Jordan-based Arab Center for Engineering Studies (ACES) said its Dubai branch has been awarded the geotechnical investigation for the Hassyan Energy clean coal power plant in the UAE.

The Hassyan plant will be the first coal-based plant in the GCC and is designed to optimise efficiency, output, and adherence to global environmental best practice.

It marks a key step in the UAE’s long-term energy strategy of reducing dependence on natural gas and diversifying its fuel mix in line with the objectives set out in the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, said a statement from ACES.

The extensive scope of work, which was awarded to ACES by Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) and Nepti, includes drilling of 135 offshore boreholes with depths up to 20 m below the seabed, drilling of 425 on land boreholes with depths up to 35 m and excavation of trial pits.

Additionally, the investigation included substantial field testing and monitoring including the installation of piezometers, packer permeability testing, falling head permeability testing, pressuremeter testing, as well as down-hole and surficial electrical resistivity geophysical tests, it stated.

The tight project schedule, which had an overall duration of 85 days, was completed in mid-September and required ACES to mobilise a total of 17 rigs and five offshore pontoons.

The required resources were provided entirely by ACES UAE, through a joint effort between the Dubai and Abu Dhabi branches, said the Jordanian firm in its statement.

The strong offshore capabilities and ACES track record played a major role in project award, as the company has completed offshore and onshore geotechnical investigation for some of Dubai’s most recognisable landmarks including Dubai Blue Water, Burj Khalifa, the Palm Jumeirah and several lines of Dubai Metro.-TradeArabia News Service