SNC-Lavalin Constructors used 5.5 million labor hours to build the
Panda Gila River Project in Arizona. The power plant cranks out
2,250 megawatts of electricity.
SNC-Lavalin Constructors
Panda Gila River Project
Owner: Panda Gila River LP
Engineer: SNC-Lavalin Constructors
Redmond’s SNC-Lavalin Constructors faced considerable logistical and situational challenges on the $1.2 billion Panda Gila River Project, which is owned by a joint venture of Panda Energy International and TECO Power Services.
The project, located in Arizona, uses natural gas to produce 2,250 megawatts of electricity, making it one of the largest and most efficient fossil fuel power plants in North America.
Although the Enron bankruptcy impacted the project when major suppliers and subcontractors halted the manufacture and delivery of critical components to the site, SNC-Lavalin collaborated with the client, the remaining suppliers and vendors to keep needed supplies flowing. To make up time from the supply delays, the project team used a fully staffed night shift with an overlapping shift of supervision to bridge communication between the two shifts.
At its peak, the project employed 2,200 direct craft personnel, including a culturally diverse population of Spanish-speaking and Navajo workers. The project had a high turnover rate due to inclement weather, competition from other area projects, work schedules and long daily commutes. In order to keep it on target, SNC-Lavalin recruited skilled workers from other states including Texas and Louisiana.
Finally, in order to improve the process for final system inspection and turnover from construction to startup, SNC-Lavalin established a distinct construction turnover group to coordinate the process between quality assurance and startup.
During 5,552,325 hours worked, there were 74 recordable OSHA incidents, earning SNC-Lavalin an OSHA incident rate of 2.67, well below the national industry average.
ABC members on the job included Industrial Resources, SimplexGrinnell, Tradesmen International, White Cap Industries and Evergreen Williams Scotsman.