SNC-Lavalin invests in New York Astoria Energy project

SNC-Lavalin is investing US $60 million in a project to build a 500 MW natural gas-fired power plant in Queens, New York. The Canadian engineers are part of a group of investors for the plant, but will not be doing the engineering.
The project will cost $980 million for the first phase. Known as the Astoria Energy project, it will serve millions in the greater New York area and is to begin construction shortly for the Consolidated Edison Company.
SNC-Lavalin will be guaranteeing the performance of Stone & Webster who have been hired to do engineering, procurement and construction. Stone & Webster’s parent, the Shaw Group, will also be guaranteeing the engineers’ performance.
In the past two weeks SNC-Lavalin have announced two other major contracts: one to provide engineering, procurement and construction management of a project for the Trans Alaska Pipeline. The company’s Edmonton office will be doing the $250 million project to upgrade the pipeline’s pump stations. The pipeline transports crude oil from Alaska’s North Slope across 800 miles of tundra, mountains and rivers to Prince William Sound.
A third project will see SNC-Lavalin ATP build an underground transmission line for Three Sisters Mountain Village near Banff National Park.
The project involves the construction of a double circuit 138kV underground line to replace two existing overhead circuits. The aim is to improve the landscape’s appearance. Construction will be difficult because of the moutnainous terrain, combined with abandoned shallow mineshafts and sinkholes.