That being said, we are extremely pleased to report that there were some memorable highlights on the Acres front in 2003. Duncan Hawthorne's guest article discusses one of them – the Bruce A nuclear restart was not only a precedent-setting success, but the largest single revenue generator in company history. Acres played a lead role in this massive undertaking. Our scope of responsibility included engineering, procurement and construction, with specific activities ranging from maintenance overhauls of existing equipment to provision of additional power supply and operations facilities. Despite the project's size and rigorous performance standards, the work went smoothly and expeditiously.
The year also ended on a very high note with the award of a major oil-and-gas project for ConocoPhillips – in large part due to Acres award-winning track record in Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage. The Surmont SAGD project is being undertaken by our joint-venture company, Acres Parsons E & C.
Other major projects awarded toward year-end included the following:
- Acres, in partnership with Giffels and Marshall Macklin Monaghan, has been awarded the Program Management Consulting Services for the proposed $505 million GO Transit Rail Infrastructure Improvement Program scheduled for implementation over the next six years. The program comprises eight upgrades and expansions throughout Greater Toronto's commuter rail network.
- Our Transmission & Distribution Division recently won two projects for Great Lakes Power in Sault Ste. Marie – one involving transmission and substation modifications, and the other for feasibility of other transmission system upgrades.
- We obtained several assignments from Conservation Authorities to carry out dam safety studies, while our work continued on a major small hydro rehabilitation project in northern Ontario.
- SGE Acres will carry out design and project management for a new aerated sewage lagoon in Salisbury, New Brunswick. The team also won a contract to provide project management services for the rehabilitation of docking and storage facilities at the Autoport, an automobile transshipment wharf in Halifax. Meanwhile, SGE Hatch continues to work on a hydrometallurgical pilot plant to be located in Argentia, Newfoundland.
- Feasibility and precommitment studies began on the proposed 25-MW Elizabeth Falls hydroelectric development in northwest Saskatchewan for the Black Lake First Nation.
- Acres Management Consulting is carrying out an economic study and environmental review of a gas-fired power plant in Tanzonia on behalf of a Canadian private power developer.
- Following a successful pilot application of its Vista Decision Support System, Synexus Global won a significant contract this past autumn for full implementation at the Central Valley Project in northern California.
So, with a full slate of projects in progress and on the horizon, 2004 is certainly off to a better start than was 2003. Every Business Unit is working diligently to continue this trend, and a number of other significant projects are close to award. I look forward to sharing those details with you very soon.
Now in its 80th year, Acres has employed generations of innovative, dedicated engineers who've put their seals on every industry and continent. It is this heritage and commitment to excellence, individually and collectively, that keeps our business on track in difficult economic times – and helps our clients stay strong well into the future.