Gamuda-Ferrovial JV signs ECI deal for Capricornia pumped hydro system

24 Jan 2025 | The Star

From left: Gamuda Australia chief executive officer Ewan Yee; Ferrovial’s managing director for Australia, Antonio Cañete; Partner and Head, CIP Australia, Jørn Hammer; Investment Director, CIP Australia, David Baker.

Kuala Lumpur: Gamuda Bhd , in partnership with Ferrovial through the Gamuda-Ferrovial Joint Venture (GFJV), has entered into an early contractor involvement (ECI) agreement with Capricornia Energy Hub (CEH) for the Capricornia Pumped Hydroelectric Storage System (PHES) in Central Queensland, Australia.

CEH is owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), one of the world’s largest clean energy investors.

In a statement, Gamuda said the ECI phase is expected to take approximately five months to finalise an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the delivery of the PHES.

Gamuda said the renewable energy and pumped hydro project, located about 80 kilometres west of Mackay, will supply affordable, reliable power to about 900,000 Queensland homes.

It added that the project features a 750-megawatt pumped hydroelectric system with a 16-hour continuous power supply. It includes a 12 GWh storage capacity, an upper off-stream reservoir, and a lower reservoir about five kilometres downstream from the Eungella dam.

“This landmark project underscores our commitment to Queensland’s renewable energy future while expanding our presence across Australia. We’re proud to be part of such a transformative initiative,” Gamuda Australia chief executive officer (CEO) Ewan Yee said.

Meanwhile, CEH CEO John Carr said: “The appointment of ECI partners is a significant milestone for CEH as it allows us to draw on Gamuda’s and Ferrovial’s expertise to design a cost-effective pumped hydro. We look forward to working with our ECI partners and their strong regional networks to unlock more opportunities for local contractors and supporting the local supply chain.”

Construction of the Capricornia Pumped Hydroelectric Energy System is set to start in 2026, creating an estimated 600 jobs during peak construction and 65 local jobs once operational.