Since 2010, Fluor managed the engineering, procurement, and construction management for the project.
The main target was to complete the relevant facilities to support meeting the “first coal” milestone by mid-November 2011. Fluor achieved this significant milestone two weeks ahead of schedule.
This milestone was preceded by an intricate five-week shutdown from mid-September 2011 to dismantle existing facilities, and tie-in, test, and commission the required new process facilities and systems to enable coal to be conveyed to Morupule ‘B' power station.
All new facilities were built around the existing plant while it was still producing coal for the Morupule ‘A' power station and other clients.
Completion of the infrastructure portion of the project, e.g., administration building, workshops, central control room, fire station, clinic, laboratory, change rooms, was achieved in mid July 2012.
Fluor hired local labor and local subcontractors for work such as IT infrastructure, civil construction, and transmission lines. Supervision and craft numbers peaked at 465, with local content above 75 percent. Skills were transferred in the areas of contract administration, field supervision, document control, and warehouse management, to name a few.