ANGOLA - COBA Group integrates visit to Caculo Cabaça

EUROSTAT - the Statistical Office of the European Commission - awarded to COBA the contract to carry out the LUCAS 2022 survey on the state and dynamics of land cover/land use in Lot 1, which includes Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The contract duration is expected at 23 months and the field survey will be carried out between April and September 2022.

Lx, 15 Dec 2021

 

PORTUGAL - COBA/PONDIO/ARCHITECTURE ET OUVRAGES D'ART(LAVIGNE ET CHERON)/MICHEL VIRLOGEUX CONSULTANT'S PROPOSAL AMONG THE THREE SELECTED FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL TENDER FOR THE NEW BRIDGE ACROSS THE DOURO RIVER

The proposal of the consortium led by COBA for the new Oporto Metro bridge, linking Oporto and Gaia, is among the three finalists of an international public tender that brought together 27 participants from all over the world and, quoting the Minister of the Environment, "comprised the most challenging bridge competition in the world".

This new infrastructure will exclusively serve the new Oporto Metro Line to Gaia, connecting Campo Alegre to the Arrábida Shopping Centre and does not contemplate any road traffic. It offers not only mobility through the light rail, but also cycling and pedestrian transit.

The solution presented is characterised by the intermediate arch which overlaps the deck, forming a single light and aerial central arch that preserves the transparencies and perspectives over the river and the Arrábida Bridge.

Fulfilling the requirements of not having piers in the river, the arch has a length of 400 metres, while the arch of the neighbouring Arrábida bridge reaches 270 metres. It is essentially a steel structure with concrete piers located only on the slopes, and a mixed steel-concrete deck.

Lx, 20 Oct 2021

 

CAPE VERDE - SANTIAGO ISLAND PUMPED-STORAGE PROJET

 

On June 16th COBA presented the conclusions of the first phase of the Feasibility Study of the Pumped-Storage hydropower plant on Santiago island, in a Workshop that took place in Praia, attended by the Minister of Industry, Trade & Energy and the Minister of Agriculture and Environment. Experts from COBA and the consortium partner ARTELIA, as well as from the local company CPR, participated in this event, both in person and online.

This is a project of great importance for Cape Verde, funded by the Luxembourg Development Agency, which aims to achieve the targets set for the island's energy transition to a system based mainly on renewable energies.

Lx, 01 Jul 2021

 

PORTUGAL - OVERCOMING UNDERGROUND SPACE - "What we don’t see, BUT exists”

 

To reflect and establish priorities. In the April/21 edition of the Pais Positivo magazine, the Chairman of the Portuguese College of Engineers, Carlos Mineiro Aires, and the President of the Portuguese Tunnelling Commission (CPT), Raúl Pistone, shared an editorial article on the strategic importance of underground space.

Underground as a spatial asset needs to be clearly understood by urban planning decision makers in order to take full advantage of its potential in adapting cities to the many challenges that will be faced in the upcoming decades.

by Dr. Raúl Pistone, Member of COBA's Technical Advisory Commitee and President of CPT

z

 

refer to editorial of País Positivo - april 2021

Lx, 14 Mai 2021

 

BRAZIL – TESTING OF “MARCO 1” OF THE “RAMAL DO AGRESTE” WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

 

Testing of “Marco 1” of the “Ramal do Agreste” Water Supply System began last February, in the presence of President Jair Bolsonaro. Opening of the floodgates of the first section (Marco 1) in the Barro Branco reservoir - located in Sertânia, Pernambuco - enabled the beginning of the tests and filling of the water supply system up to the Negros Reservoir.

After leaving Barro Branco, water passes through eight sections of canals, four siphons and three tunnels, totalling 37.4 km, until reaching the Negros Reservoir, with a storage capacity of 14.7 hm3. This entire infrastructure is part of “Marco 1” of the “Ramal do Agreste” Water Supply System, which comprises two more sections, expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The “Ramal do Agreste” Water Supply System has a total length of 70.8 km and a transport capacity of 8 m3/s. When completed, it will convey water from the East Axis of the São Francisco River Transposition Project, which has been in pre-operation since 2017, to the region with the greatest water shortage in Pernambuco. Approximately 2.2 million inhabitants in 68 municipalities in the State of Pernambuco will be catered for.

COBA was engaged by the Contractor to prepare the Detailed Design of the canals, drainage system, syphons, road network and dams, hydraulic modelling of the water supply system, as well as the operation and maintenance procedures manual.

Lx, 27 Apr 2021

 

COBA - A PARTNER FOR DEVELOPMENT

The most recent publication of GPEARI (Ministry of Finance) reveals that, in the last 12 years, COBA was the third Portuguese company with the highest number of contracts funded by Multilateral Development Banks.

A note of appreciation to all our employees and partners who contributed towards the award and the successful completion of these projects, a showcase of Portuguese Engineering Worldwide, in a highly competitive market such as is the Multilateral market.

Lx, 10 Mar 2021

 

IN MEMORIAM - PROFESSOR JOAQUIM LAGINHA SERAFIM

 

 

 

On January 12th we evoked Joaquim Laginha Serafim’s 100th birthday, Gold Medal of the Portuguese College of Engineers, distinction attributed for his intervention and exceptional merit, at national and international level, for the progress and prestige of Portuguese Engineering.

Laginha Serafim was, from the beginning of his career, one of the most highly regarded researchers at the National Laboratory for Civil Engineering, in the field of dams. Even before turning 40, he collaborated with some of the most renowned Portuguese engineers at the time, in the movement for creation of independent engineering firms, which lead to the establishment of COBA, in 1962.

Under his direction, COBA soon began internationalization of its activity, always with a focus on the technical skills of its staff and the diversification into the various fields of engineering.

The Professor left many marks, was an example of sagacity and exemplarity in the leadership of the team that led the company for almost three decades. Warranted its sustainability and also ensured a smooth transition during the period that followed his retirement from the company.

The Professor also left several lessons to his following generations of managers: To think Big, with audacity, always fostering competence, promoting team spirit, and the capacity for innovation and the regeneration of the corporate Board and Directors.

The Board of Directors of COBA.

Lx, 26 Feb 2021

 

PERU - CONSTRUCTION OF THE CUSCO EXPRESSWAY AWARDED

 

In December 2020 it was awarded the construction of the Cusco Expressway, in Peru, following COBA’s road project design. This Expressway is located in the city of Cusco, classified as Historic Capital and World Heritage. Several Chinese and Spanish companies took part in this construction tender, and China Gezhouba Group Company Ltd was awarded a contract worth 289,218,000 PEN (about 66,750,000 euros) and a construction period of 24 months.

The Cusco Expressway road project design (Estudio Definitivo del Proyecto Mejoramiento Integral de la Via Expresa de la Ciudad del Cusco: Ovalo Libertadores - Puente Costanera - Nodo Versalles) was developed by COBA in consortium with CPS, a Peruvian mid-sized company, with the Regional Government of Cusco as its client and funding from the World Bank (IBRD).

This is an urban avenue, with a total length of 6.9 km, located immediately north of the Cusco International Airport. The project aims at the urban requalification of this area, currently degraded and with residential and industrial use.

The solution developed consists of an urban avenue, with four lanes per direction, with two side roads for local traffic and for collective passenger transport. The interaction with streets and transversal avenues is assured by open oval roundabouts and unlevelled interchanges in the terminal zones of the road. It also includes several bridges with three intersections associated with the Huatanay River avenue. Along the avenue there are also cycle lanes, wide sidewalks, parking areas, green spaces and multipurpose areas.

COBA has directly provided the road layout specialities associated with urban requalification, paving, soils, water fountains and borrow areas.

Lx, 11 Jan 2021