Gamuda & Ferrovial joint venture signs ECI agreement for Capricornia Pumped Hydroelectric Energy System
Gamuda, in a joint venture with Ferrovial (GFJV), has signed an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) agreement with Capricornia Energy Hub (CEH) for its Capricornia Pumped Hydroelectric Storage System (PHES). CEH is owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), one of the world’s largest clean energy investors.
The ECI phase will take approximately five months to develop an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract to deliver the PHES.
Delivery of the integrated renewable energy and pumped hydro storage project, located approximately 80 kilometres west of Mackay in Central Queensland, will play an important role in Queensland’s future energy mix and provide affordable and reliable energy for around 900,000 Queensland homes.
At the heart of the project is a cutting-edge pumped hydroelectric energy storage system, including a 750-megawatt (MW) pump and a generation facility capable of delivering power continuously for 16 hours. With a total storage capacity of 12 gigawatt-hours (GWh), the system will include an upper off-stream reservoir and a lower reservoir that is approximately five kilometres downstream from the existing Eungella dam.
Gamuda CEO Ewan Yee said, “This landmark project underscores our commitment to Queensland’s renewable energy future while expanding our presence across Australia. We’re proud to be part of such a transformative initiative.”
Antonio Cañete Berenguer, Managing Director, Ferrovial Construction Australia added: “This appointment reflects the strength of our partnership with Gamuda and highlights our dedication to delivering world-class infrastructure. Together, we’re shaping Australia’s clean energy future, building on our success in projects like the Coffs Harbour Bypass and Oven Mountain Pumped Hydro Storage project.”
John Carr, CEO, Capricornia Energy Hub said, “The appointment of ECI partners is a significant milestone for Capricornia Energy Hub as it allows us to draw on Gamuda’s and Ferrovial’s expertise to design a cost-effective pumped hydro. We look forward to working with our ECI partners and their strong regional networks to unlock more opportunities for local contractors and supporting the local supply chain.”
Construction of the Capricornia Pumped Hydroelectric Energy System is expected to begin in 2026. It will create an estimated 600 jobs during peak construction and 65 local jobs during commercial operations.