Construction of Hanwha Bisuyama New Town Halted Due to COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] Hanwha Engineering & Construction's new city construction project in Bismayah, Iraq, has been directly hit by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). One Korean employee showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms and died locally, and 10 employees who returned to Korea were also confirmed positive, raising concerns about a cluster infection.

Hanwha Engineering & Construction announced on the 30th that Lee Mo (62), the head of a subcontractor who showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms at the Bismayah new city construction site on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq, on the 27th, had died. Lee showed fever and pneumonia symptoms in mid-month and was transferred to a hospital in Baghdad for treatment before passing away.

Hanwha Engineering & Construction has suspended construction work at the Bismayah site since the 15th. In addition, not only subcontractor employees but also one Bangladeshi worker at the site showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms and died, raising concerns that the construction suspension could be prolonged. A Hanwha Engineering & Construction official said, "All employees are currently in quarantine, and we are awaiting the exact cause of death investigation results from the Iraqi health authorities."

Seven Hanwha Engineering & Construction employees and three subcontractor employees who returned on UN special flights on the 11th and 21st were also confirmed positive, increasing concerns about cluster infections. About 150 Koreans remain at the site. There is a possibility of additional confirmed cases among them.

This project had come to a halt due to the spread of COVID-19 and the drop in international oil prices but was expected to gain momentum as it resumed through close consultations with the newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister and government cabinet. However, with growing concerns about cluster infections of COVID-19, early resumption of construction is uncertain.

This project is the largest new city construction project ever won by Hanwha Engineering & Construction in 2012. It is a key project of the Iraqi government, which has been continuously promoting reconstruction after the war, aiming to build 100,000 housing units and social infrastructure on an area six times the size of Yeouido near Baghdad. The total contract amount exceeds 12 trillion won. Hanwha Engineering & Construction receives construction payments according to the delivery of completed units by block.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.