KBR Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, has secured a four-year contract with South Australian Water Corp. (SA Water) to support the utility's capital delivery program, one of the South Australian Government's most significant infrastructure programs.
The contract was won through a competitive tender and builds on KBR's 15-year partnership with SA Water, extending the relationship through 2030. It will support a period in which approximately A$3.3 billion in water infrastructure projects is planned over four years.
KBR will support delivery of critical water and wastewater infrastructure for SA Water's 1.8 million customers across South Australia. The work covers dam upgrades, water tank refurbishments, bulk water transfer infrastructure, water main replacements, sewer network upgrades, and upgrades to water and wastewater treatment plants. SA Water is based in Adelaide and serves customers across South Australia. These projects range from storage and conveyance assets to treatment and sewer networks.
The program is tied to SA Water's largest-ever period of investment. The contract covers a multi-project delivery effort spanning asset renewal, network expansion and treatment capacity, and the scope brings together a broad set of asset classes under one program.
Recent delivery and future programs
Over the past year, the capital delivery team managed more than 2,000 individual projects. These included 69 kilometers of new water mains, a major upgrade of the 132-kilometer Tailem Bend to Keith pipeline, and a desalination plant for the outback town of Marree.
Major programs supported by KBR over the next four years are set to include South Australia's Housing Roadmap, which involves expanding water and wastewater networks to support an estimated 50,000 new homes across the state. They also include infrastructure delivery such as upgrades to the Morgan to Whyalla pipeline, described as South Australia's longest water pipeline at 358 kilometers.
Contractor perspective
Margaret Riley, director of water at KBR, said the appointment reinforces KBR's position as a trusted partner in the water sector. She said the company was proud to have been selected again by SA Water to continue supporting the capital delivery program.
Riley said that over the past 15 years KBR had worked alongside SA Water to design, deliver and project manage some of the most critical water infrastructure projects. She said the contract demonstrated the team's experience, technical capability and focus on safety, innovation and service excellence. KBR looked forward to working closely with SA Water to deliver lasting benefits for customers, communities and the broader South Australian economy, she said.