Rebuilding Babylon

Like his business partner Evan Anderson Blair’s career has been inextricably linked to war. It began in 1975 when Blair, a young QS, was diverted to Dubai after an initial posting to Beirut was cancelled, a result of conflict that would escalate into full blown civil war the following year.

Before the decade’s end, Blair was DG Jones + Partners’ resident director in the desert emirate and employed by the Iraqi government, advising on hotel projects. A year later Iraq and Iran were at war, contractors had demobilised their personnel and project works had stopped. By 1988 Blair had established his own firm with Anderson.

How did your company react to the outbreak of war between Iraq and Iran?

We moved our personnel to Cyprus. The front line was just too close. The Iranian planes would use the Palestine Meridian and Ishtar Sheraton hotels (which I worked on) in Baghdad as landmarks - they swung round them and followed the River Tigris to attack the Dora refinery. However we returned in a matter of weeks following reports that Baghdad was safe for foreigners.

What difficulties did the war bring to your projects?

As the war raged through the ‘80s the security situation deteriorated. Access to food and fuel was restricted and it became impossible to import technology – like copiers and computers. Then after almost seven years, and over 25 scud missile landings within earshot, my residence visa extension was refused and I was given two weeks to leave in spring 1986.

What about present day, post-Saddam Iraq?

Beyond the personal and safety issues of working in Iraq construction-related problems are also significant. Iraq has had few serious projects from which to glean experience. For example, their highest modern structure is only 22 storeys. This means that skills must be imported for all but the simplest projects. And the trades – whilst very creative in bespoke manufacturing - are less used to modular construction. Logistics is a real challenge - each project is ‘an island’ and has its own supply chain to establish and manage. There are no cold stores, no warehouses, no decent roads . . .

How have you secured work there?

We opened a Baghdad office in 2003. Most of our opportunities in Iraq have come from hard marketing with our Iraqi director Haider al Ali working incessantly to create opportunities. Others have come from dealing with larger players who have a niche need.

Can Lebanon rebuild within four years, as recently suggested by Davis Langdon?

I am sure the construction industry can build at $1bn per year in Lebanon but the difficulty will be political and commercial delays to getting the funding in place and the projects identified. The last reconstruction was driven by Mr Rafiq Hariri (assassinated last year) and I feel another construction champion will be needed politically this time too.

What’s it like’ on the ground’ in Lebanon?

Lebanon lurches between normality and trauma with little notice but it will get back to business very quickly. The repair work is not hi-tech, Hezbollah’s Construction Jihad team will probably do a lot of the simple, concrete and road works - foreign companies may not be required. No new precautions need be considered other than the ones required before – be aware of potential internal unrest, Syrian re-occupation and Israel invasion!

Is war an economic driver?

War is not an economic driver for construction it cannot be. When I arrived in Iraq, it had $30bn in reserves. When I left it was £30bn in debt due to war with Iran. The ‘guns and butter’ strategy is common, but cannot be maintained, and eventually the war will grind the economy to a halt. If a country is devoted to arming itself rather than feeding, the wider economy will fail.

Any advice to those heading to work in war zones?

War has terrible and wide-ranging consequences with construction experiencing it from the sidelines. It happens and “we” leave, or it finishes and “we” move in to rebuild. The trauma of actual participants or civilians who cannot leave an area can only be imagined and certainly cannot be compared. To focus on construction you must ignore the surrounding political situation.