Our work is geared to providing essential services – power transmission, water supply, sanitation and oil and gas facilities. This involves repairs to water treatment works, pumping stations and pipelines, trunk sewers and wastewater treatment works. The power generation and transmission system was improved by repairing or replacing substations, transformer houses and transmission lines. A programme of refurbishment works saw petrol filling stations returned to operation, helping southern Iraqis to regain mobility and run power generators. Emergency infrastructure works designed and managed by Mott MacDonald were vital to assisting prevention of disease and continuance of the most basic economic activity.
Oil and gas
For BP’s Rumaila Oilfield operating base we mobilised an international team, worked with local firms and managed construction to build the base 30% faster and at substantially lower cost than conventional procurement would have allowed. The self-sufficient complex provides accommodation for 300 people including homes, offices, shops, a clinic, sports facilities, power generation, water and sewage treatment plants, garages and petrol stations.
Education
After decades of difficulty, the Marsh Arabs are receiving help in building new schools and community halls. Mott MacDonald researched the concept and provided architectural, engineering and project management of the new buildings, combining modern classroom layouts with traditional Marsh Arab building materials and techniques.
Communications
In the run-up to Iraq’s first elections, we had supported the strengthening of the telecommunications network in the four southern governates through our involvement in the management of procurement and installation of over 5000 fibre optic lines and telephones between polling stations and phone exchanges.
Health
In the health sector, Mott MacDonald carried out a 30 month change management programme that brought 400 Iraqi doctors, nurses and policymakers to Britain. The programme involved Iraq’s Ministries of Health and Higher Education, the UK Department of Health and the National Health Service. Each cohort of 25-30 clinicians spent eight weeks on placements with the NHS and learning about change management.
Power
Mott MacDonald has also been very active in the power sector in Iraq. As a result of an extensive survey we undertook of all transmission lines in south east Iraq, 125 pylons and 2000km of transmission cable have been installed on the Buzurgan line using military helicopters.