Welsh civil engineer Alun Griffiths Contractors has been named as preferred bidder for public realm ancillary works on the proposed £1bn Swansea tidal lagoon scheme.
The £25m package of works includes the breakwater surface, roads, slipways, utilities and landscaping, if the project gets the go-ahead.
Abergavenny-based Griffiths in turn has already awarded a design engineering contract to Atkins’ Swansea office and a landscape architect contract to TACP of Cardiff.
Former Balfour Beatty chief executive Andrew McNaughton, who joined Tidal Lagoon Power last month as director of engineering and construction, said: “In delivering the early phase works for tidal lagoon Swansea Bay, Alun Griffiths will take us a step closer to realising our vision. Their use of a local workforce and materials underlines our commitment to the community of Swansea.”
Roger Evans, chair of the Tidal Lagoon industry advisory group, added: “The appointment of Alun Griffiths is a reflection of the developer’s commitment to ensuring that the Wales supply chain is fully able and prepared to realise the economic benefits of this game-changing development.”
Meanwhile, last week it was announced that Laing O’Rourke has been made preferred bidder for the £200m contract to deliver the lagoon’s 410m long turbine house and sluice structure block.
In February, General Electric and Andritz Hydro were announced as preferred bidders for the £300m contract to supply the 16 bi-directional turbines that will generate power for the scheme.
The Tidal Lagoon will provide renewable energy to 120,000 homes
The two firms have committed to using a majority of British large turbine components, to British generators, and to the operation of a dockside turbine assembly plant in Wales
Evans added that “further works packages will be tendered over the coming months and we are encouraged that the other Tier 1 contractors announced so far are being proactive in their engagement with Welsh industry giving us the opportunity to harness the power of this major £1bn investment in Wales.”
However, there has been speculation that the remaining major package due to be announced in the next two weeks – for the marine works – will go outside the UK.
Although Tidal Lagoon Power could not comment, The Guardian has reported that a Chinese construction group is in pole position to win this contract.
The newspaper suggests that awarding this contract to a Chinese firm would go against “key promises by the developers to prioritise local involvement” in the project.
Further tenders for the construction of a turbine assembly plant in Wales, and for the lagoon’s public realm and buildings work, will proceed through the summer.
A decision on granting planning permission for the tidal lagoon is expected to be announced around 10 June, and Tidal Lagoon Power is currently in negotiations with the Department of Energy and Climate Change to agree a “Contract for Difference” for the scheme.
