San Quintin Project Commences Construction

By: Eastern Daylight Time

MELBOURNE, Australia & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fluence Corporation Limited (ASX: FLC) is pleased to announce that construction has commenced on the desalination plant in San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico.

This project, as previously disclosed, is designed to supply 5.8 million gallons/day (approximately 22,000 m3/day) of potable water to the San Quintin region. Fluence will recognise revenue over the 20-month expected term of the project, starting in the third quarter of 2018, as well as an estimated US$10 million of recurring billings for 30 years after the plant begins operating.

This milestone project for customer Comisión Estatal del Agua De Baja California (CEA), the State Water Commission of Baja California, is the first non-recourse project funding arranged by Fluence. Fluence will build and operate the seawater desalination plant through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) owned by Fluence and its local partners. The SPV will produce water for the San Quintin area for the next 30 years, after which ownership and operation of the plant will be transferred to CEA.

Fluence Managing Director & CEO Henry Charrabé said: “We are pleased to reach this important milestone and commence construction on the San Quintin Project. This project showcases the exceptional project execution abilities of Fluence’s expert team. Reaching commencement now allows Fluence to start recognising significant revenue linked to the project, for which we have already incurred engineering and management costs. We look forward to delivering urgently needed fresh water to the San Quintin region by 2021.”

Read More >> https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180930005041/en/San-Quintin-Project-Commences-Construction

Construction starting on McAlister's Deli

By: Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer

McAlister’s Deli is getting closer to reality.

Key Construction Co. picked up a building permit last week for a small strip center at 2065 E. Parrish Ave. that will include the McAlister’s Deli.

Cost of the first phase of construction is $2.13 million

Marissa Sharpless, a company spokeswoman, said earlier this year that the restaurant is slated to open “toward the end of 2018 or early 2019.”

The location is just west of Shogun of Owensboro’s new location.

• AT&T said last week that it plans to add 1,000 new stores soon.

That includes pop-up stores in apartment buildings, condos and other locations in “dense urban environments.”

The company said it will also add hundreds of stores in smaller cities and expand its mobile store division.

• ApartmentList.com has put together a list of cities and how “cost burdened” renters are in those cities.

“Cost burdened” means they spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent.

The report says that the percentage of cost-burdened renters in Owensboro increased from 42.2 percent in 2016 to 45.8 percent last year.

But it’s still below the national average of 49.5 percent.

Read More >> http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/features/business/construction-starting-on-mcalister-s-deli/article_1d6fee0b-90a0-5c04-abd4-f5679072414f.html

Local construction company creates solar division

By: Derrick Mason

FREEPORT — As both city and county leaders discuss potential solar energy projects, one local company has already made a commitment to bringing renewable energy to the area.

Leaders at Fosler Construction have created a new company, Fosler Solar, which will focus on commercial, residential and agricultural installations. Company President Bjorn Thorsland started in early September and comes to Freeport with 10 years in the solar industry, most recently at Tesla.

"The unique thing about this market is that in most markets it's kind of either (residential or commercial)," Thorsland said. "The residential value proposition is really strong, but you can't really make commercial work, or vice versa. Here, it's all of the above."

Illinois' goal is to produce 25 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2025. There are multiple state and federal incentives to help home and business owners recoup portions of the cost of an installation.

The state's Solar Renewable Energy Credits program grants one sellable credit to homeowners for each megawatt hour of electricity their solar system produces. One credit from a small-scale system sold for approximately $180 during spring 2017. A small-scale seven kilowatt system could generate about 8,000 kilowatt-hours each year, which means an Illinois homeowner could receive $1,440 per year in additional income, according to energysage.com.

"Illinois is by far the strongest market for solar energy right now," Thorsland said. "The incentives are just really great and they're really going to move the needle after people start catching on to them."

Solar energy has become an important topic within the city of Freeport in recent months as well. The City Council on Sept. 17 approved ordinances that will allow residents and developers to more easily add installations to their properties. The city is pursuing a SolSmart designation from the International City/County Management Association and The Solar Foundation to signify to prospective new residents and business owners that the community is solar-friendly.

Residential solar installations are completely customized by Fosler and will take into account how much space is available and the homeowner's traditional electricity consumption. The goal is to match the size of the installation with the homeowner's energy needs so that there is no need to buy kilowatt hours from ComEd at the end of the month.

The installation is either paid for upfront or financed through a bank. There are no monthly energy bills from Fosler, as the owner is still connected to ComEd's grid.

Read More >> http://www.journalstandard.com/news/20180927/local-construction-company-creates-solar-division

Arizona Construction Company Eyes Future With No Guest Workers

By: Matthew Casey

Oct. 1 marks the start of a new year for the federal government. And immigration officials have already been processing requests from business owners who want to hire foreign guest workers through the tiny H-2B visa program. In Part 1 of a Fronteras Desk special report on labor and migration, the story of a Arizona-based drywall company that turned to H-2B labor as the economic recovery began and it’s share of the market grew.

Vicente and Mario Moran climbed step ladders in unison, and held a heavy board over their heads. The cousins, who work for the company Paul Johnson Drywall, were in Goodyear, toiling on what will eventually be a senior living center.

“One board will wear you out,” Vicente said. “So you’ve got to be special kind of crazy to do this job.”

Hanging vertical drywall is hard work. Fastening it to the ceiling is even tougher. From the top of their step ladders, the men lifted the drywall in to place. Then they held it up with one hand, reached for their tool belts with the other, and started drilling in screws.

A family of Mexican immigrants, relatives showed Vicente and Mario this business. The entry level wage is around $27,000 a year. Top workers earn more than $100,000.

Read More >> https://fronterasdesk.org/content/704241/arizona-construction-company-eyes-future-no-guest-workers

Local Construction Company Wins Bid for Operations Center

By:  Ben Gilbert

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Greene County Commission has awarded Branco Construction a bid to build the county's new Operations Center.

The new facility will host several services, including maintenance, print shop, mailroom, and supply.

Branco is a local company and bid $600,000 under budget for the job.

Construction is set to begin in November.

Source >> https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/local-construction-company-wins-bid-for-operations-center/1475874930

Group signs contract with construction company

By: MONIKA SINGH

THE tender for the iconic Fijian Holdings Ltd tower was awarded to China Railway Group, with the contract agreement signed by the two parties in Suva yesterday.

FHL board chairman Adrian Sofield said the FHL Tower was going to be an iconic building for the Capital City and they expected very high standards.

Mr Sofield said they were confident that CRG would ensure their expectations were met. At a press conference and signing of the contract yesterday,

Mr Sofield said there was a very detailed and transparent tender process with 11 companies applying for the tender for the project.

He said out of the 11 companies they shortlisted three and then selected CRG for the project.

Mr Sofield said FHL Group was a very diversified investment company and had interests in manufacturing, retail and tourism, to name a few.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the 17-storey FHL Tower will take place today with construction expected to be completed by 2021.

Source >> http://www.fijitimes.com/group-signs-contract-with-construction-company/

Crews raising construction crane in downtown Concord

By: Staff

CONCORD – Hurricane Florence is well past the area, and now workers will return a 375-foot crane to its place to continue construction of the new downtown Concord parking deck.

Crews will close Market Street SW entirely from 7 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 18) through 6 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 19) to get the crane into position for raising.

The crane was originally lowered on Sept. 12 and positioned in parking spaces along the west side of Market Street SW. The move protected the equipment from the storm’s potential high winds.

The 614-spot parking deck is under construction at the corner of Corban Avenue SW and Spring Street SW, across from the Cabarrus County Courthouse. The project addresses increased parking demands for courthouse activities.

The county expects the new courthouse deck will also support growth in downtown Concord and encourage evening and weekend visitors to the area.

Cabarrus County awarded construction of the parking deck to Messer Construction Company. Morris Berg Architects and engineers Kimley-Horn completed the design and are providing construction administration.

For more information about the project, visit www.cabarruscounty.us/resources/county-parking-deck

Source >> https://www.independenttribune.com/news/crews-raising-construction-crane-in-downtown-concord/article_2f083058-bb4f-11e8-8be6-6f65217d9576.html

Construction of Pottsville ambulance station to start soon

By: AISLING BRENNAN

A NEW ambulance station to serve the southern end of the Tweed Coast is a step closer to fruition after a local construction company was awarded the job.

Work will begin as early as next month after the NSW Government announced today it had awarded the job tender to local company Hutchinson Builders.

The $5.9 million purpose-built station will be at 1128 Pottsville Rd, on the southern side of the road, between the first entrance to the Seabreeze Estate and Coronation Drive.

Paramedics relieved with new ambulance station for Coast

Big win for the people

State government promises ambulance station for Pottsville

Tweed MP Geoff Provest said the station had been designed with input from local paramedics and will include internal parking for up to four emergency ambulance vehicles, logistics and storage areas, relief accommodation, staff parking, plus a delivery and loading bay.

"This is a significant milestone in the NSW Government's election commitment to build a new ambulance station at Pottsville as part of the $122 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program” Mr Provest said.

"The NSW Government is investing in purpose-built and modern NSW Ambulance stations to support the clinical capability of our highly trained paramedics.”

Read More >> https://www.tweeddailynews.com.au/news/construction-of-pottsville-ambulance-station-to-st/3524634/

BACK Construction Named Small Business of the Year

By: Staff

BACK Construction has been named as the 2018 Small Business of the Year by Commerce Lexington, Inc.

Formed in 1981 by partners Billy Knight, Alvin Edge, Chuck Ross and Kyle Whalen, BACK  provides home remodeling and repairs in the Central Kentucky area. The business initially concentrated on residential framing and building horse barns. By 1994, with only two original partners left, the company started to focus on remodeling. In 2003, Whalen purchased the rights to the company from the last original partner, and Rob Hundley, an employee at the time, also became a principal owner in the business.

Today, BACK Construction has four divisions, providing design/build services, handyman services, roofing, and window and door installation. The company maintains a workforce of 51 professionals to serve clients. In six of the last eight years, BACK enjoyed double-digit growth, and last year, it was ranked 31st among the top 50 remodelers as named by Remodeling Magazine.

The recipient of this year’s Business Success Category Award, BACK Construction was chosen for the overall Small Business of the Year honor from five different category winners. The company now has the opportunity to be considered for state and national recognition through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Commerce Lexington Inc. began its small business awards program in 1986, recognizing 97 outstanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations since its inception.

Read More >> https://smileypete.com/business/back-construction/

Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria Construction to Begin by Late 2018

By: Leman Zeynalova

It is planned to start the construction of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria, by late 2018, said Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova.

She made the remarks during the South-East Europe Energy Forum in Thessaloniki, Greece, said a message from Bulgaria’s Energy Ministry.

Petkova pointed out that IGB is of geostrategic importance for Bulgaria and Southeastern and Central Europe in terms of the diversification of supplies.

"Huge progress has been made thanks to the political commitment of the governments of Greece and Bulgaria, as well as the European Commission and the United States," she added.

Petkova went on to add that the sources of financing for the project have already been defined.

The project has already received a grant of 45 million euros under the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR) and about 39 million euros from the European Structural and Investment Funds for Bulgaria, she said.

"Currently, the project company is actively working to complete the procurement procedures, and we expect these activities to be completed successfully in the second half of the year." We plan to start the IGB construction by the end of this year and end it in 2020.”

IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets.

The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas.

Source >> https://www.novinite.com/articles/192043/Interconnector+Greece-Bulgaria+Construction+to+Begin+by+Late+2018

OF construction company acquires long-time partner

By: Landan Kuhlmann

A familiar corporation in the local area has just expanded its already-extensive portfolio with the acquisition of another Houston company in a match made in corporate heaven.

On Aug. 30, MAREK Construction – sitting just off Judiway Street in Oak Forest – announced that Houston-based Ryder Insulation will join the MAREK team, consolidating all employees from its former home at 5810 North Houston Rosslyn Rd. to MAREK’s offices.

Both family-owned with a strong reputation for safety and quality, MAREK and Ryder have worked alongside each other for nearly 40 years on numerous high-profile commercial construction projects in Houston. Their partnerships include work on ExxonMobil’s Woodlands campus, Phillips 66’s headquarters, and Texas Children’s Pediatrics and Maternity Center.

“They do everything right and ethically, they take care of their customers and employees the same way Marek does,” MAREK Managing Director Saied Alavi said. “We never hesitated to hire Ryder to do jobs, because we know it’s going to be done correctly.”

MAREK Managing Director Phil Nevlud believes the service Ryder offers is a natural fit with MAREK’s existing culture of interior services such as paint, specialty finishes, flooring, fabric panels, special remodel projects and more.

“Ryder’s deep expertise in fireproofing, fire-stopping, and advanced insulation techniques will strengthen MAREK’s portfolio of offerings for customers, ensuring a seamless experience for them,” he said.

Ryder Owner and President John Ryder had been searching for good hands in which to place the business his father began, along with its employees, and the two’s existing partnership and friendship made the acquisition a perfect fit. Ryder approached MAREK about the acquisition about a year ago.

“Since 1963, we have been focused on providing exceptional work on time and budget. Just like MAREK, our strong commitment to customers and employees, along with strong experience and supervision are hallmarks of our success,” he said. “We are excited to join the MAREK family.”

Ryder will remain on, joining MAREK as a Specialty Department Manager, while Ryder Insulation employees began assimilating into MAREK’s workforce this past Tuesday, Sept. 4.

Read More >> http://theleadernews.com/of-construction-company-acquires-long-time-partner/

Construction begins on $46M Alabama baseball stadium

By: Staff

Turner Construction Company’s North Alabama office has started building the Madison Baseball Park at the new Town Madison Development, reports the Huntsville Business Journal.

In January, the Madison City Council approved a $46 million deal with BallCorps LLC for the new stadium.

Work on the stadium, which will have the capacity to hold about 7,000 people, is expected to be complete in December 2019.

Turner is working with lead designer Populous and engineers Mullins LLC, Thornton Tomasetti and Henderson Engineers.

The Town Madison development under construction off I-565 has been floated as a possible new home for the Mobile BayBears, which BallCorps has purchased. Louis Breland, the landowner and joint venture partner of Town Madison, is the local co-owner of the BayBears.

The new development includes 1 million square feet of retail space, 600,000 square feet of commercial space, 700 hotel rooms and 2,000 residential units.

An apartment complex at the development is expected to open in summer 2019.

Source >> https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/news/2018/09/05/construction-begins-on-46m-alabama-baseball.html

Construction on $35M West-Side Development Could Start in October

By: Brandon Mejia

A $35 million mixed-use development is gaining traction on the west side. With help from Rio Nuevo, construction could begin as early as October.

The Monier Project, launched by Gadsden Company, is a development in the Mercado district, west of I-10 near Congress Street. The project includes 13,000 square feet in retail space, a parking garage and 122 market-rate apartments.

"It's a beautiful project, and it would have died except for Rio Nuevo," said Rio Nuevo Chairman Fletcher McCusker.

The project was hit late with an unexpected rise in construction costs that increased its price tag by 12.3 percent, according to Adam Weinstein, the CEO of the Gadsden. The company has already invested more than a quarter of the overall cost.

Last week the Rio Nuevo Board voted unanimously to contribute $2.4 million to Gadsden to cover the rise in construction costs.

"Without us, this is a great example of a project that would have died," McCusker said. "Now they’re going to break ground in October." He said the retail alone could produce half a million dollars a year from sales tax.

The Gadsden Company is no stranger to the west side of town, nor with Rio Nuevo. Both previously worked together and provided space for many new shops and restaurants like Westbound, a bar and bottle shop, and Transit Cycle. Both are located in the Mercado San Agustín.

The project's name Monier, derived from Quintus Monier, who founded the Tucson Pressed Brick Co. in 1986 near Sentinel Peak on the west side of town.

Source >> https://news.azpm.org/p/news-articles/2018/9/4/136369-construction-on-35m-west-side-development-could-start-in-october/

Contract to build Iloilo dam project signed with South Korean company

By: Victor V. Saulon

THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Monday signed a contract with a South Korean builder for the construction of a dam in Iloilo province worth P11.212 billion.

In ceremonies at NIA’s headquarters, the agency through its Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya formally closed the deal with representatives from Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd.

The Jalaur River multipurpose project will include a 109-meter high dam, a 38.5-meter afterbay dam, a 10-meter catch dam, and an 80.74-kilometer canal. It is funded by the South Korean government through the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

Pilipina P. Bermudez, a manager with NIA’s public affairs information staff, in an interview said next to the Jalaur project, 10 other “flagship” infrastructure projects are undergoing feasibility studies, six of which already have an estimated cost.

“These will be funded by China,” she said, referring to official development assistance (ODA) from the Chinese government.

“The terms are light,” she added, without disclosing specific numbers.

Of the six projects worth nearly P55 billion, two are on the agency’s priority list: the second stage of the Ilocos Norte irrigation project valued at P22.36 billion, using a valuation from two years ago; and the Panay River basin integrated development project in Iloilo and Capiz worth P19.357 billion.

Ms. Bermudez said she expects the two projects to obtain funding from China when President Xi Jinping visits the Philippines in November.

The four other projects are the Bohol northeast basin multipurpose dam which carries an indicative cost of P4.134 billion; Asbang small reservoir irrigation project in Davao del Sur at P1.355 billion; Tumauini River multipurpose project in Isabela at P4.121 billion; and Gregorio del Pilar impounding project in Ilocos Sur at P3.452 billion.

During the Jalaur contract signing, NIA officials noted that the project was mandated under Republic Act 2651, which was enacted by Congress in 1960.

Due to insufficient funds, the project was implemented in two stages. The first stage is the rehabilitation of existing irrigation systems covering an area of 22,340 hectares. It was completed in 1983.

The second stage is the construction of the high dam, hydropower electric plant, domestic water supply facilities, and watershed management systems. The second phase has been stalled since 1988 for unknown reasons, the agency said.

Read More >> http://www.bworldonline.com/contract-to-build-iloilo-dam-project-signed-with-south-korean-company/

China-Africa cooperation: Strengthen infrastructure for more convenient lives

By: Jiang Jiao, Guo Meiping

Facilitating coordinated and balanced development for China-Africa cooperation is one of the five goals of the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing. The China-Africa infrastructure plan, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 2015 Johannesburg Summit, is an important part of China's cooperation with Africa to keep improving the lives of locals.

With the Beijing Summit less than one day to go, CGTN will take you to look at three areas of China-Africa infrastructure cooperation: railway systems, information highways and power supplies, to feel its capability and effectiveness.

Improving transport with railways

China has been playing a crucial part in improving Africa's transport over the years, giving a much-needed boost to the continent's efforts to achieve regional integration.

Data from the Chinese government show that China has helped build or are building more than 6,200 kilometers of railways in Africa.

Following is a list of some major railways undertaken by Chinese firms since 2015.

- Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, Kenya

China in May 2014 signed a deal to build the rail link worth 3.8 billion dollars between Kenya's Mombasa and Nairobi. Around 480 km long, the project's passenger service was launched in mid-2017.

The project, which marks the first phase of a line that is expected to cover a distance of about 2,935 km and eventually connecting Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, will facilitate transportation and boost trade in the eastern African region.

It features passenger trains with a speed of 120 km per hour and freight trains designed to move at 80 km per hour.

- Lobito-Luau railway, Angola

In 2015, a 1,344-km railroad project spanning Angola was completed and put into operation. The railway, linking the coastal city of Lobito in the west and Luau city which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the second longest railway built by a Chinese company for Africa after TAZARA.

- Abuja-Kaduna railway, Nigeria

Read More >> https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d514d3045544f79457a6333566d54/share_p.html

Bahrain's IKEA store enters final stage of construction

By: Sam Bridge

Retail giant IKEA is set to open in Bahrain after officials announced that one of the country's most anticipated stores is close to completion

Scandinavian retail giant IKEA is set to open in Bahrain after officials announced that one of the country's most anticipated stores is in its final stages of construction.

IKEA Bahrain in Salmabad will be the biggest in the region with a retail area of 37,000 sq m spread over two floors, said IKEA Bahrain properties and expansion manager Saleh Khalaf.

“IKEA Bahrain is well on its way to being open to the public. The support of various government bodies has been monumental for the progress we have made with the facility,” he said in a statement.

Following the store’s groundbreaking in October 2016 construction for the project was carried out by the Bahrain-based company Kooheji Contractors.

IKEA Bahrain will consist of a showroom, market hall and self-serve section as well as a bistro and Swedish food market plus the biggest restaurant in the kingdom with a capacity of up to 650 seats and 1,200 parking spaces and a free play facility, called Smaland.

IKEA, which is the world’s largest retailer for furniture and is known around the world for its ready-to-assemble furniture and other home accessories, is being opened in Bahrain in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Ghassan Ahmed Al Sulaiman Furniture Trading Co Ltd, IKEA Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Upon completion, over 1.2 million people are expected to visit IKEA Bahrain every year.

Source >> https://www.arabianbusiness.com/retail/403181-bahrains-ikea-store-enters-final-stage-of-construction