Week of 8 May
1. “Thank You, Museum Builders!” (Egypt)
Last Monday, our colleagues of the joint venture BESIX-Orascom Construction in Cairo gathered to reflect, learn and talk about safety. The BESIX Group Global Safety Time Out was held on the magnificent premises of the Grand Egyptian Museum and focused on the BE SAFE Principles. Our client, represented by General Atef, also attended the briefing.
As Monday was 1st May and everyone was gathered, the opportunity was taken to celebrate Labour Day as well, and pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of all workers on the GEM. The banner on the 4th picture translates as ‘Thank You, Museum Builders’.
The event was enriched by the performance of Samuel (5th picture). Our colleague Samuel, kitchen assistant, is also a talented poet who writes and recites poems in Arabic. He took the stage during the event to recite a poem he wrote about the joint-venture and the Grand Egyptian Museum. A very moving moment for the audience!
2. A successful edition of Open Sites Day (Belgium)
Congratulations are in order for the teams at the 5 sites of BESIX Group that opened their doors during the Open Sites Day last weekend. This event saw the participation of 100 sites across Belgium, all of which welcomed visitors to allow them to catch a glimpse of the construction industry and appreciate the extensive expertise that exists within the Belgian construction sector, and specifically within the BESIX Group.
The sites that opened their doors were the dry-dock of Zeebrugge, where the COTU consortium is building the tunnel elements of the Oosterweel Scheldt tunnel; the heritage site of the Quartier Vandeuren in Ixelles (Brussels) that is being renovated by Jacques Delens with a focus on preserving the heritage and circular renovation; the high-tech campus of the AP Hogeschool on the former site of the Antwerp slaughterhouses, that is under construction by Vanhout; the macaroon production hall in Dison of PMSweet, under renovation and extension by Wust, as well as the swimming pool in Spa, also under renovation by Wust.
Congratulations to all colleagues who volunteered to spend this rainy Sunday on site, sharing their passion with hundreds of visitors!
3. First concrete pour of construction pit at the PALLAS-reactor project (The Netherlands)
Work has started on the construction pit for the PALLAS reactor-project. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and the construction pit will be ready for the next phase, the actual construction of the reactor. Two diaphragm walls have already been poured, 28 more to go! Congratulations to our BESIX NL and Franki Grondtechnieken colleagues for this big step forward.
This project has a huge social impact as 30,000 patients a day are dependent on medical isotopes from the Netherlands. This number is expected to increase due to the introduction of new treatments with medical isotopes from reactors and the growth in the number of patients with cancer and cardiovascular diseases worldwide.
4. Windows on the city (Morocco)
On the site of the Mohammed VI Tower project in Rabat (Morocco), a beautiful operation is underway: the glazing is being installed on the observatory. The observatory spans from 202m (i.e. as from the 51st floor) to 228m high. The observatory will offer a breathtaking view of the Bouregreg Valley. Well done, colleagues!
And then this… BESIX Infra wins Aquafin award (Belgium)
During the 16th edition of the Aquafin Awards on 27 April, the BESIX Infra team of the N446 connection project in Zogge, in the Belgian Province of East Flanders, was crowned with the Aquafin Award of ‘Best Project Team Public Domain’. Each year, the Aquafin Awards reward the contractor and engineering firm they have worked most successfully with over the past year. Good job, team BESIX Infra!
This project involves the resurfacing of the N446 over a length of 7.5 kilometres, the construction of a new sewer system and a new roadway, including separate cycle- and footpaths.
