São Paulo and Abu Dhabi – Brazilian construction company Odebrecht is participating in a tender for the expansion of Mafraq – Ghweifat Highway, which stretches 327 km from Mafraq to the border at Ghweifat. The company is going to develop the construction work for the Irtibaat consortium, which will be in charge of the expansion, financing, operation and maintenance of the highway for 25 years, in case it wins. The highway is the only access to the Western Region, where the industrial centre of Ruwais and several important tourist destinations are located.
The information, published by Emirates News Agency, has been confirmed by Odebrecht. The Brazilian company clarifies, however, that that it will only be responsible for the works, and is not a shareholder in the consortium. The group also includes global banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services firm Macquarie Capital Group; equity participants Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank; construction firms N.V. Besix and Al Jaber Transport & General Contracting LLC; Transfield Services International Pty Ltd, provider of operations maintenance and asset management services; and design consultants Mouchel Middle East.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport has received bids by three international consortiums in this, the first transport-related public private partnership (PPP) project to be undertaken in the GCC. The winning consortium will receive a series of equal payments spread over 25 years. These ongoing payments will be subject to deductions for failure to meet the prescribed performance standards and will ensure the consortium remains accountable for the operational performance of the road over the 25 year period.
The Department of Transport carried out an extensive international search to identify the world’s best companies in the fields of infrastructure financing, design, construction and operations to deliver the project. From this search ten international Consortia were invited to submit statements of their qualifications. Following a detailed and extensive evaluation a shorter list of consortia was identified as having the strongest financial and technical delivery qualifications and invited to submit detailed proposals for the project.
Apart from Irtibaat, other groups participating in the tender are Mafraq Motorway Group, comprising European construction group, Strabag SE; UAE civil engineering and building contractors, Saif Bin Darwish; Construction group Joannou & Paraskevaides Ltd; Concession Operations, J&P AVAX SA; and Egis Projects SA. The third consortium, MTD-CSCEC Consortium – comprising international infrastructure developer and civil contractor, MTD Group; China State Engineering Construction Company; UAE contractor, Ghantoot Transport.
"The project has attracted substantial international interest – the companies competing to deliver the project are among the largest and best in their field. The project also requires significant input from local companies, who will work closely with the international firms and benefit from the transfer of international best practice," said Eng. Faisal Al Suwaidi, General Director of Main Roads for the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi.
"Each of the three consortia brings with it the international best-practice, local know-how and financial strength to provide a world-class highway which will create a new standard in regional transport infrastructure – reducing accidents and improving travel reliability on this critical link to the Western Region. This approach illustrates our Department’s vision of creating a world-class, sustainable transport network incorporating the latest technologies and techniques," added the executive.
*With information from Emirates News Agency. Translated by Mark Ament
