Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that it has been appointed preferred bidder for the transmission assets of the Thanet offshore wind farm project, located off the most eastern part of Kent, as part of the Offshore Transmission Owners (“OFTO”) regulatory regime.
Once financial close has been achieved, Balfour Beatty will own, operate and maintain the offshore high-voltage transmission asset, which will connect the wind farm to the onshore electricity transmission system, through a 20-year licence awarded by Ofgem, the Government regulator for gas and electricity markets.
Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said:
"We are delighted to have been awarded preferred bidder status on this prestigious project. It is a significant step in our strategy to develop our non-PPP infrastructure investment business and is an excellent opportunity for Balfour Beatty to establish itself as a leading infrastructure investor and service provider within the offshore renewable industry.”
The indicative transfer value of the asset is £163 million. Balfour Beatty will invest 100% of the required equity in the project upon financial close, which is expected to be in 2010.
Today's announcement follows the competitive tender process launched by Ofgem in July 2009 for offshore electricity transmission assets. Balfour Beatty's success reflects its expertise in infrastructure investment and experience in offshore transmission maintenance.
Balfour Beatty is also one of the bidders for the £101 million offshore transmission assets of the Ormonde offshore wind farm project, located in the Irish Sea off Barrow-in-Furness, which Ofgem announced today has entered a further round of bidding.
Balfour Beatty currently works in the UK and in international markets on the design, construction, maintenance and installation of extra high-voltage transmission systems and currently delivers around £300 million per annum of transmission maintenance and construction worldwide.
ENDS
Media/analyst enquiries:
Marjorie Hooper
Balfour Beatty plc
Tel 020 7216 6883
www.balfourbeatty.com
Notes to Editors:
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Balfour Beatty (www.balfourbeatty.com) is a world-class infrastructure group operating in professional services, construction services, support services and infrastructure investments.
We work in partnership with our customers principally in the UK, the US, South-East Asia and the Middle East, who value the highest levels of quality, safety and technical expertise.
Key infrastructure markets include transportation (roads, rail and airports); social infrastructure (education, specialist healthcare, and various types of accommodation); utilities (water, gas and power transmission and generation) and commercial (offices, leisure and retail).
The Group delivers services essential to the development, creation and care of these infrastructure assets including investment, project design, financing and management, engineering and construction, and facilities management services.
Balfour Beatty employs 50,000 people around the world.
