ICA Fluor was founded in 1993 as a joint venture of Empresas ICA, S.A.B. de C.V., and Fluor to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services in Mexico. The company began the Fenix project by determining the project definitions and scope, developing a ROM estimate for each plant, and supplying all equipment and most of the bulk materials.
Engineering, procurement, and construction scope was awarded later.
Major obstacles were overcome in constructing plants at an operating steel site. For example, to avoid interference between the construction work and the trains feeding the operating steel shop, workers were moved a safe distance from the rail tracks whenever the trains came in, every 45 minutes.
More than 600 tons of pig iron were buried underground. Some pieces weighed more than 30 tons and had to be cut into pieces to be moved. In addition, the tracks had to be moved several times to accommodate excavations.
Structural steel was designed and fabricated in six shops, where management and craft were trained in Fluor procedures and standards, and welders were qualified to the specifications required. More than 600 craft workers were trained.
Civil workers were housed in nearby camps.
The peak workforce was 4,500.