/ 17 January 2007

Grinaker lands R1,5bn stadium contract

Grinaker has won the contract to revamp the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg for the 2010 World Cup, the company announced on Wednesday.

”This R1,5-billion contract comprises partially demolishing the former FNB Stadium at Nasrec and completely revamping it, as well as providing all associated facilities,” Aveng Limited chief executive Carl Grimm said in a statement.

The City of Johannesburg awarded the contract to Grinaker-LTA Construction, a subsidiary of JSE-listed construction company the Aveng Group, in a joint venture with Interbeton bv, part of the Royal BAM Group from The Netherlands.

German company HBM Stadien-und Sportstaettenbau GmbH, a specialist stadium-construction company involved in the 2006 Soccer World Cup that is part of the Royal BAM Group, will be contributing its expertise.

The new Soccer City stadium will have 94 700 seats, from the current 70 000, all under a roof, leaving the soccer pitch itself open to the skies.

Construction is to begin in two weeks’ time. The stadium is expected to be completed by March 18 2009. — Sapa