Thiess is to play a more significant role in delivering electricity infrastructure in New South Wales under an alliance with one of Australia’s largest energy network providers, Ausgrid.

 

The alliance brings together Thiess, other partners and Ausgrid as the owner participant.

 

It will deliver transmission cable projects for Ausgrid’s five year network investment program.

 

Ausgrid expects to provide the alliance with approximately $50 million of project work per annum with a potential value to Thiess of $210million over five years.

 

Managing Director David Saxelby said Thiess was proud to participate in the alliance which will assist Ausgrid roll out one of the largest infrastructure programs in the nation.

 

Ausgrid Managing Director George Maltabarow said, “About 50 percent of our major substations were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and some of our transmission cables were installed even before that.

 

“The life span of major electrical infrastructure is around 40 or 50 years. Our electricity network has been well maintained and has performed well, however it’s now time to replace much of it from that era.

 

“Investment in the electricity network is also driven by the need to meet peak demand for power, which is growing at about two percent a year. Peak demand occurs on very hot days or very cold nights, when we heat or cool our homes.

 

“This alliance will supplement the work of our internal crews and allow us to deliver our network investment in the most efficient, reliable and timely way,” Mr Maltabarow said.

 

Thiess’ General Manager for New South Wales and the ACT, Owen Vassie said, “The alliance will allow Ausgrid to meet its relatively short time horizon to deliver cable projects to ensure the electricity network continues to be safe and reliable.”

 

Projects will be assigned as they become necessary and the specific terms of individual projects will be negotiated on a case by case basis. Projects include the Surry Hills to Rose Bay cable project, the Mason Park to Rozelle cable project, as well as the Willoughby to Crows Nest and North Sydney cable project.