PORR Enters UK Market with Humber Pipeline Project
Austrian construction firm PORR AG has entered the UK market as part of a joint venture tasked with designing and constructing a new high-pressure gas pipeline under the Humber River for National Grid.
PORR AG, an Austrian construction company, has secured its first project in Great Britain through a joint venture with Skanska UK and A.Hak. The consortium has been awarded a contract by National Grid to design and build a replacement high-pressure gas pipeline tunnel under the River Humber.
The project involves constructing a 5km tunnel to house a single 42-inch steel pipe, replacing an existing pipeline on the riverbed. The estimated cost of the three-year project is approximately GBP 150 million (EUR 186 million). The contract award is contingent on planning consent, expected in September 2016.
The Humber pipeline is a critical component of the UK's national gas transmission system. The existing pipeline has experienced erosion due to tidal changes in the River Humber, leading to sections becoming exposed. The new tunnelled pipeline offers a long-term solution to ensure a secure gas supply to millions of customers.
Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of PORR, stated that the contract represents a significant vote of confidence in the joint venture's capabilities. "The Humber Pipeline is an exciting large-scale project requiring extensive know-how and technical expertise. The requisite competencies are perfectly bundled in our joint venture," Strauss said. He noted that this project marks PORR's entry into the UK market and aligns with the company's strategy of collaborating with strong local partners.