Contract Signed To Deliver Viridor's Trident Park Facility

Work to construct Wales' first Energy from Waste (EfW) Combined Heat and Power facility will start within weeks. Viridor has signed a contract with a joint venture, between energy from waste engineering specialists CNIM and construction firm Lagan, to build the facility and fit out the advanced technology that will make it operational by 2014. The project brings £185 million of investment and significant employment opportunities to Cardiff.

Following a detailed selection process, Viridor will work with CNIM, a company with a proven track record in delivering high tech industrial solutions, particularly in EfW. CNIM will deliver the specialist systems needed to make the Trident Park facility one of the most efficient EfW combined heat and power operations in Europe. The other joint venture partner, Lagan is one of the leading civil engineering and construction companies in the UK and Ireland. They will carry out the main build of the £185m facility.

Commenting on the appointment, Howard Ellard, Viridor's Business Development Director said: "We are pleased to be taking this important project to the construction phase. By 2014 Trident Park EfW will help local authorities and businesses to transform their residual waste into much-needed renewable energy.

"The appointment of the CNIM and Lagan joint venture company is part of a long term working relationship with both organisations that we expect to strengthen over the next few years. They are both highly respected, with excellent reputations in their respective fields.

"Viridor is already working with CNIM in the construction of its energy from waste facility in Ardley, Oxfordshire and we are delighted to be working in partnership on our Trident park project."

Lagan Construction Managing Director Colin Loughran added: "We are delighted to have won this prestigious contract and look forward to working with our Joint Venture partner CNIM in delivering this state of the art Trident Park Energy from Waste facility for our client Viridor".

Stefano Costa, Managing Director, Environment Sector, CNIM stated: "We are delighted to have been selected by Viridor to work on this strategic project. This is the second project that Viridor has entrusted us with and we look forward to supporting the company in providing Wales with its first Energy from Waste facility, thereby contributing to a better environment".

Following the appointment of its lead contractors, Viridor expects ground work preparation to commence within the next few weeks with the main construction due to begin in the summer. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational in 2014.

The contract announcement provides positive news for jobs in the region. It is anticipated that over 300 construction jobs will be available once the build programme is underway and Viridor has agreed with Lagan that local skills will be utilised where at all possible. This will be reinforced by working closely with local employment services and a local jobs workshop is planned to take place in the near future.

Viridor's Trident Park operation will safely treat 350,000 tonnes of residual (post-recycling) waste and provide a source of electricity and heat to the city. It will generate 30 megawatts of electrical power; enough for around 50,000 households in Cardiff and provide a potential heat source to numerous local businesses and other organisations. Viridor is also working closely with local developers and Trident Park landowners PMG on delivering the heat network, offering low carbon opportunities for local users.

The facility has been designed to serve local businesses as well as local authorities in South East Wales, therefore providing an important part of the solution to the waste management needs of the region as a whole.

The plant will use the latest version of tried and tested technology that is already utilised at over 20 facilities in the UK and over 400 across Europe. It will make a considerable contribution towards meeting the challenging landfill diversion targets, working alongside high levels of recycling, and will provide the opportunity to help Welsh businesses and local authorities achieve greater resource efficiency.