Multinational Portuguese construction Group Mota-Engil is turning its attention to winning new business in the UK water sector.
Earlier this year with the announcement of the creation of a new UK and Ireland HQ Centre in Loughrea, Co. Galway by its subsidiary companies Glan Agua and civil engineering company MEIC Ltd, CEO of Mota-Engil Gonçalo Moura Martins said the group was committed to expanding its activity in the UK.
Operating on 3 continents and in 22 countries, Mota-Engil employs 29,000 worldwide and has annual revenues of €2.3 billion-plus.
From its office base in St Albans, Hertfordshire Mota-Engil is now understood to be in discussions with infrastructure clients and contractors.
UK Branch Director Luis Moreira da Silva said the group is targeting major projects in sectors like transport and water and that Mota-Engil is open to forming joint ventures and joining consortiums.
Both Glan Aqua and MEIC Ltd have worked on a wide range of water and wastewater infrastructure projects over the last 10 years.
In August Glan Agua were awarded a contract for the design and construction of improvements and upgrades to, and the operation and maintenance (for a fifteen year period) of thirteen existing Group Water Scheme (GWS) water treatment plants in County Mayo.
The extent of the upgrades varies throughout the 13 Group Water Schemes and involves significant design, construction and commissioning works on 8 of the WTPs and minor upgrades to the remaining 5 WTPs. The plants requiring significant works involve the design, construction and commissioning of new dissolved air flotation (DAF) plants, AC Clarifier plants, disinfection equipment and UV reactors. The plants vary in size from approximately 80m³/d to 2,100m³/d.
Following completion of the design and build works Glan Agua Ltd will operate the facilities for a period of 15 years.


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