Kier targets infrastructure and power

Kier has revealed it will target “significant” growth opportunities in infrastructure and power.

The contractor has put in bids in for several major Crossrail and energy projects, including five Crossrail station projects valued at more than £1.2bn.

In a trading statement this morning Kier said it was encouraged by early contract wins in joint ventures at Liverpool Street and Whitechapel Stations with a combined value over £50m so far this year, adding to £480m worth of wins last year.

In the power sector Kier is bidding for major contracts for EDF at Hinkley Point nuclear power station and two SCR (carbon reduction) projects at Eggborough and Aberthaw to clean up emissions from existing coal fired stations.

The bids follow a £40m waste-to-energy project win in Plymouth

The contractor added it was confident of maintaining operating margins above 2%.

It added: “Having secured approximately £600 million of new work since 1^st January, our order books of secured and probable work remain at levels in line with previous years, securing all of our expected construction revenue for the year to 30 June 2011 and 80% of our targeted construction revenue for the year to 30 June 2012.

“The Services division has traded in line with our expectations over the period. We have maintained our £2bn order book, which continues to have good long-term visibility of revenues giving us confidence in the sustainability of our 4.5% operating margin.”

Internationally the contractor reported a further contract win on the MTR high-speed rail project in Hong Kong worth £82m and a £6m power station contract in Kingston, Jamaica.