The Civil Engineering Contractor June 2018

Australia’s state of Victoria is set to transform Melbourne’s rail network once the state capital’s Metro Tunnel landmark project is complete, as part of Victoria’s biggest-ever public transport project. In December 2017, Cross Yarra Partnership, a consortium consisting of Capella Capita, Lendlease, Bouygues Construction, and John Holland, reached agreement with Melbourne Metro Rail Authority for the AUD6-billion financial close of the tunnel and stations package as part of the Metro Tunnel Project. For a period of 25 years, the consortium will finance, design, construct, and maintain the tunnel and stations package, including twin 9km tunnels and five new underground stations in the centre of Melbourne. Part of the project will see the revitalisation of open spaces on land above all five aiming at 0.8GW of solar power by 2020, which the experts feel has a potential of 7GW of solar projects in present conditions. We are working closely with leading developers to join the larger aim of bringing affordable and clean energy to Vietnamese.” Turkey’s latest transport mega project is the planned USD10- billion 51km, 25m-deep canal. Once complete, the water highway will double the maritime trade capacity of the Bosphorus waterway linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea. Once started, the project on Istanbul’s European coast will go out to tender. To be known as the Istanbul Canal, the water highway will run parallel to the crowded Bosphorus Straits. Its width will range between 150 and 400 metres and aims to relieve Bosphorus of heavy shipping traffic, with approximately 53 000 water vehicles currently using it each year. According to the US government statistician, Energy Information Administration, some 2.4-million barrels of oil is shipped through the Straits every day, which is half that of the Suez Canal, but 2.5 times that of Panama Canal — waterways it would rival once built. Once constructed, the plants will generate 270-million units annually, reducing CO 2 emissions by 250 000 tonnes per annum. Some 2.4-million barrels of oil is shipped through the Bosphorus Straits every day. Vietnam is soon to be home to 300MW of solar PV plants. Sterling and Wilson, one of the leading solar EPC companies globally, is planning to construct the plants by June 2019. These projects would be built for leading developers in Vietnam with whom the company is under advance discussions and is set to attract an investment of USD250-million. Once constructed, they will generate 270-million units annually and thereby reduce CO 2 emissions of 250 000 tonnes per annum. Sterling and Wilson would be hiring local talent to construct and maintain the solar projects, thereby contributing to the socio-economic development. The company already has a significant presence in Southeast Asia with over 50MWp of solar PV plants successfully running in the Philippines, powering nearly 30 000 homes presently, and another 60MWp project in commissioning phase in Bangladesh. Bikesh Ogra, CEO – Renewable Energy and Energy Storage at Sterling and Wilson, said, “Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with nearly 8–10% annual increase in power consumption by industries who are the largest consumers of electricity in the country. Government is WORLD NEWS Once the state capital’s Metro Tunnel landmark project is complete, Melbourne’s rail network is set to be transformed. new stations, as well as additional station entrances to reduce overcrowding on major streets in the centre of Melbourne. Walkways at some stations will also be diverted underground, facilitating easy transfer of passengers. Early works are underway, with major construction on the tunnel and stations starting this year. The tunnel boring machines will arrive in Melbourne in 2019. CEC June 2018 - 9

The Civil Engineering Contractor June 2018 | Page 11