month. During the event we bid a fond farewell to our outgoing EPC HSE manager. Chuks has been with the ADWtE project from the start of construction and his replacement will carry on the good works achieved so far. The statutory restrictions for outside working will continue unto the middle of September, as will our Heat Stress Awareness safety campaign. To help manage the heat and humidity our EPC contractor provided additional cooling shelters and water stations around the site, with specific TBTs tailored to raise awareness of heat stress symptoms during the peak summer period. Monthly environmental monitoring continues at site. We monitor project noise, airborne dust, project waste streams and sewage, to ensure regulatory and contractual targets are maintained during our work. Environmental data collected is reported to our project lenders, and regular site visits by their technical authority team ensures ongoing compliance is achieved.