A joint venture of AMEC, the international engineering and project management company, Babcock Networks Ltd and Mott MacDonald Group has been awarded a five-year extension by National Grid to its existing five-year Electricity Alliance West contract to upgrade overhead power lines and underground cables across the western half of England and all of Wales.

The extension, with an estimated value of around £650 million, will see the joint venture continue to provide engineering, management and construction services to 2017. AMEC and Babcock International Plc are the major partners with 47.5 per cent share each.


Mike Saunders, President of AMEC's Power and Process Europe business said: "This extension to 2017 is testimony to the excellent day-to-day performance of the Alliance and the focus we have placed on ensuring we safely meet the requirements of a very important and long-standing customer."

Peter Boreham, UK Construction Director for National Grid said: "In the period up to 2021, National Grid expects to invest around £20 billion in our gas and electricity transmission infrastructure to support the UK's growing energy needs.

"Our Construction Division has a major role to play in supporting this unprecedented level of growth and the continuation of our alliance partnerships will play a pivotal role in successfully delivering that forecasted increase, with a continued focus on delivering our work safely, efficiently and sustainably."

(CD/GK)