CIMIC Group’s UGL and CPB Contractors have entered an early contractor involvement (ECI) contract with energy infrastructure company CuString related to the delivery of CopperString 2.0, a high-voltage transmission network in Queensland extending from Townsville in the east to Mount Isa in the west.
CIMIC said in a statement that the $7 million ECI contract involves scoping, designing, site investigations, pricing and finalising the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract for substations and high voltage transmission lines that will connect Mount Isa’s isolated electricity supply network into the National Electricity Market (NEM) at Woodstock, just south of Townsville.
UGL and CPB Contractors are also preferred contractors for the delivery phase of the project, which is expected to generate revenue for the companies of approximately $1.7 billion over the three-year construction period.
The delivery phase would include the design, construction and commissioning of four new substations, two substation extensions and approximately 1,100kms of high voltage transmission line for the project.
UGL Managing Director Doug Moss noted that the company ‘has solid experience’ delivering high voltage power projects in some of Australia’s remote regions, including the HV connection that feeds Prominent Hill in South Australia.
“We are delighted to be working with CuString Pty Ltd, the proponent of the CopperString project, to deliver power infrastructure that will support the growth of this globally significant resources region and export supply chain,” he added.
CPB Contractors Managing Director Jason Spears said: “CPB Contractors will leverage its experience in delivering nation building infrastructure to ensure that this strategically important transmission line is completed in a safe and timely manner. In doing so, we’ll also create job and procurement opportunities for Queensland’s regional communities.”
