Slow responses from plant vendors have impeded generic design assessments (GDA) of two nuclear reactor types vying for the U.K.’s potentially large “new build” program. In an interim report released on Nov. 7, the U.K. Health & Safety Executive (HSE) lists inadequate submissions in support of the Westinghouse AP1000 and Areva’s EPR reactors. “If we are to complete GDA on time, we need the design companies to work with us and provide the high-quality and timely information we need,” says Kevin Allars, HSE’s director of the assessment. HSE is scheduled to complete the GDAs in June 2011 after 42 months
As the U.K. begins to fast-track nuclear power permitting, its safety regulator and those of Finland and France have sent Europe’s main nuclear plant supplier back to the drawing board. Already grappling with construction delays at its first EPR pressurized water reactor project—Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) plant—Areva Np., Paris, must now also rethink key safety systems. In an unusual joint move, nuclear safety regulators in the U.K., Finland and France recently revealed safety concerns about the EPR’s control and instrumentation (C&I) systems. Photo: TVO Delays Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 nuclear plant may be started much later than the June 2012 deadline.
China will push the U.S. into second place as the world�s biggest construction market before the end of the next decade, according to a new Web-based report called Global Construction 2020. With its construction sector set to rise at an annual average of 6.3% for the next five years, the U.S. will be among the world�s top 12 fastest-growing markets, but it will lose its preeminent position, according to the report�s 10- year global projections. Photo: Oyibosonline.com Will oil weath fuel growth in Nigeria’s main city, Lagos? + Image Photo: Global Construction While CG2020’s forecasts are presented to one decimal
Tall and bearded, Steven Morgan retains the bearing of a former U.S. Navy rear admiral, along with the conviction of who is in charge. As the new head of the $11-billion capital program of U.K. airport owner BAA plc, he sees himself not as a construction team member but as the boss of his suppliers. Photo: BAA PLC. Morgan takes charge of $11-billion U.K. airport capital program. Photo: BAA PLC. BAA is changing its contracting strategy for new 11,300-sq-m Terminal 2. Photo: BAA PLC. Heathrow’s Terminal 2 is expected to cost $1.6 billion under a design-build contract. Related Links: All
China will push the U.S. into second place as the world’s biggest construction market before the end of the next decade, according to a new forecast of the next decade called Global Construction 2020 (CG2020). Photo: Oyibosonline.com Will oil weath fuel growth in Nigeria’s main city, Lagos? + Image Photo: Global Construction With its construction sector set to rise at an annual average of 6.3% for the next five years, the U.S. will be among the world’s top 12 fastest-growing markets. But it will lose its pre-eminent position, according to the forecast. While CG2020’s predictions are presented to one decimal
Five workers died and six more were injured when they fell 15 meters as bridge falsework they were working on collapsed around noon on Nov. 7 in the tiny Pyrenees principality of Andorra. Emergency teams on brought a large crane Nov. 9 from neighboring Spain to help remove bodies of four workers buried by construction debris. The accident occurred at the western portal of the recently completed Dos Valires tunnel, which is a few kilometers north east of the principality�s capital Andorra La Vella. The men were working on falsework of twin deck, partially cable-stayed bridge being built as access
Over half the 7.3 million cu m of tunnel spoil from London’s $26-billion Crossrail project is to be barged down the Thames River from tunnel sites to create new wetlands 100 kilometers away. Project owner Crossrail Ltd. (CRL) will fund land acquisition and earthmoving for the U.K.’s largest coastal habitat creation scheme, on Wallasea Island, next to the River Crouch, Essex. Photo: Crossrail Ltd. Low-lying Wallasea Island will be raised with tunnel spoil and converted into habitat for birds. CRL on Sept. 30 signed an agreement with Port of London Authority enabling barging the equivalent of a half-million truckloads of
Attempts have failed to outlaw the U.K. government-set default retirement age of 65 years, marking the end of a three-year legal tussle. However, because of skills shortages, the High Court’s September decision allowing compulsory retirement to continue will have little impact on construction, claims an industry official. About 250 pending legal claims against compulsory retirement will now terminate, according to the London-based law firm Pinsent Masons LLP. The court ruling “is good news for employers,” says Jon Coley, a partner. “But...the government has brought forward the review of the [default retirement age, or DRA,] and the smart money is on
When Ireland-based recruitment firm Parc U.K. Ltd. in 2003 began to offer British contractors outsourced worker staffing services, it was pioneering a new way of doing business in the U.K. construction market. Six competitors, who responded by forming a “cartel” against it, now face fines totalling $61.2 million. As the biggest cartel member, Hays plc, London, was fined $48 million by the government’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) late last month. That fine was discounted by 30% because the firm agreed to cooperate with investigators. Without the cooperation discounts the firms’ fines would have totaled $273 million, reflecting the “serious
Balfour Beatty plc, the U.K.-based global construction giant, announced on Sept. 17 it would acquire U.S. engineering stalwart Parsons Brinckerhoff for $626 million.