Topic: Asset management

By Jonathan Norman
March 7th 2019

Evening Discussion Dinner: Lessons from Decommissioning Highlight Report

The World faces an unprecedented challenge: much of its infrastructure is reaching the end of its life. The combined effects of the move to decarbonisation and aging investment means that trillions of dollars of infrastructure decommissioning will need to take place.

Decommissioning of infrastructure refers to the suite of processes involved in withdrawing a facility from service at the end of its life, deconstructing and dismantling it, and removing the components for reuse, recycling or disposal. Until very recently, decommissioning has been widely overlooked: focus has historically been on high-status ‘new build’ projects. However, a plethora of technical, economic, social and environmental challenges, of large magnitude and deep urgency, have emerged as the decommissioning of infrastructure begins in earnest.
The scale of the global decommissioning task is gargantuan and defies accurate estimation. Not only is it impossible to know how much infrastructure is being decommissioned, it is impossible to know whether the decision taken to decommission in the first place was the correct one. And decommissioning costs can spiral out of control. (The UK has seen estimates of its cost of nuclear decommissioning costs rise from £40bn in 2005 to over £110bn in 2015)

Against this background, this discussion dinner provides attendees with an opportunity to consider the imminent impact that decommissioning will have on their own organisation and the lessons they need to learn now around the design and delivery of infrastructure to avoid these issues in the future.

By Jonathan Norman
November 10th 2016

UK Energy Approach to 2025 – getting major projects moving Full Report

The UK energy sector is in a period of uncertainty that is stifling investment and preventing major projects from moving forwards. As politicians attempt to unravel the implications of leaving the EU, the energy sector continues to battle with tight reserve margins and low investor confidence. But there is no doubt that investment is needed in both generating capacity and new revolutionary approaches to transmission and system management. At this full day seminar the Major Projects Association considers the measures that could be implemented to ensure that the UK moves forward on new energy investments and maintains a leading technical position in a world that is heading towards a digital energy revolution.

The likely topics to be covered:

– Policy – The impact of new Department for Business, Energy and Industry.
– Political overview – The impact of Brexit upon the single market; Renewables policy.
– Generation – What is the optimum approach for the UK nuclear power projects? Potential and barriers to the use of SMRs? What can be done to support the sector and ensure that hydropower, wind and solar schemes can come to fruition?
– Smart Power* – The impact of Virtual energy storage and Network development.
– Finance – How can (and should) the UK plug the energy investment gap to get much needed finance for generation and distribution? Which projects and sectors are in most need of financial incentives?

* Delegates may wish to read the NIC’s recent report on Smart Power which can be found via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505218/IC_Energy_Report_web.pdf

By Jonathan Norman
November 10th 2016

UK Energy Approach to 2025 – getting major projects moving Highlight Report

The UK energy sector is in a period of uncertainty that is stifling investment and preventing major projects from moving forwards. As politicians attempt to unravel the implications of leaving the EU, the energy sector continues to battle with tight reserve margins and low investor confidence. But there is no doubt that investment is needed in both generating capacity and new revolutionary approaches to transmission and system management. At this full day seminar the Major Projects Association considers the measures that could be implemented to ensure that the UK moves forward on new energy investments and maintains a leading technical position in a world that is heading towards a digital energy revolution.

The likely topics to be covered:

– Policy – The impact of new Department for Business, Energy and Industry.
– Political overview – The impact of Brexit upon the single market; Renewables policy.
– Generation – What is the optimum approach for the UK nuclear power projects? Potential and barriers to the use of SMRs? What can be done to support the sector and ensure that hydropower, wind and solar schemes can come to fruition?
– Smart Power* – The impact of Virtual energy storage and Network development.
– Finance – How can (and should) the UK plug the energy investment gap to get much needed finance for generation and distribution? Which projects and sectors are in most need of financial incentives?

* Delegates may wish to read the NIC’s recent report on Smart Power which can be found via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505218/IC_Energy_Report_web.pdf

By Jonathan Norman
November 10th 2016

UK Energy Approach to 2025 – getting major projects moving Short Report

The UK energy sector is in a period of uncertainty that is stifling investment and preventing major projects from moving forwards. As politicians attempt to unravel the implications of leaving the EU, the energy sector continues to battle with tight reserve margins and low investor confidence. But there is no doubt that investment is needed in both generating capacity and new revolutionary approaches to transmission and system management. At this full day seminar the Major Projects Association considers the measures that could be implemented to ensure that the UK moves forward on new energy investments and maintains a leading technical position in a world that is heading towards a digital energy revolution.

The likely topics to be covered:

– Policy – The impact of new Department for Business, Energy and Industry.
– Political overview – The impact of Brexit upon the single market; Renewables policy.
– Generation – What is the optimum approach for the UK nuclear power projects? Potential and barriers to the use of SMRs? What can be done to support the sector and ensure that hydropower, wind and solar schemes can come to fruition?
– Smart Power* – The impact of Virtual energy storage and Network development.
– Finance – How can (and should) the UK plug the energy investment gap to get much needed finance for generation and distribution? Which projects and sectors are in most need of financial incentives?

* Delegates may wish to read the NIC’s recent report on Smart Power which can be found via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/505218/IC_Energy_Report_web.pdf

By Jonathan Norman
May 16th 2013

Delivering Major Projects in Brazil Full Report

In the last 10 years infrastructure investment in Brazil has tripled, reaching $100 billion in 2012. The demands of the economic expansion, the income growth of Brazilians and the social inclusion process have forced the country to accelerate its infrastructure development particularly in the area of logistics and energy. The Government’s Accelerated Growth Program (Programa de Aceleração de Crescimento, PAC) allocated an estimated $800bn to Brazil’s public infrastructure sector between 2008 and 2013. PAC2 continued this rate of investment in major projects. In 2012, in response to these pressing demands, President Dilma Rousseff launched the Logistics Investment Program designed to work with the private sector in order to renew and integrate the transportation network.

Between March and September 2013 the Government will make concession auctions for 7,500 km of highways, 10,000 km of railways as well as extra airport and port capacity. 2013 also sees further bidding rounds for oil and gas, as well as hydropower and wind-power projects and the installation of 23,200 km of electricity transmission lines. The EPL – Brazilian Planning and Logistics Company – which has been set up to deliver these projects – has the largest portfolio of infrastructure projects in the world.

Additionally this year, the Government has (re)scheduled the concession auction for the country’s first high speed railway to connect Rio de Janeiro, Saão Paulo and Campinas – 511 km in length. The country is also in the spotlight as it delivers the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.

These are all good news, but the intended infrastructure boost is coming at a time in which the Brazilian economy is slowing down and the supply chain for major projects is stretched to its limits. This will affect projects and pose corporate, finance and legal challenges to employers and contractors involved in delivering projects in Brazil in the coming years.

This full day seminar will offer an insight into this huge undertakings and how the public and private sectors are planning to deliver these projects and deal with related risks. HM Consul General for Rio de Janeiro, Paula Walsh, will Chair the day bringing her own experience of how Rio is gearing up for the 2016 Games. Experts will set the scene and give the funder’s perspective; and British and Brazilian nationals will share their own experiences of working on transport, energy and other major projects.

This seminar is aimed at those hoping to help deliver these projects as well as those hoping to learn from project professionals around the world about how they do things differently. Delegates attending this event will leave with:

A clear overview of the pipeline of major projects in Brazil
An understanding of how major projects are delivered differently compared to the UK
A “warts and all” view of the challenges of delivering major projects in Brazil

By Jonathan Norman
June 10th 2010

Driving the UKs Motorways to success Full Report

This half day seminar concentrates on the Highways Agency’s Managed Motorways Programme. We will learn about how the concept was brought to fruition and changed the aim of the organisation from one of providing more road capacity to one of providing high standards for drivers.
There are lessons to be gained from the process of progressing from concept to reality and experiences of the first pilot project.
Now that the delivery is led by technological developments rather than construction, the IT integrator will provide a very valuable overview with powerful examples and lessons to be applied to other sectors.

Finally we shall hear from the HA on the current stage of letting contracts under this business model and what they are planning for Generation 2.
This programme provides an excellent opportunity to understand how data capture and response in real time can transform an operation and deliver significant end-user benefits, which is the real purpose of all major projects.

By Jonathan Norman
May 12th 2010

London Games – gold medal project delivery Full Report

This seminar is one of our annual events where we monitor progress towards the London Games 2012. It is intended to cover a much wider sector of interest than just construction of the venue and facilities. Importantly, the opportunity has been taken to design the day’s programme such that busy senior executives do not have to attend for the full day if they are too busy. The day will have more speakers than usual, thus encouraging those delegates to attend part of the day, should that better meet their schedule.

Topics will include the role of the Delivery Partner, site logistics on this very congested site, delivery of the Village and its legacy use, the innovative Energy Centre, leading edge construction of infrastructure, the associated Stratford City, facilities management, electricity provision and maintenance of power supply during the Games themselves.

In addition we are pleased to host a presentation from the person responsible for transportation at the recent Vancouver Games, thus providing a rare opportunity for delegates to hear directly from someone with unique operational lessons.

In all these cases the challenges have been unique and there are valuable lessons to be learnt and transferred to other major projects. Delegates will have the opportunity to question speakers and learn from a number of examples of planning and handover to new bodies and different uses after the Games.

By Jonathan Norman
February 28th 2006

A New Generation of Nuclear Power Stations – Are we Ready? Full Report

Following the government’s announcement in November 2005 of a review of the UK’s energy policy, nuclear power is once again on the political agenda, and the issues of cost, financing, ownership, design, safety, construction, operation, waste disposal and decommissioning are being thought through afresh.

Given that a new generation of nuclear power plants will, most likely, have to be privately funded and owned, what lead will the government offer and what policies need to be put in place?

The seminar assessed the capability and capacity of UK industry to deliver a new generation of nuclear power plants and the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) role in securing nuclear safety in the UK. Reactor options were discussed, as well as the ability of the supply chain to deliver the project.

By Jonathan Norman
May 18th 2004

The Channel Tunnel Rail Link Full Report

London and Continental Railways won the contract to build and operate the The Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 1996. What were the lessons of this most iconic of infrastructure projects?

By Jonathan Norman
January 23rd 2003

Bringing Change to a Dynamic Business: The BBC Property Outsourcing Project Full Report

In the 1990s, the BBC set up a 30 year partnership with Land Securities Trillium to outsource its property portfolio and free up cash for programming. This seminar looked at the commercial and human resource implications of what happened.