The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has signed the $1.5 billion, 25-year Aquatrine "A" contract with BREY Utilities, a joint venture between Earth Tech and Kelda Plc.
Project Aquatrine is one of the UK government’s largest public/private partnership projects. The project is being undertaken by the MoD in England, Wales and Scotland with the aim of transferring responsibility for the operation and maintenance of MoD water and wastewater assets and infrastructure to private sector. As part of BREY, Earth Tech will implement the infrastructure upgrades to ensure that all of the MoD facilities meet current environmental standards.
Package A is the first of three Project Aquatrine packages to be awarded and covers the Midlands, Wales and Southwest England. BREY will have responsibility for more than 1,000 MoD sites, including many of the MoD’s larger bases such as RAF Cosford and RAF Lyneham, Army garrisons at Bordon and Larkhill, and HMNB Portsmouth where over half of the Royal Navy’s fleet is based.
To mark this significant milestone, a Relationship Charter signing ceremony took place at Addleshaw Goddard offices in London on May 20th. Ceremony signees included MoD Chief Executive Vice Admiral Peter Dunt, MoD 2nd Permanent Under-Secretary Ian Andrews, Kelda Plc Managing Director Kevin Whiteman, and Earth Tech Engineering Chief Executive Officer Bob Mead.
"Earth Tech is proud to be part of this landmark event for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense," said Libby Gawith, managing director of Earth Tech’s European operation. "We are pleased to bring our private sector knowledge to the provision of water and wastewater services for the Ministry of Defense in order to deliver effective and efficient operations and service."
The contract is expected to go live in December 2003 following a pre-commencement period.
Source: Earth Tech
