Dessau-Soprin awarded the project management of Algeria's Grand Mosque

[Al-khiyal]

LAVAL, QC, April 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Dessau-Soprin, one of the largest engineering and construction companies in the country, has just been awarded a major contract of assistance to the contracting owner (project management) for the construction of Algeria's new Grand Mosque, valued at $2.2 billion.

Dessau-Soprin will supply a team of highly specialized managers and technical experts to support the National Agency for the Construction and Management of Algiers' Mosque throughout the project, which is to be carried out over 76 months.

Mr. Jean-Pierre Sauriol, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dessau-Soprin stated that: "Being granted this important contract clearly illustrates the unique know-how of our experts and our ability to successfully manage major multi-disciplinary projects, both at home and abroad. Moreover, we are proud of the confidence shown by the Algerian government in assigning us such a prestigious project." Mr. Sauriol added that: "Dessau-Soprin foresees that this project will give rise to the creation of at least 100 jobs including the hiring of local resources for the benefit of all stakeholders."

The world's third largest mosque after Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and Hassan II in Morocco, Algeria's new Grand Mosque will be built in the heart of the bay of Algiers, more specifically in the Mohammadia commune. It will hold up to 120,000 worshippers. The mosque will have the largest minaret in the world, at 300 metres high with 10 storeys. There are also several cultural and religious structures, a conference room that seats more than 1,500, a Qur'an house, a centre for cultural sciences, three libraries and media centres, an amphitheatre, a laboratory, a 300-room hotel, a shopping centre, restaurants, green spaces and a recreation park.

Dessau-Soprin employs 2,600 employees working throughout Quebec, Ontario, New-Brunswick and abroad mostly in the Maghreb, Central and South America and in the Caribbean. The firm is very active in Algeria in the major public works, transportation and building sectors where it is currently working on 10 major projects. In 2007, Dessau-Soprin was recognized among "Canada's 50 best managed companies".

Dessau-Soprin awarded the project management of Algeria's Grand Mosque, valued at $2.2 billion

[Al-khiyal]

LAVAL (PC) - La société d'ingénierie-construction Dessau-Soprin a obtenu un contrat de gestion de projet pour la construction de la nouvelle Grande mosquée d'Alger évaluée à 2,2 milliard $.

L'entreprise québécois a indiqué dans un communiqué mardi qu'elle fournira une équipe de gestionnaires ainsi que des experts techniques afin d'appuyer l'Agence nationale de réalisation et gestion de la Mosquée d'Alger tout au long du projet qui s'échelonnera sur une période de 76 mois.

Dessau-Soprin prévoit que ce contrat entraînera la création d'une centaine d'emplois, incluant l'embauche de ressources locales.

La nouvelle mosquée sera construite en plein coeur de la baie d'Alger, plus précisément dans la commune de Mohammadia. Elle sera la troisième plus grande mosquée au monde après celle de La Mecque, en Arabie saoudite, et celle d'Hassan II, au Maroc.

Le nouveau lieu de culte pourra accueillir jusqu'à 120 000 fidèles et disposera du plus grand minaret du monde haut de 300 mètres. Le minaret aura 10 étages.

La future mosquée comprendra, en outre, plusieurs structures culturelles et religieuses, une salle de conférence de plus de 1500 places, une maison du Coran, un centre des sciences culturelles, trois bibliothèques et médiathèques, un amphithéâtre, un espace scientifique, un hôtel de 300 chambres, un centre commercial, des restaurants, des espaces verts et un parc de loisirs.

Dessau-Soprin est déjà active en Algérie dans le domaine des grands travaux publics, du transport et du bâtiment où elle compte une dizaine de projets majeurs.

Dessau-Soprin assurera la gestion de projet pour la Grande mosquée d'Alger

[Al-khiyal]

MONTREAL (CP) - Quebec-based engineering and construction company Dessau-Soprin is benefiting from surging oil prices after it signed a $22-million deal to become project manager for the construction of the world's third-largest mosque in Algeria.

The contract, which was disclosed last summer by various media reports in the north African country, was formally signed last week.

The country has been buzzing with construction activity in recent years as the rising price of oil has given it the means to complete road, water, rail and energy infrastructure projects.

World oil prices have more than doubled in the four years since Dessau-Soprin established a permanent office employing 150 in the capital Algiers.

"We were there at the right time," president and CEO Jean-Pierre Sauriol said of the company's latest contract, which he described as one of the largest in its history.

"They have a deficit of infrastructure for the last 10 years, but now. . .they are investing a lot, to attract other investment eventually."

The privately held Quebec company will hire architects, specialized managers and technical experts as it becomes project manager during the 76-month construction period.

The contract is expected to create at least 100 jobs, mostly in Algeria.

The big challenge facing the company is to meet the needs of the 25 Algerian groups and government agencies that will be involved in the large project, Sauriol said.

The new $3.4 billion mosque to be built in the bay of Algiers, or the Mohammadia commune, will be the world's third largest after Mecca in Saudi Arabia and Hassan II in Morroco.

It will have the capacity to hold up to 120,000 worshippers and have the largest minaret tower in the world at 300 metres.

The addition of several cultural and religious structures, a Qur'an house, three libraries, amphitheatre, laboratory, 300-room hotel, shopping centre, restaurants and park will boost the project's value to more than $9.3 billion.

Sauriol said at least one Quebec architecture firm is believed to be interested in joining an international bidding contest to design the holy site.

Following three years of effort, Dessau-Soprin beat four competitors, including Quebec-based Axor-Inv and Genivar Income Fund, and Gemo of France.

More Quebec firms are becoming involved in Algeria because they speak French and offer North American technology and know-how that is different from Europe, Sauriol said.

"We had to lobby to many people to sell ourselves," he said, noting he travels at least twice a year to Algeria.

"There are many projects going on in this country and I think it's very exciting for us."

Dessau-Soprin employs 2,600 people throughout Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, South America and the Caribbean.

In Algeria, it is involved in 10 major projects in public works, transportation and building sectors.

Among the largest is the $15.5 billion construction of a new 1,200-kilometre highway system.

Genivar officials couldn't be reached for comment. However, Raymond James analyst Frederic Bastien said the fund has won thousands of contracts as it focuses on expanding its business in western Canada and Ontario.

"It's an OK contract but it's not something that's going to hurt Genivar."

Dessau-Soprin to manage construction of world's third-largest mosque

[Al-khiyal]

Laval engineering firm Dessau-Soprin said yesterday it has signed a $28-million contract to manage construction of Algeria's new Grand Mosque near Algiers, which, including cultural facilities, a 300-room hotel and a shopping centre, has a price tab of $3.4 billion.

The key engineering, procurement and construction management contract was won against several international groups, said Dessau-Soprin CEO Jean-Pierre Sauriol. The architectural contract is just going to international tender.

"We've been working on big construction jobs in Algeria since 2000 including the trans-Algerian highway," he said in an interview. "The $28 million represents the initial fee income we'll earn from the six-year project."

The Grand Mosque will make Algiers Islam's third-largest religious venue after Mecca in Saudi Arabia and Hassan II in Morocco, he added. Work to expand airports, roads, railways and other infrastructure is under way.

"The Grand Mosque has broad public support and planning changes may require more engineering and construction input later, so we may get further contracts," Sauriol said. "It's not yet fully costed."

"We'll have 100 engineers and technicians working on the job, some in Algeria, but use as much local technical and construction resources as possible so the Algerians get a transfer of know-how."

The Grand Mosque project will be built in the bay of Algiers.

The mosque itself will hold up to 120,000 worshippers, have a 300-metre minaret, the world's highest, cultural and religious buildings, three libraries, an amphitheatre, laboratories, the hotel and shopping centre, restaurants and parks.

The Dessau-Soprin contract was awarded by the public-sector National Agency for the Construction and Management of the Algiers Mosque, which is responsible for the project.

"When we started work in Algeria seven years ago, the oil price was below $25 U.S. a barrel and now it's $60 to $70 U.S., so they've ample money for large public projects," Sauriol said yesterday.

"They want to give Algiers a permanent monument akin to the Tour Eiffel in Paris, but related to religious practice."

Sauriol said there is no Export Development Corp. support required and Dessau-Soprin minimizes risk because it is not responsible for any cost overruns. It will get progress payments and special insurance is not needed.

"This is strictly a fee-based service contract that reduces the overall risk," said an engineering source.

"If anything serious happens, then you bring your people back home."

Dessau-Soprin, Quebec's second-biggest engineering and construction firm and operating in eastern Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa, has 250 experts working on the $10-billion Trans-Algerian highway.

Algeria's massive gas and oil resources have been developed by state-owed Sonatrach often with Canadian technical help.

It is a major supplier of liquified natural gas to southern Europe, partly from Arzew, one of the world's biggest LNG export ports.

Several Quebec firms have built infrastructure projects from zinc processing plants to transportation infrastructure.

The former Lavalin Inc. built the Martyrs Monument in Algiers.

Laval firm to manage construction of Algeria's new Grande Mosque

[Al-khiyal]

Jeudi 5 avril 2007 -- Pour les journaux télévisés, les radios et la presse écrite canadiens c’est une grande réussite pour le savoir-faire canadien. L’Etat algérien vient d’octroyer la construction de la future Grande mosquée d’Alger à Dessau-Soprin. Et c’est par le biais d’un communiqué rendu public par l’ambassade du Canada à Alger que la presse nationale a appris la nouvelle.

«Nous sommes fiers de la confiance que nous témoigne le gouvernement algérien pour la réalisation d’un projet aussi prestigieux», se félicite le président-directeur général de Dessau-Soprin, M. Jean-Pierre Sauriol, dans un communiqué rendu public par sa société et repris par l’ambassade du Canada dans un communiqué.

Dessau-Soprin s’engage, d’après ce communiqué, à fournir «une équipe de gestionnaires chevronnés ainsi que des experts techniques afin d’appuyer l’Agence nationale de réalisation et de gestion de la Grande mosquée d’Alger tout au long du projet».

La durée de réalisation, toujours selon les données de l’ambassade du Canada d’Alger, s’échelonnera sur 76 mois (6 ans et 4 mois). L’œuvre est impossible à réceptionner en 2009 comme souhaité par le gouvernement lors de l’approbation du projet.

«L’obtention de ce contrat majeur démontre bien le savoir-faire de nos experts ainsi que notre capacité à gérer d’imposants projets multidisciplinaires», a ajouté M. Sauriol, indiquant que Dessau-Soprin «prévoit la création d’une centaine d’emplois incluant l’embauche de ressources locales pour le plus grand bénéfice de toutes les parties».

La Grande mosquée d’Alger sera, faut-il le préciser, la troisième plus grande mosquée du monde après celles de La Mecque et de Médine en Arabie Saoudite. Elle sera construite face à la mer, dans la commune de Mohammadia. Elle disposera du plus grand minaret du monde avec ses 300 mètres de hauteur et comprendra dix étages lui permettant, ainsi, d’accueillir jusqu’à 120 000 fidèles.

Elle comportera aussi plusieurs structures culturelles et religieuses : une salle de conférences de plus de 1 500 places, une maison du coran, un centre des sciences culturelles, trois bibliothèques et médiathèques, un amphithéâtre, un espace scientifique, un hôtel de 300 chambres, un centre commercial, des restaurants, des espaces verts et un parc de loisirs.

Dessau-Soprin, une des plus importantes sociétés canadiennes d’ingénierie-construction, est très active en Algérie dans le domaine des grands travaux publics, du transport et du bâtiment où elle compte pas moins de dix projets majeurs, dont celui de l’autoroute est-ouest n’est pas le moindre. Dessau-Soprin emploie quelque 2 600 personnes qui travaillent partout au Québec et dans d’autres Etats du Canada ainsi qu’à l’étranger, plus particulièrement au Maghreb, en Amérique Centrale et du Sud et dans les Caraïbes, précise le même communiqué.

La réception de l'édifice prévue en 2013 : Des Canadiens veilleront sur la Grande mosquée d'Alger