A Hyundai Engineering-led consortium has secured a $5bn construction deal in Nakhodka, Russia.The consortium, which includes Hyundai Engineerng & Construction (E&C) and Japan’s Toyo Engineering, signed the deal with the Nakhodka Mineral Fertilizers Factory to build fertilizer plants in Kozmino, a port located near the city of Nakhodka.The consortium will be responsible for the construction of two ammonia production plants with a combined daily capacity of 6,600t, two urea plants with a combined daily capacity of 6,000t and one methanol plant with a daily capacity of 3,000t, according to Korea Times.The factories are expected to be complete within 62 months.
Empire Industries’ subsidiary Dynamic Attractions has signed an agreement with Altair (Shanghai) Space Technology to design, develop, co-own and operate a CAD600M ($465M) theme park in Hangzhou, China.The theme park — named Space Park — will be developed on a site, which is currently owned by the Hangzhou Zhijiang National Tourist Resort, a government-owned organisation. Altair has signed a separate investment framework agreement with the Hangzhou Zhijiang National Tourist Resort to acquire the site — 19.3ha of land — by the end of 2016.Empire Industries’ executive chairman and CEO Guy Nelson said: “Dynamic Attractions has over two decades of experience delivering some of the most popular rides for the world’s top theme parks, thus providing the solid foundation for Space Park to succeed.“The appetite for world-class attractions by the rapidly growing middle class in China, will be uniquely delivered by Space Park with a distinct themed environment and entertainment attraction offering.”Space Park is expected to open in late 2020.
Wanda Group has announced plans to invest RMB63bn ($9.4bn) to build the new Jinan Wanda Culture, Sports and Tourism City in Jinan, China.The 290ha Jinan Wanda City will be Wanda’s 13th culture and tourism project in the country. The project will include a mall, an outdoor theme park, an ice hockey-basketball stadium, a hotel cluster, and a bar street.The ice hockey-basketball stadium, with a seat capacity of 10,000, will serve as a basketball and ice hockey court. It will have the capacity to host key international sporting events and will serve professional clubs.The 42ha outdoor theme park will feature entertainment facilities equipped with advanced technology.The development will also house three resort hotels — one six-star and two five-star hotels. The project is expected to break ground in 2017, commence operation in 2021 and create 20,000 jobs in the region.
Goodyear (Thailand) is set to invest $162M in the expansion of its factory in Pathum Thani province, Thailand.The expansion project will enable the production of radial aviation tyres.According to Goodyear’s managing director Finbarr O'Connor, the development will help the company’s current market demand as commercial airlines are rapidly converting their fleets to radial tyres from bias tyres.O'Connor further said that the world's aviation fleet is expected to double in size over the next two decades.The expansion will be carried out in three phases, with phase one expected to start operations by 2018. The project will create 100 new jobs.
Sustainable urban and business space solutions provider Ascendas-Singbridge is set to build a $400M IT park in Gurgaon, India. The new 60-acre International Tech Park Gurgaon (ITPG) will feature 743,000sq m of business space, as well as social amenities to meet the needs of 60,000 professionals. It will also include food courts along with banking, transport and covered parking spaces.The first phase of the project will include two buildings offering 93,000sq m of Grade-A business space. Work on the first building is currently underway, and is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2017.Ascendas-Singbridge’s deputy group CEO Manohar Khiatani said: “ITPG will be our eighth IT Park in India and we are convinced that this development will enhance the attractiveness of the National Capital Region and help create quality jobs.”Ascendas-Singbridge India operations CEO Sanjay Dutt said: “Gurgaon is the focal point of economic growth in NCR and second largest office market in India with significant investments made by large multinational corporations. “With over two decades of experience in India, we will bring our best practices to ITPG and provide best-in-class business space and asset management services in Gurgaon, offering our clients an attractive business environment to operate in.”
US-based Jacobs Engineering has won a contract to design and provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for Pfizer’s new $350M biotechnology centre in China.Jacobs will be responsible for the development of the entire site design, which includes central utility buildings, a quality laboratory, administration offices, and a warehouse.Jacobs’ senior vice president of life sciences Robert Norfleet said: “This is an exciting opportunity for our Life Sciences business. We have a long history of helping Pfizer grow and expand its global manufacturing capabilities.“We look forward to partnering with Pfizer once again to develop this state-of-the-art biotechnology center in China.”The project for the biopharmaceutical company is anticipated to be finished in 2018.
Larsen & Toubro has won an INR7bn ($104.1M) order from Piramal Realty for the core and shell civil work of a luxury residential project in Mumbai, India.The project, known as Piramal Aranya, will encompass about 400,000sq m of construction area. The total investment for the project is estimated at about INR44.5bn ($662M), including land, project development and execution costs.Piramal Aranya will feature two towers, including 3-, 3.5- and 4-bedroom-hall-kitchen apartments. Piramal Group executive director Anand Piramal said: “We launched Piramal Aranya in March earlier this year in an endeavour to build world-class luxurious residential high rises in the city. It is our most significant residential development and we are making every effort to ensure that it is one of the finest buildings in the world.”
UAE-based retailer Lulu Group is set to invest in a shopping mall, hotel and international convention centre in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Indian state Kerala.The $300M four-storey development will be spread over 19 acres, with a built up area of over 186,000sq m, including a 150-room luxury hotel. Once completed it will be the second biggest shopping mall in India after the LuLu mall in Kochi (pictured) — also owned and managed by Lulu Group, and which was designed by WS Atkins and constructed by Shapoorji Pallonji.The new project — designed by UK’s Design International — will include several fashion and retail brands, an amusement centre, a nine-screen multiplex, a food court with a capacity of 3,500 guests, restaurants, and coffee shops. It will also include parking space for 3,000 cars.The mall is expected to open in 2019.
Southeast Asia is in need of $2.1tr in infrastructure spending by 2030 to meet their growing population demands, according to a report by banking group HSBC.HSBC economist Joseph Incalcaterra stated in the report that the urban population in the region will rise by over 90M by 2030 and that the planned infrastructure spending would only cover $910bn.Incalcaterra said: “To fill the infrastructure gap, more non-government financing is necessary, both from private sources and institutions such as the Asian Development Bank and new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.”The six countries covered in the report are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.According to the report, regional governments have to increase infrastructure spending. Low- to middle-income economies should spend at least 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on infrastructure — only Vietnam has been meeting this target.Indonesia and the Philippines have been increasing infrastructure budgets, while Thailand and Singapore had promised increased infrastructure spending and Malaysia should attract more investment. Incalcaterra added: “Governments across the region thus need to be much more aggressive with increasing PPP programmes and instituting proper reforms to deepen capital markets. Only that will fill ASEAN’s gaping infrastructure pothole.”
Chinese technology firm LeEco is set to invest RMB12bn ($1.8bn) to build an electric car plant in the eastern Zhejiang province of China.The plant, to be located near the Mogan Mountain in eastern Zhejiang, will have an annual production capacity of 400,000 battery-powered vehicles. The project will be carried out in two phases and will be part of a planned $3bn theme park, which will comprise auto-related elements. The company did not disclose details about when construction would commence on the plant or park.LeEco also plans to produce cars at a factory being built by US strategic partner Faraday Future in Las Vegas.
Ten Liebherr tower cranes are being used in Russia to construct what will be the Europe’s tallest building.The Lakhta tower, part of the Lahkta Center in St. Petersburg, will be 462m high when completed.The 87-storey building was designed by British architects RMJM and will be home to the head office of energy company Gazprom. The tower will include sports facilities, a children’s technical park, a planetarium, a panoramic restaurant, a viewing terrace and additional office space. Moreover, the project will include the construction of a multi-purpose building featuring a cinema and theatre, among other amenities. Contractor Reinaissance Construction is erecting the Lakhta tower using four Liebherr luffing jib cranes, while the multi-purpose facility is being built with three luffing jib and three high-top cranes — all owned by rental company Sutek.The tower is expected to be complete in 2018.
Samsung C&T in a joint venture with Build King has secured a $340M contract to enhance ground beneath the seabed for Hong Kong International Airport third runway.The project represents the first stage of the Three Runway System (3RS) — aiming at expanding the airport into a three-runway operation.Under the contract, awarded by Airport Authority Hong Kong, the joint venture will improve soft ground located about 7m below the sea, using a deep cement mixing method before land reclamation takes place.Hans Whang, head of Samsung C&T civil infrastructure business unit, said: “We are honoured to be part of the 3RS project, which we understand is meaningful for Hong Kong‘s further development.“Even though challenging, we are certain that by working closely together with our trusted partners and maintaining a strong emphasis on safety and quality, this project will have outstanding results.”Construction work on the project will start in August 2016 and will last for 20 months.
Grand River Development, managed by Riant Capital, has unveiled plans for a $1.1bn mixed-use commercial tower in Taipei, Taiwan. The Taipei Sky Tower will be located adjacent to Taipei 101 in Taipei’s prime Xinyi District and will feature a retail podium, a luxury hotel, a lifestyle hotel and a theatre house. The 54-storey tower will measure more than 260m in height and include 93,000sq m in combined floor area. Riant Capital’s CEO Aaron Chan said: “Due to the unique location and street front exposure of the site, we are able to re-create a new whole pedestrian block comprising independently operated retail and F&B flagship/concept stores that one typically finds in major international cities such as New York, Tokyo or Hong Kong. “We believe that this pedestrian shopping experience will offer consumers an attractive alternative to the traditional department store concept and that our innovative approach will further enhance Taipei Xinyi District’s status as a premium business and retail centre in Asia.”
CIMIC Group’s company Leighton Asia has secured an AUD320M ($240M) contract from the government of the Hong Kong to build a Columbarium and Garden of Remembrance.The company will be responsible for the construction of an eight‐storey columbarium building, a 4,800sq m garden, an access road and other ancillary facilities.The project is part of the government’s aim to meet the shortage of public spaces dedicated to the memory of the deceased.CIMIC Group’s executive chairman and CEO Marcelino Fernández Verdes said: “This contract award recognises the strength of the CIMIC Group’s diverse capabilities. Our building portfolio in Asia continues to grow and the Hong Kong government’s commitment to the development of public facilities means we are well positioned for future work.”Leighton Asia’s managing director Manuel Alvarez Munoz said: “Leighton Asia has built a strong working relationship with the Hong Kong government’s Architectural Services Department (ASD).“This will be our fifth project with the ASD, for whom we are also currently undertaking work on a hospital and border crossing facilities. We are pleased to be able to work with them again, particularly on a project so important to the local community.”Work on the project is anticipated to begin in July 2016 and will be completed in March 2019.
Pfizer is set to construct a $350M biotechnology centre in China.The new facility will represent the company’s third biotechnology centre across the world and the first in Asia and will include an advanced modular facility by GE Healthcare, based on flexible single-use bio-manufacturing technology.The centre will accommodate the Pfizer China’s biosimilars and biologics quality, technical service, logistics and engineering divisions, in addition to commercial manufacturing. It will also serve as a process development and clinical supply site.Pfizer Essential Health group president John Young said: “We believe that the Pfizer Global Biotechnology Center in Hangzhou will help support China’s aim to increase the complexity and value of its manufacturing sector by 2025, and contribute to building a truly innovative and vibrant biopharmaceutical industry.“We are encouraged by a series of important reforms introduced by Chinese government that will further stimulate the industry to meet emerging health challenges, such as the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases and an aging population; as well as attract both domestic and foreign investment in healthcare and R&D.”The facility is anticipated to be completed in 2018, creating more than 150 jobs in the region.
Leighton Asia’s subsidiary Leighton India Contractors has signed an AUD223M ($169.5M) contract to deliver phases two and three of a mixed-use development in Mumbai, India.The development, known as Maker Maxity, is located in the Bandra Kurla Complex, and its phases two and three will include the development of retail and hospitality facilities.The scope of the work includes structural and civil works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing services, lifts and escalators, façade, finishes and external works for the facilities.Leighton Asia’s managing director Manuel Alvarez Munoz said: "We are delighted to have secured our first major project with the Maker Group, one of India's most prestigious developers."Leighton Asia will bring its international experience, wealth of local knowledge and commitment to safety and quality to facilitate the timely completion of this major project."Work has commenced in June 2016, and is scheduled to be complete in mid‐2019.
Larsen & Toubro's construction unit has secured contracts worth INR24.16bn ($355.5M) across various business segments in June 2016.The building & factories business segment has won orders worth INR11.65bn ($171.4M) for a high-rise residential project from a Mumbai-based developer.The scope of work will include the civil and structural works for the construction of two residential towers, each having three basements, seven podiums, 66 floors and other ancillary buildings.The business has also secured a contract for the construction of a mixed-use development from a customer in Kolkata. The project will involve the civil and structural works for the construction of two towers of 15 and seven floors respectively, with two levels of common basement.The unit’s power transmission & distribution business has won orders worth INR11.2bn ($164.8M) in the domestic and international markets.The business has secured an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract from a customer in the Middle East. The scope of the work will include the construction of a medium voltage overhead line, which will enhance the reliability of the existing network.On the domestic market, the unit has been awarded contracts from Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (PVVNL) in Uttar Pradesh. The first contract includes the construction of 33kV substations and associated lines in Ghaziabad, while the second contract involves rural electrification, including feeder separation works in Meerut.The smart world & communication business has won a contract valued at INR1.31bn ($19.2M) from RajCOMP Info Services for establishing and commissioning command & control centres at Bikaner, Bharatpur and Jodhpur cities under the Surveillance and Incident Response Project.
BASF Shanghai Coatings has begun construction on a new €140M automotive coatings plant in Shanghai, China.The new plan, to be located at the company’s existing site at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in Caojing, will expand the existing automotive coatings plant, which started production in 2014.BASF’s president and chairman for Greater China Stephan Kothrade said: “With the expansion, we continue to invest in local production to get even closer to China’s automotive industry.“As the leading chemical supplier to the automotive industry, BASF will take an active role in developing this rapidly growing business, based on our local production network, innovative power and market knowledge.”The plant is expected to commence operation in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Gammon Construction, the Hong Kong-based joint venture of Balfour Beatty and Jardine Matheson, has secured an HKD4bn ($515.3M) contract from Taikoo Place Holdings for the redevelopment of Somerset House in Taikoo Place, Hong Kong.The project will include the redevelopment of Somerset House into a 48-storey office building on top of a two-storey basement, covering a total gross floor area of approximately 94,000sq m. It will also involve the construction of the associated walkways.The development will incorporate Building Information Modelling (BIM) to define the efficient approach to design, avoid programme and utility clashes, as well as enhancing environmental efficiencies.Gammon’s CEO Thomas Ho said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Swire Properties and to be involved with this landmark project.“Gammon’s advanced technological standards and expertise in building construction was critical for the award of this project.”Construction is set to start immediately with completion scheduled for 2018. The project will create 1,400 jobs during peak construction.
Gammon Construction has secured a HKD2.6bn ($335M) contract from Chinachem Group to build a residential project in Hong Kong.To be located at Tseung Kwan O Town Lot No. 93, the project will include the construction of six 12–18-storey residential towers, and five four-storey homes that together will provide 857 new homes.Gammon — a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Jardine Matheson — will use a range of innovative approaches, such as aluminum formwork instead of traditional timber formwork for the tower structure and 3D scanning and Building Information Modelling (BIM) to assist with detecting construction programme clashes.Gammon’s CEO Thomas Ho said: “Our team is excited to work with Chinachem Group to deliver excellent and meticulous building works that will add to their impressive and diverse range of high-quality properties.“We are looking forward to the unveiling of this new phase of development in the Southern part of Tseung Kwan O.” Construction has recently started and the project is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2017.