MILAN, June 5, 2019 – Innovation and new models of development for cities and their transport systems were prominent topics at the Roads Australia Transport Summit, one of the most important events of the year for the infrastructure industry in which Salini Impregilo took part.

Australia has become even more central to Salini Impregilo’s growth strategy, especially after the Group recently winning Snowy 2.0, the biggest hydropower project in the country’s history.

Salini Impregilo could further strengthen its presence in the country with Progetto Italia (Project Italy), an operation of industrial consolidation that it is leading in its home country to take advantage of Italian excellence in the infrastructure sector and acquire greater scale to better compete in international markets.

Roads Australia’s annual summit had among its participants Michael McCormack, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, and Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Roads for New South Wales. More than 250 other industry representatives were present. Development in the sector is becoming increasingly aligned with sustainable mobility and the production of clean energy – two areas that are receiving support from smart technologies and increased collaboration among companies, governments and universities, according to Marco Assorati, Executive Director Asia Pacific di Salini Impregilo at the opening of the second day of the summit. These topics were addressed by Assorati as well as Carlo Ratti, an influential thinker in Australia and the United States with an expertise in intelligent technology that promises to change city infrastructure and improve the quality of life for residents.

With a multi-billion-dollar investment strategy for infrastructure, Australia aims to develop further its renewable energy production. In April, it awarded the AU$5.1-billion (€3.2 billion) Snowy 2.0 project to Salini Impregilo as leader of the Future Generation joint-venture with Lane and Clough. The project, which will expand the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, has contributed to increasing the country’s contribution to the Group’s total order backlog at the end of the first quarter to nearly 12% from 1.5%.

Salini Impregilo built the skytrain bridge and viaduct of the recently opened Sydney Metro Northwest, and it is currently working on the Forrestfield-Airport Link to improve connections among Perth’s suburbs, airport and city centre.