MT Højgaard builds heating plant for new urban district in Nuuk

MT Højgaard has gained the main contract for the construction of a DKK 12 million heating plant in a new urban district of Greenland's capital. The decision came at the last moment, since October heralds the start of winter and the casting work must be complete before the frosts fully set in.

Manager Lars Bjørn Knudsen and his staff are therefore busy, not with breaking the first ground, but with boring holes in the fell for the first sticks of dynamite, because the rocky ground needs to be blasted to be able to cast the base.

- There isn't a lot of blasting work needed because the building will only occupy an area of 300 square metres. But we would like to get the casting work done before the temperatures get too low, says Lars Bjørn Knudsen.

On top of the cast base, the walls will be built as a steel construction insulated and clad with panel boards. There will also be a large window section in the facade. The steel and glass will be shipped to Nuuk from Greenland Harbour in Aalborg.

The building for the heating plant, being constructed for the utility company Nukissiorfiit, is scheduled for completion by 1 July 2012.  The plant will be located in the urban district of Qinngorput which lies on the coast at the foot of the 800 metre high fell Store Malene. There are already 1,200 citizens living in the area, and a further 1.000 new residential units are planned for the area.