UU scores Down Under

UNITED Utilities, the North West water and power management company, is among a consortium which has won a contract to build and run a desalination plant in Australia.

The Warrington company will operate the £618m plant, which is to be built in Adelaide, when it comes on stream in mid 2011.

Other partners in the AdelaideAqua group are Spanish company Acciona Agua, McConnell Dowell and contracting firm Abigroup.

UU said it was too soon to give guidance on the value of the 20-year contract to operate and maintain the facility.

A “minimal investment” is required in the scheme, the company added.

Chief executive Philip Green, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded preferred bidder status for this operations contract, which builds on our existing presence in Australia and utilises our core skills to deliver further growth.”