25 February 2003
Construction work on the Dhs 515 million Ajman Sewerage project has been officially started by His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman and Member of the UAE Supreme Council, in an official groundbreaking ceremony.
The ceremony was performed by His Highness at a site in the heart of Ajman in front of an invited audience of international VIP guests and representatives of the companies who are the partners in the Ajman Sewerage (Private) Company Limited.
It is anticipated that it will take four years to fully complete construction on one of the biggest building projects ever undertaken in the Emirate of Ajman. The project includes a main treatment plant on the outskirts of the City, 22 individual and mostly underground pumping stations and laying 250km of pipelines to connect properties to the system.
Using a ceremonial spade to break the ground at the event, His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, said: “Today marks a historic moment in the history of our young Emirate. The modernization of our sewerage system here in Ajman will bring massive environmental and economic benefits to us in the future.
“I am very proud to have officially started construction work on what will prove to be a landmark project. We have found ourselves world-class partners to undertake this innovative project to provide a cost effective and long-term solution to sewage treatment.
“It is also very pleasing that senior representatives of our partners in the Ajman Sewerage (Private) Company Limited, Thames Water, Black & Veatch and Six Construct could be with us today to help mark this landmark event.”
The Ajman Sewerage (Private) Company Limited was formed in May 2002 following the enactment of the Ajman Sewer Law. It is a joint venture company owned by the Government of Ajman, Thames Water, Black and Veatch and Six Construct. Thames Water and Black and Veatch are two world leaders in the provision of wastewater services and infrastructure systems and Six Construct, part of Belgium’s Besix, is a leading civil and infrastructure constructor.
Mr. Werner Boettcher, Thames Water Managing Director for Germany, Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “Thames Water is very honoured to be playing such a leading role in establishing a modern sewerage system for the people of Ajman, using our international expertise and knowledge in our first major project in the Gulf.
“We are very proud to have been asked by the Government of Ajman to become lead investor in this unique project which is the biggest privately financed scheme of its kind to have been undertaken in the Gulf area to date.”
Thames Water Middle East will be the operations and maintenance contractor for the duration of the 27.5-year, build, operate and transfer contract whilst Black & Veatch is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. Six Construct will undertake the civil engineering work on the project.
Black & Veatch Chief Executive Doug Smith added: “We are looking forward to the challenge of building a world-class wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure to bring modern sanitation systems to Ajman.
“Over 80 per cent of the investment on this project is to put in place the 250km of pipeline required with a number of main sewers – including a trunk sewer – located in the area where construction work has commenced today.”
The start of construction work follows the recent completion of the financial formalities for the Dhs 515 million project with the lead arranging group for the loan to finance the project comprising Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank, Bayerische Landesbank, Mashreq Bank and United Arab Bank.
It is a 14-year loan that totals Dhs 285 million with the remainder of the project costs covered by equity and payment of connection fees. Ajman Sewerage Company legal adviser was Denton Wilde Sapte and its financial adviser was Mizuho Corporate Bank. Allen & Overy provided legal advice to the lead-arranging group.
The rising population of Ajman is putting a huge strain on the existing septic tank and tanker disposal system that could ultimately lead to major public health issues and will continue to pollute the soil and water of the Emirate.
Building the new plant will bring major economic and environmental benefits to the 250,000 population of the Emirate of Ajman. The world-class state of the art sewerage system for the Emirate will ensure that sewage is removed from homes and businesses directly through underground pipes and then treated in a modern treatment plant.
Fully treated effluent from the plant will then be used for irrigation and other purposes. Currently domestic sewage in Ajman cannot be reused because it is not treated.
To benefit from the modernized sewerage system every one of the estimated 9,000 property owners in the Emirate must register their property with the company and pay a compulsory connection fee as stipulated by the Ajman Sewer Law.
Property owners in the Emirate are now being asked to complete registration forms that will allow their properties to be eventually connected to the new state of the art system. In due course, the new system will replace the existing septage process in Ajman.
-Ends-
Editors Note:
Thames Water is the third largest water company in the world delivering services to over 70 million people in 46 countries including Egypt and Turkey in the Middle East.
Black and Veatch have been in the wastewater business for over 90 years and have successfully delivered delivering power and water infrastructure projects in over 80 countries. The company has played a significant role in a number of projects in the UAE including engineering, construction and expansion of the sewage treatment plant in Sharjah in recent years.
Six Construct is the largest Belgian construction company undertaking civil engineering projects. The company has operated in the UAE for the past 38 years including major projects such as the Emirates Towers and Etisalat Tower in Dubai.
For further information, please contact:
Kevin Hasler/Ashraf Al Shakaa,
Bates PanGulf PR
Tel: 00 9714 2224161,
Fax: 00 9714 2247839
Email:publicrelations@batespangulf.com
Construction work on the Dhs 515 million Ajman Sewerage project has been officially started by His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman and Member of the UAE Supreme Council, in an official groundbreaking ceremony.
The ceremony was performed by His Highness at a site in the heart of Ajman in front of an invited audience of international VIP guests and representatives of the companies who are the partners in the Ajman Sewerage (Private) Company Limited.
It is anticipated that it will take four years to fully complete construction on one of the biggest building projects ever undertaken in the Emirate of Ajman. The project includes a main treatment plant on the outskirts of the City, 22 individual and mostly underground pumping stations and laying 250km of pipelines to connect properties to the system.
Using a ceremonial spade to break the ground at the event, His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, said: “Today marks a historic moment in the history of our young Emirate. The modernization of our sewerage system here in Ajman will bring massive environmental and economic benefits to us in the future.
“I am very proud to have officially started construction work on what will prove to be a landmark project. We have found ourselves world-class partners to undertake this innovative project to provide a cost effective and long-term solution to sewage treatment.
“It is also very pleasing that senior representatives of our partners in the Ajman Sewerage (Private) Company Limited, Thames Water, Black & Veatch and Six Construct could be with us today to help mark this landmark event.”
The Ajman Sewerage (Private) Company Limited was formed in May 2002 following the enactment of the Ajman Sewer Law. It is a joint venture company owned by the Government of Ajman, Thames Water, Black and Veatch and Six Construct. Thames Water and Black and Veatch are two world leaders in the provision of wastewater services and infrastructure systems and Six Construct, part of Belgium’s Besix, is a leading civil and infrastructure constructor.
Mr. Werner Boettcher, Thames Water Managing Director for Germany, Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “Thames Water is very honoured to be playing such a leading role in establishing a modern sewerage system for the people of Ajman, using our international expertise and knowledge in our first major project in the Gulf.
“We are very proud to have been asked by the Government of Ajman to become lead investor in this unique project which is the biggest privately financed scheme of its kind to have been undertaken in the Gulf area to date.”
Thames Water Middle East will be the operations and maintenance contractor for the duration of the 27.5-year, build, operate and transfer contract whilst Black & Veatch is the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. Six Construct will undertake the civil engineering work on the project.
Black & Veatch Chief Executive Doug Smith added: “We are looking forward to the challenge of building a world-class wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure to bring modern sanitation systems to Ajman.
“Over 80 per cent of the investment on this project is to put in place the 250km of pipeline required with a number of main sewers – including a trunk sewer – located in the area where construction work has commenced today.”
The start of construction work follows the recent completion of the financial formalities for the Dhs 515 million project with the lead arranging group for the loan to finance the project comprising Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank, Bayerische Landesbank, Mashreq Bank and United Arab Bank.
It is a 14-year loan that totals Dhs 285 million with the remainder of the project costs covered by equity and payment of connection fees. Ajman Sewerage Company legal adviser was Denton Wilde Sapte and its financial adviser was Mizuho Corporate Bank. Allen & Overy provided legal advice to the lead-arranging group.
The rising population of Ajman is putting a huge strain on the existing septic tank and tanker disposal system that could ultimately lead to major public health issues and will continue to pollute the soil and water of the Emirate.
Building the new plant will bring major economic and environmental benefits to the 250,000 population of the Emirate of Ajman. The world-class state of the art sewerage system for the Emirate will ensure that sewage is removed from homes and businesses directly through underground pipes and then treated in a modern treatment plant.
Fully treated effluent from the plant will then be used for irrigation and other purposes. Currently domestic sewage in Ajman cannot be reused because it is not treated.
To benefit from the modernized sewerage system every one of the estimated 9,000 property owners in the Emirate must register their property with the company and pay a compulsory connection fee as stipulated by the Ajman Sewer Law.
Property owners in the Emirate are now being asked to complete registration forms that will allow their properties to be eventually connected to the new state of the art system. In due course, the new system will replace the existing septage process in Ajman.
-Ends-
Editors Note:
Thames Water is the third largest water company in the world delivering services to over 70 million people in 46 countries including Egypt and Turkey in the Middle East.
Black and Veatch have been in the wastewater business for over 90 years and have successfully delivered delivering power and water infrastructure projects in over 80 countries. The company has played a significant role in a number of projects in the UAE including engineering, construction and expansion of the sewage treatment plant in Sharjah in recent years.
Six Construct is the largest Belgian construction company undertaking civil engineering projects. The company has operated in the UAE for the past 38 years including major projects such as the Emirates Towers and Etisalat Tower in Dubai.
For further information, please contact:
Kevin Hasler/Ashraf Al Shakaa,
Bates PanGulf PR
Tel: 00 9714 2224161,
Fax: 00 9714 2247839
Email:publicrelations@batespangulf.com
© Press Release 2003