In today’s news, we will look into the minister from the United Kingdom who is going to create new partnerships in electric vehicles and sustainable construction. Meanwhile, an engineering and construction powerhouse based in the United Kingdom has been awarded a contract for $700 million by Adnoc. Furthermore, in a construction industry first, HS2 is collaborating with Altair Ltd. to reduce carbon emissions from viaducts by 10%. Moreover, on the Grove Hill project, Esh Construction will be collaborating with Thirteen. 

UK Minister Launches EV, Sustainable Construction Partnerships

Original Source: UK minister to launch new partnerships in EVs, sustainable construction

Nigel Huddleston will announce that Britain and the West Bengal government will collaborate on a pilot project to produce electric two-wheelers.

In order to strengthen commercial connections with India and Bangladesh, British trade minister Nigel Huddleston will announce a package of collaborations on electric mobility and green construction with the West Bengal administration.

On Monday, Huddleston began a three-day journey to Kolkata and Dhaka to expand British business possibilities in both nations. Last year, UK commerce with India and Bangladesh surged by 45% and 50%, respectively.

According to the British high commission, Huddleston will announce a pilot project to develop electric two-wheelers with the West Bengal government as part of the UK’s efforts to support India’s EV targets with finance and technology.

Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities and transport, and Newtown Kolkata Development Authority are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a knowledge exchange agreement to build electric two-wheelers for last mile connectivity.

Huddleston will also build a centre to improve EV sector potential by teaming Indian enterprises with UK academic and industrial institutions.

West Bengal, the sixth largest state by economic value, aims to build one million EVs in five years. Its GDP is estimated to reach £117 million this year.

He would also enable the signing of an MoU between the West Bengal government and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on sustainable construction skill development. British companies hope these initiatives will allow them to design and commercialise EV technology and sustainable construction approaches in India.

Huddleston added, “The UK has a strong and enduring relationship with India and Bangladesh.” Over the past year, we’ve increased trade with both.I want to use my first official visit here to demonstrate the UK’s willingness to cooperate with both countries on common concerns like climate change, leveraging our joint skills to enhance our trading partnership, ignite economic growth, and create jobs.

Huddleston will explore the benefits of the proposed trade pact, including efforts to eliminate red tape, decrease tariffs, and boost businesses in both nations, during a business roundtable. India and the UK are currently negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA).

Compared to 2021, India-UK trade in goods and services was £36 billion in 2022, up 45% or £11.2 billion. Bilateral commerce is predicted to increase by 2030 under the planned FTA.

Adnoc Gets a $700 Million Contract With a UK Engineering and Construction Firm

Original Source: Adnoc awards $700 million contract to UK-based engineering and construction giant

Habshan is Abu Dhabi’s largest onshore EPC contract this year.

UK-listed Petrofac won a $700 million onshore engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract from state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) to build a new gas compressor facility at its Habshan Complex.

On Friday, Petrofac confirmed the award of “three gas compressor trains, associated utilities and power systems”.

The new plant would help Adnoc boost gas output from the Habshan Complex west of Abu Dhabi, the company said.

Upstream said that five major regional and worldwide contracting firms were bidding for the onshore transaction.

Petrofac’s engineering and construction sector COO Elie Lahoud said the company has a “long and strong track record supporting Adnoc in the UAE”.

“This focus on in-country value will again underpin our approach to delivery for Adnoc on the strategically significant Habshan Complex,� he said.

The Habshan award is Adnoc’s largest onshore EPC project this year and Petrofac’s first since it was allowed to bid again after being blacklisted by the state-owned operator.

Gas expansion

Abu Dhabi is investing billions to become gas self-sufficient and a major liquefied natural gas exporter.

As it reduces carbon emissions, the emirate wants to lead the global blue hydrogen industry with its gas-based expansion projects.

Adnoc Gas Processing, a subsidiary of Adnoc, tendered the Habshan gas compression project.

Upstream understands that Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas, Abu Dhabi’s National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC), and Greek player Archirodon lost out to Petrofac.

Gas compressors

The Habshan complex may use three gas compressors with capacities of over 400 million cubic feet per day.

Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc Gas Processing runs a 3000-kilometre integrated gas sales pipeline.

After multiple gas-focused upstream ventures, notably the multi-billion dollar Hail & Ghasha sour gas project, Adnoc CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has stated the UAE’s aim to become a major LNG exporter.

The UAE’s LNG ambitions are also a strategy to minimise its dependence on Qatari gas.

Qatar supplies 1.8 billion cubic feet of gas per day via the Dolphin pipeline and LNG purchasing agreements.

Abu Dhabi can produce 11 Bcfd of natural gas and 1.3 of sour gas.

A firm spokeswoman told Upstream that the emirate’s gas developments will add more than 3 Bcfd.

Hail & Ghasha alone will produce 1.5 Bcfd of gas by the end of the decade.

Abu Dhabi wants to develop the Umm Shaif gas cap reservoir, extend the Shah gas plant, and extract unconventional gas at its Ruwais Diyab concession.

HS2 and Altair Reduce Construction Carbon by 10%

Original Source: HS2 & Altair: 10% Carbon Cut in Construction

HS2 works with Altair Ltd. to cut viaduct carbon emissions by 10%, a first for construction.

HS2, Britain’s high-speed rail line from London to the North West, seeks to create an automated civil engineering design process. 

Altair Ltd. and HS2 collaborate. 

HS2 is working with Altair Ltd. to create some of HS2’s largest and most remarkable structures using OptiStruct, a software tool originally developed to design and optimise automotive and aerospace structures.

The revolutionary programme will lower the carbon emissions of HS2’s viaducts by up to 10% and reduce its design time to an hour.

Charlotte Hills, HS2’s Senior Innovation Manager, said, “Working with Altair as part of our Innovation programme demonstrates the benefits of applying its technology to building HS2 and the potential it offers in the long term as an integral tool to streamline structural designs and reduce embedded carbon by as much as 10%.”

Traditionally, setting a viaduct geometry and quantifying materials takes four weeks. Once defined, plans are rarely revised. Engineers have design flexibility by using this sophisticated technology, originally used to develop aviation and automotive components and assemblies, to reduce raw material utilisation.

The technique executes millions of design iterations to optimise the high speed train’s speed, frequency, and brake load throughout its operational life. The two plan to minimise embedded carbon in structures by up to 10% by employing materials efficiently while retaining strength and lifespan. 

“Our Altair innovation project is revolutionary. “It gives engineers a tool to explore alternative designs that were not previously feasible due to time constraints,� said Tomas Garcia, Head of Civil Engineering Structures at HS2.

For almost 20 years, the industry has used Altair’s design and optimisation technologies. Due to strict norms of practise, they are rarely used on huge constructions like rail viaducts. HS2 wanted to remove adoption hurdles by integrating European Codes of Practise directly into the optimisation process.  Martin Kemp, Senior Technical Specialist, Altair Ltd., remarked, “The result gives viaduct designers cutting-edge design and innovation and opens civil structure design.”

HS2—what is it?

HS2 is Britain’s 170 mile high-speed rail line. HS2 connects Scotland’s major cities to Manchester, Birmingham, and London. The largest infrastructure project in Europe and the most important economic and social regeneration initiative in decades is HS2. 

With over 350 operational locations between the West Midlands and London, US$29.2bn has been contracted into the supply chain to integrate with new lines and upgrade Britain’s rail infrastructure to speed up transit to important towns.

Esh Construction and Thirteen Will Collaborate on Grove Hill

Original Source: Esh Construction to work with Thirteen on Grove Hill project

After winning a £56 million Middlesbrough affordable housing contract, Esh Construction has won its largest contract.

Esh’s third affordable housing project with Thirteen will add hundreds of houses to Grove Hill.

The 296 two, three, and four-bedroom houses and bungalows will replace residences razed more than a decade ago. A groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction.

Thirteen’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England and a £2.8 million grant from the Government’s Brownfield Housing Fund fund the project. The Brownfield Housing Fund is approved by Tees Valley Combined Authority.

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Esh Construction earlier this year announced two further Middlesbrough schemes for Thirteen totalling £42 million. 250 affordable rental homes will be built on Brambles Farm’s Kedward Avenue and Gresham’s Union Village.

Esh CEO Andy Radcliffe remarked, “This scheme represents the largest affordable housing development that we have secured.” As such, it is a gratifying time to stand alongside our client, Thirteen, and representatives from all partners that helped make this development happen to officially celebrate the commencement on site. 

“Combining Grove Hill with developments at Kedward Avenue and Union Village, we are set to deliver more than 540 new affordable homes with Thirteen across Middlesbrough in the coming years.” 

“These schemes form part of ambitious plans to regenerate areas of the town, and we will endeavour to create a lasting legacy within the local community through a raft of social and economic value initiatives.�

The lands are part of Thirteen’s £110 million investment to build more than 540 affordable Middlesbrough houses.

Thirteen’s CEO, Matt Forrest, stated, “We are delighted work is underway to build these vital new homes in Grove Hill, and so much hard work has gone into making it happen.” It’s a great milestone towards providing modern, high-quality, and affordable new homes to the area. We are happy to collaborate with our partners to build these great houses in Middlesbrough.â€�

Mayor Chris Cooke said, “Affordable homes are more important than ever, so I’m delighted to see the transformation of this important part of Middlesbrough gaining momentum. Thirteen, in conjunction with Esh, is building homes Middlesbrough needs and wants.

“It’s fantastic to see work starting on this development to transform this area of Middlesbrough into a great place to live,� said Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

“Breathing new life into dilapidated sites and creating places where families can set up home and communities can thrive is exactly what this money is targeted at. This is one of several projects in Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool where government support is transforming lives.�

Grove Hill will be built by Esh Construction, IDPartnership Northern, 3E Consulting Engineers, Elliott Associates, and ONE Environments, with the first residences available in Autumn 2025.

Summary of today’s construction news

Overall, we discussed the British commerce minister Nigel Huddleston that will unveil a package of partnerships with the West Bengal administration on electric mobility and green development to boost business linkages with India and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, in terms of onshore EPC contracts, Habshan is Abu Dhabi’s largest this year. In order to construct a new gas compressor plant at the Habshan Complex, the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) awarded a $700 million onshore engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to UK-listed Petrofac. On the other hand, in a first for the building industry, HS2 and Altair Ltd. collaborated to reduce viaduct carbon emissions by 10%. The High-Speed Two (HS2) rail line in Britain aims to use an automated civil engineering design procedure to speed up construction of the line from London to the North West. Moreover, the affordable housing deal in Middlesbrough worth £56 million is Esh Construction largest ever. Grove Hill will get an influx of new homes thanks to Esh and Thirteen’s third affordable housing project.