STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- A massive project to rescue the temples of Luxor and Karnak from rising groundwater is scheduled to launch after year-end. SWECO has been awarded an assignment to supervise efforts aimed at saving these two World Heritage sites. The assignment is worth over half a million euros.
The ancient temples of Luxor and Karnak in Egypt are crumbling as a result of rising groundwater, which causes water with a high salt content to be absorbed by the foundations through capillary action. When the water evaporates, the salt crystallises and disintegrates the porous sandstone of which the antiquities are built.
"We have previously found solutions that can save the temples and lower the groundwater. Now we will supervise activities to ensure that mitigation measures are implemented correctly when work is started after Christmas," says Anna-Jeanette Larnelius Low, Project Manager at SWECO.
The assignment is being carried out on behalf of Sida, the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency. The project is funded by USAID.
The temples of Luxor and Karnak, dating from 2000-1500 B.C., are among Egypt's most significant cultural treasures and are included on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
In recent years SWECO has taken part in developing a technical solution to the problem of rising groundwater and planning the construction work that will begin after year-end. The earlier assignment also included preparation of tender documents, technical specifications and procurement of contracting services.
SWECO is the Nordic region's leading consulting company in the fields of engineering, environmental technology and architecture: SWECO FFNS, SWECO BLOCO, SWECO Theorells, SWECO VBB, SWECO VIAK, SWECO Projektledning, SWECO Position, SWECO Energuide, SWECO Connect, SWECO Groener and PIC Engineering. The SWECO share is quoted on the O list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
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