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WORLD NEWS
CONSTRUCTION EUROPE
DECEMBER 2013-JANUARY 2014
INDIA
The World Bank has approved two loans totalling
US$660 million (€486 million) to support the
development of India’s road network. The largest
loan of US$500 million (€368 million) will be put
towards India’s National Highways Interconnectivity
Improvement Project.
The scheme will upgrade and widen about
1,120km of existing National Highways to two-lane
in the states of Bihar, Orissa and Rajasthan, and
in less developed regions of Karnataka and West
Bengal. A further US$160 million (€118 million)
loan will support the Rajasthan Road Sector
Modernisation Project.
This scheme plans to construct 2500km of rural
roads, connect around 1,300 villages, and also
undertake preparatory studies for improving 700km
of priority sections of the state’s highways.
COSTA RICA
The Inter-American Development Bank is to lend
US$400 million (€294 million) to Costa Rica to
upgrade its road and port infrastructure. The
China Co-financing Fund for Latin America has
also pledged US$50 million (€36.8 million) for the
project, which will repair or pave up to 110km of
the national road network, widen 5km of roads from
two to four lanes, and build or repair 19 bridges. The
work will also include repairs to 400m of breakwater
in ports.
UZBEKISTAN
The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) has agreed
a US$110 million (€80.9 million) loan for a 100MW
solar power plant in Samarkand, the capital of
Samargand Province. The Uzbekistan Government
has said that it aims to generate 21% of the
country’s power from renewable sources, including
solar, by 2031. It is hoped the new power plant,
set to be the largest of its kind in Central Asia, will
promote large-scale solar energy development in
the country.
INDONESIA
A US$400 million (€294 million) loan from the Asian
Development Bank has been approved to help
improve infrastructure and transport regulations
in Indonesia. The funds will be used to address
weak transport connectivity and poor logistics,
among other developments aimed at kick-starting
its economy. Funding will also be invested into
improving inter-island links between poorer eastern
parts of the country with growth centres and
markets in the west.
JORDAN
Jordan’s JWPC Tafila Wind Farm project has received
financial support worth US$220 million (€162
million) – representing almost 77% of the total
cost – according to the European Investment Bank.
Jordan Wind Project Company is developing the
117MW wind farm and associated electrical facilities
in the Tafila Governorate in Jordan.
The wind farm will run 38 turbines. Once fully
developed, the project will account for almost 10%
of the country’s renewable energy target by 2020
(1,200MW).
WORLD IN BRIEF
BRAZIL
Crane accident at stadium
Two workers died when
a crane collapsed on the
construction site of the
Arena Corinthians sports
stadium, in São Paulo,
Brazil.
The Liebherr lattice
boom crawler crane
collapsed while installing
a prefabricated steel
section of the roof
around lunch time on 27
November.
The cause of the
accident was being
investigated as
CE
went
to press.
The incident may delay
delivery of the completed
stadium scheduled for
31 December. Arena
Corinthians is due to host
the opening match and
five further games in the
2014 football World Cup.
Covering a total area of
200,000m², the BRL800
million (€289 million),
66,000-seater stadium
is located near a metro
and a train station in the
heart of one of the city’s
favela (slum) districts.
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GLOBAL
Demand for cement is
still on the increase
Sales are forecast to expand more than 5%
a year between 2013 and 2017
W
orldwide demand for cement could reach 4.7 billion tonnes in 2017,
according to market research company Freedonia.
Cement sales are forecast to expand by more than 5% a year between
now and 2017, which represents a slight decline in pace from the 2007 to 2012 period.
However, for markets such as North America and Western Europe, which were
hit hard by the global economic recession and therefore saw demand for cement
stagnate or decline, cement consumption is expected to rebound sharply by as much
as 6%.
Eastern Europe is also tipped by the Freedonia analysts to perform much better. But
China, which has led demand for cement in recent years, will see levels decelerate.
Despite this, it will still command more than 50% of all additional cement demand
between now and 2017.
Product sales in China are projected to rise nearly 5% a year during this period
– still a healthy growth but down considerably on its double-digit pace of the last
decade. Demand for cement in the rest of the Asia/Pacific region will accelerate.
According to Freedonia, the non-building segment of the global cement market
is expected to outperform its counterparts, as governments in both developed and
industrialising countries invest heavily in public infrastructure.
Blended cement is projected to account for 75% of all new product demand
generated between 2012 and 2017. Despite losing market share, the forecast is for
Portland cement still to be used extensively in higher-end applications.
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The new terminal at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Guangdong,
China, opened on 28 November, 2013. Designed by architects Massimiliano
and Doriana Fuksas, the project the 1.5km long structure features internal and
external double skin honeycomb that wraps the structure, with roof spans of up
to 80m. Completed within three years, the terminal covers 500,000m
2
and is the
largest public building in Shenzhen. It will increase the capacity of the airport
by 58%, allowing it to handle up to 45 million passengers per year.
