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Bechtel Corporation (/ˈbɛktəl/) is an American engineering, procurement, construction and project management company founded in San Francisco, California in 1898. It is headquartered in Reston, Virginia in the Washington metropolitan area.[3][4] As of 2022, the Engineering News-Record ranked Bechtel as the second largest construction company in the United States, following Turner Construction.[5] Bechtel has over 50,000 employees as of May 2025.[6]

Key Information

History

[edit]

Founding and early years

[edit]

Bechtel's business activities began in 1898, when cattle farmer Warren A. Bechtel moved from Peabody, Kansas, to the Oklahoma Territory to construct railroads with his team of mules.[7][8] Bechtel moved his family frequently between construction sites around the Western United States for the next several years, eventually moving to Oakland, California, in 1904, where he worked as the superintendent on the Western Pacific Railroad.[7] In 1906, W. A. Bechtel won his first subcontract to build part of the Oroville-to-Oakland section of the Western Pacific Railroad.[7] That year he bought a steam shovel, becoming a pioneer of the new technology.[9][10] He painted "W.A. Bechtel Co." on the side of the steam shovel, effectively establishing Bechtel as a company, although it was not yet incorporated.[8] Bechtel completed work on a series of railroad contracts during the early 1900s, culminating in an extension of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad finished in 1914.[7]

Starting with the construction of Klamath River Highway in California in 1919, Bechtel ventured into jobs other than building railroads. The company built roads, bridges, and highways throughout the western United States. The company worked on its first hydroelectric projects in the 1920s for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in California.[9][10][11]

In 1925, Warren, his sons Warren A. Bechtel Jr, Stephen, Kenneth (Ken), and his brother Arthur (Art) joined him to incorporate as W.A. Bechtel Company,[12] which by this time was the leading construction company in the western United States.[7][13] In 1929, Warren's son, Stephen, urged his father to embark on the company's first pipeline project. Bechtel began working with California Standard Oil Company to build pipelines and refineries.[11][14][15]

In January 1931, Bechtel joined other contractors in the west to form Six Companies, Inc., a consortium created to bid for a contract from the U.S. government to construct the Hoover Dam. Six Companies won the bid in March and construction began in the summer of 1931.[8][9]

WWII, overseas expansion and the nuclear age

[edit]

Warren Bechtel died unexpectedly in 1933 while in Moscow on business. He was succeeded by his oldest son, Warren A. Bechtel Jr., first, then later Stephen Bechtel Sr., who became both the head of Bechtel and chief executive of the Hoover Dam project. Under his leadership, the Hoover Dam was finished in 1935. The project was the largest of its kind in U.S. history at the time and Bechtel's first megaproject.[10][15][16]

During World War II, the United States Maritime Commission invited the company to bid for a contract to build half of their order of 60 cargo ships. The company had no prior experience in shipbuilding, but bid for the entire 60 ships.[15][17] Between 1941 and 1945, Bechtel's wartime shipyards, including Marinship and Calship, built 560 vessels. Bechtel also worked on a pipeline from the Yukon to Alaska called Canol for the United States Department of War during this period.[18]

Under Stephen Bechtel Sr., the company diversified its projects and expanded its work into other countries. The company also focused on turnkey projects, a concept Stephen Bechtel Sr. pioneered, in which Bechtel handled a project from planning and design through construction.[15][18][19]

Bechtel's first job outside the U.S. was building the Mene Grande pipeline in Venezuela in 1940. In 1947, Bechtel began construction on what was then the world's longest oil pipeline, the Trans-Arabian Pipeline, which began in Saudi Arabia, ran across Jordan and Syria, and ended in Lebanon,[15][17][20] followed by the Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline from Kirkuk, also to the Mediterranean[21]. The company continued to expand globally throughout the 1940s, particularly in the Middle East.[13][17]

In 1949, Bechtel began working with nuclear power after being contracted to build the Experimental Breeder Reactor I in Idaho. The company later built the United States' first privately financed commercial nuclear power plant, the Dresden Generating Station, for Commonwealth Edison in Illinois in 1957.[11][22][23]

Other major projects in the 1950s included the Trans Mountain Pipeline in 1952, an oil pipeline in Canada, and a preliminary study for the English Channel in 1959.[11][18][24] Bechtel also began engineering work on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system in 1959.[11][16]

Megaprojects era

[edit]

Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. took over for his father as president of the company as Stephen Bechtel Sr. retired in 1960.[16][19][25] During the 1960s and 1970s, Bechtel was involved in constructing 40% of the nuclear plants in the United States.[25] In 1968, the company completed the largest nuclear plant in the U.S. at the time, the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, in California.[7][26] In 1972, Bechtel was involved in approximately 20% of all of the United States' new power-generating capacity.[19] By the end of the decade, the company had moved from nuclear power construction toward nuclear cleanup projects, including Three Mile Island in 1979.[11][25]

Bechtel completed work on other megaprojects during the 1970s, including major airports in Saudi Arabia and the metro rail in Washington, D.C.[11][18] In 1976, the company began work on the industrial city of Jubail in Saudi Arabia. The company's multiple construction contracts helped to transform the area from a small village to a city with a population of over a quarter of a million people.[13][25]

In the 1980s, Bechtel handled the project management of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.[27] The company also built the Ankara-Gerede Motorway in Turkey as part of the network of roadways linking Europe and Asia in 1986.[28]

In 1987, Bechtel was awarded a contract for project management services of an undersea tunnel linking the UK and France called the Channel Tunnel or "Chunnel". The tunnel was completed in 1994.[7][29]

Increased business and visibility

[edit]

The recession of the 1980s turned the company's focus toward new areas of growth including environmental cleanup and alternative energy projects.[25][30] In 1989 Riley P. Bechtel was named president of the company.[16]

In 1991, Bechtel, in a joint venture with Parsons Brinckerhoff, broke ground on Boston's Central Artery/Tunnel Project or "Big Dig", a project the company had been in charge of since 1986.[31][32] The Big Dig was, at the time, the largest and most complex urban transportation project ever undertaken in the US. The 20-year project was critiqued for rising costs and increasing scope of work, as the Big Dig became more complex than was originally estimated. Criticism of the project increased in 2005 when a leak sprang in one of the new tunnels. In the summer of 2006, a faulty tunnel ceiling panel collapsed, killing a motorist.[31] Litigation ensued, and in January 2008, Bechtel settled with federal and state officials for $352 million with other contractors involved paying smaller amounts.[33]

As a result of the Gulf War, Bechtel accepted the task of extinguishing oil well fires in Kuwait in 1991. This fire-suppression project was part of the effort to rebuild the infrastructure of Kuwait.[16][25]

In 1994, Bechtel began work on the US$20 billion Hong Kong Airport Core Programme, which was the largest civil engineering project at the time and included a new airport and nine other infrastructure projects.[34][35] Bechtel's other major projects during the 1990s included the Athens Metro system,[15] the Atlantic LNG in Trinidad,[28] the Croatian Motorway,[36] the Jubilee Line Extension for the London Underground, Quezon Power Plant in the Philippines,[37] and a semiconductor plant in China.[38][39][40] Bechtel also managed design and construction of facilities for Olympic games: the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics,[27] and the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan in 1998.[41] In the early 2000s, the company provided planning and management services for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.[27] In 2001, Bechtel was part of a consortium to project manage the US$4.3 billion construction of the CSPC Nanhai Petrochemicals Complex in China.[42]

Several projects in the 2000s attracted controversy.[43] In 2000, after a protest against water prices being raised by a utility partially owned by Bechtel in Bolivia, the company pulled out of the country and later filed suit against Bolivia for $25 million in losses. The claim was settled in 2006 for $0.30.[43][44]

In 2001, Bechtel began work on the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant at the Hanford site in Washington state.[45] The project is a highly complex plant for the treatment of radioactive liquid waste that has employed new technologies and construction techniques that are the first of their kind. As of 2013, it is considered the most complex project in the US.[45][46] Management of the project has been the subject of controversy including the Department of Energy's Inspector General reports and Government Accountability Office studies regarding rising costs, nuclear safety and quality, and whistleblower allegations. For example, in 2013 the DOE Inspector General concluded that "Bechtel determined that there was a systemic problem and a breakdown in controls over the review of design changes", but that the company had taken steps to correct the problems.[47][48]

In 2003, Bechtel won a $680 million contract to begin rebuilding infrastructure in Iraq for U.S. Agency for International Development. The contract led to the company being accused of both non-competitive bidding and war profiteering.[43] Bechtel won a competitively-bid second contract in January 2004,[49] and completed 97 of 99 task orders of the contract, returning the two remaining projects due to the escalating security concerns in the country.[50]

Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Bechtel was one of four companies hired by FEMA to build temporary housing.[31] Bechtel delivered over 35,000 trailers in under a year for displaced residents in Mississippi, though the company was criticized by officials and in the media for the cost and quality of work.[51]

In 2007, Bechtel began work on the Romanian A3 motorway (Autostrada Transilvania) and Albanian motorways. Bechtel and the Romanian National Roads Authority jointly agreed on a settlement to end the contract for works on the Autostrada Transilvania in 2013. The Albanian Motorway was opened to traffic in 2010 on schedule.[52][53]

Other major projects at the end of the 2000s included the twinning of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state,[54] Jamnagar Refinery expansion in India,[55] Equatorial GuineaLNG,[56] and Oak Creek Power Plant in Wisconsin.[57]

2000 Bolivian water privatization, rate increase and violence

[edit]
Main article: Cochabamba Water War

After years of unreliable water supply and 40% water loss in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia, the World Bank pressured Bolivia to put SEMAPA (the Cochabamba water utility) up for auction without funding. Bechtel and others formed a consortium named "Aguas del Tunari" (Water of Tunari – a local regional term) to file a bid to the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia in 1999. Bechtel was a 27% partner and Abengoa S.A. of Spain was a 25% partner. This bid was in response to the increasing pressure from the World Bank, which had funded and extended water supply projects for the country of Bolivia, to privatize the water utility of Cochabamba. With the strings attached in 1995, and the World Bank participating in draft bids in 1997, the Aguas del Tunari consortium were the only bidders for the auction. The bid was accepted, under pressure of the World Bank and the conditions of their loans to Bolivia. The terms were ratified in the often-cited Law 2029 by the legislative body of Bolivia, however largely it had previously been accepted and influenced by local governments. Under the terms, Bechtel and the consortium immediately raised water pricing 35% and after the first month they had raised the price for water to the residents by almost 60% and in other parts much higher. The Bechtel consortium contract claimed harvesting of rainwater violated its contract essentially monopolizing the supply of water to millions of people.[58][59][60][61][62][63] Water became one fifth of the average person's expenses and protests erupted. Protests were met with a cold shoulder response by Bechtel expressing they would simply cut-off water to those who did not pay. Further protests were enhanced when agricultural sectors realized the bylaws allowed Bechtel and the consortium rights to rain water as well, which was assumed to mean they could no longer collect rain water.[64][65]

Violence between protesters and police resulted in the burning of government buildings and hundreds of injured within the first days of the conflict. The local governments of Manfred Reyes Villa (mayor) and Jose Pepe Orias (prefect or governor) resigned. The contract was ultimately abandoned, for which Bechtel in February 2021 demanded settlement. The aftermath of the violence was destruction of public property in downtown Cochabamba paid for by taxpayers, the death of one civilian, restitution by the government, and hundreds of injured police, military personnel, and protestors. A movie titled Even the Rain with actor Gael García Bernal depicts a historical fiction story set in this time. The conflict became known as the Cochabamba Water War.[64][65]

Locations and operational activities

[edit]

Bechtel's major operational locations are in Brisbane,[66] Calgary,[67] Chandler, Arizona, Dubai,[68][69] Houston,[70] Knoxville, Tennessee, London,[71] New Delhi,[72] Reston, Virginia,[73] San Francisco,[74] Santiago,[75] Shanghai, Nairobi, Taipei,[76] and Washington, D.C.[77]

The company is headquartered in Reston,[78] which also houses the company's global operational headquarters,[79] as well as the headquarters of the Nuclear, Security & Environmental global business unit and the Americas offices of the Infrastructure global business unit.[80][81] The company's Oil, Gas & Chemicals unit is based in the Houston office.[82] The Washington office is home to the government affairs team, and maintains a Political Action Committee.[83]

Outside of North America, the Infrastructure unit's headquarters is located at the company's London office.[84] The Mining & Metals unit is based out of Santiago, Chile, and Brisbane.[85] In 2013, the company established its global center of engineering excellence in Dubai focusing on rail and marine projects.[69][86] It established innovation centers in Houston and London in 2015 and Santiago in 2018 to test new technology.[87][88]

Bechtel works on global megaprojects through its four business units.[89] The company frequently manages work from design through construction phases.[90][91][92] Its corporate values include safety, quality, and ethics.[74][92][93]

Bechtel was the presenting sponsor of "Dream Big: Engineering Our World", a 42-minute IMAX documentary produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films in partnership with American Society of Civil Engineers. The documentary seeks to inspire young people to pursue engineering careers.[94][95][96]

Bechtel opened its welding and applied technology center in 2017 in the Houston Energy Corridor to train welding and construction workers. The center also provides virtual training and augmented reality to train workers.[97]

Its Houston offices were in the Houston Galleria area; in 2022 the company announced it would move those offices to Westchase, Houston effective late 2023.[98]

Infrastructure

[edit]

The Infrastructure unit handles transportation, power, and hydroelectric facilities.[99][100] Transportation projects include highways, bridges, rail, and aviation facilities.[100] Bechtel has built more than 17,200 miles (27,700 km) of roadway, 390 power plants, 50 hydroelectric plants,[101] as well as 20 towns and cities globally.[89] It has worked on 300 subway and rail projects, 80 port and harbor projects, and 96 major airport projects.[101][102]

Bechtel's Infrastructure unit is leading a consortium in the engineering, procurement and construction of lines One and Two of the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia metro, which began construction in April 2014.[103][104] In July 2014, Bechtel was selected to build a new 37-mile motorway linking Kosovo's capital, Pristina, to Macedonia.[105]

Bechtel is also participating in the building of London's Crossrail, a $24 billion project that will connect commuter towns east and west of London and is intended to serve an estimated 200 million people a year upon completion.[106][107] As of June 2015, the project is 65% complete.[108]

In 2016, Bechtel began construction on the first phase of the Edmonton Valley Line Light Rail Transit project in Alberta, Canada, the first public–private partnership (P3) business group.[109] The company is also involved in several ongoing projects as of 2016, including building national infrastructure in Gabon[110] and supporting the continuous development of Jubail industrial city in Saudi Arabia.[111] Bechtel has worked at Jubail for more than 40 years, and was granted a five-year extension on both projects June 2016.[112]

In February 2017, Bechtel was chosen to support setting up and operating Saudi Arabia's National Project Management Office.[113] In May 2017, Bechtel was appointed the delivery management partner for the tunnels and stations excavation package of Stage 2 of the Sydney Metro project.[114] Considered Australia's largest public infrastructure project, the work includes new twin rail tunnels under Sydney Harbour.[114] Bechtel won the contract in August 2017 to design and build a 473-kilometer highway with 19 interchanges linking Nairobi, Kenya's capital, to Mombasa, Kenya's main port.[115][116][117] The first section is targeted to open in October 2019[115][116][117] and the entire length of the highway is scheduled to be complete in 2024.[115][116][117]

In 2018, Bechtel's work on the Panda Power Funds' 1.1 GW natural gas Hummel Station Power Plant in Pennsylvania was completed.[118][119] Bechtel is also working on a project for Advanced Power, the Cricket Valley Energy Center in New York.[120] Bechtel is also building the Keeyask Generating Station, a hydroelectric power plant for Manitoba Hydro in Manitoba, Canada.[121] The Infrastructure unit had also worked on projects for Google Fiber in several markets in the Southeastern U.S.[122][123][124]

Among completed projects, Bechtel finished a 10.8 miles (17.4 km) four-lane motorway in Kosovo a year ahead of schedule in November 2013.[125] The unit completed the 143 MW Catalina Solar photovoltaic generating facility and the construction of the 250 MW California Valley Solar Ranch in 2013.[126][127] Bechtel also completed the Hanna Region Transmission Development, a power transmission project in Canada, which included 1,200 new transmission towers and 85 miles (137 km) of transmission lines in 2013.[128] Bechtel completed Phase I of an extension of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail in Northern Virginia[92][129] and completed the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, in 2014.[68][130] Bechtel also completed the world's largest solar thermal project, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California, which began producing power in February 2014.[131][132]

In 2015, Bechtel began work as project manager of the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension for the Toronto Transit Commission.[133] The project was completed in 2017.[134] Bechtel completed construction of the Stonewall Energy Facility in May 2017. The 778 megawatt natural gas-fired power plant supplies electricity to 778,000 homes in northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metro area.[135] Bechtel's work on the Carroll County Energy Facility in Ohio for Advanced Power was also completed in 2017.[136] In 2018, the unit completed a new air passenger terminal in Muscat, Oman.[137] In May 2022, Bechtel was hired to update the Vision 2041 plan for Shannon Foynes Port in Ireland.[138]

Mining & Metals

[edit]

The Mining & Metals (M&M) unit works on projects related to the mining and production of materials such as aluminum, coal, copper, iron ore, alumina and other metals and minerals. The unit operates on six continents and has completed hundreds of major mining projects as well as more than 1,000 mining studies.[139][140] It has also finished 42 major copper projects, 30 aluminum smelters, 15 major coal projects, and eight alumina refinery projects.[101]

In 2013, the unit completed construction of Saudi Arabia's first aluminum smelter in Ras Al-Khair,[139] the Daunia coal mine in Queensland, Australia,[141] and the expansion of the Kooragang Coal Terminal in Port Waratah in Australia, increasing capacity to 145 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa).[142]

In 2014, M&M completed the Caval Ridge coal mine in Queensland,[143] and began operations at Escondida's OLAP copper cathode project, which consisted of a new dynamic leaching pad and a mineral handling system.[144]

In 2015, the unit completed the Las Bambas copper concentrator in Peru for MMG,[145] the Kitimat aluminum smelter in Canada for Rio Tinto Group.,[146] and the Escondida Organic Growth Project 1 (OGP1), the largest single-line copper concentrator ever built.[139] M&M also completed a third berth for the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) at Hay Point Coal Terminal in Queensland, Australia, which increased export capacity from the existing 44 Mtpa to 55 Mtpa.[147]

Bechtel began building the Al Taweelah alumina refinery (formerly Shaheen) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) in 2015.[148][149]

In April 2016, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) announced that Bechtel had been appointed engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) contractor for the company's Line 6 Expansion Project. The initiative will make Alba the world's largest single-site aluminum smelter upon completion, boosting production to 1.5 Mtpa.[150] That same month, Rio Tinto announced that Kitimat had reached full production levels of 420,000 tonnes per annum,[151] while Las Bambas achieved commercial production in July 2016.[152] As of 2016, Bechtel is advancing the Amrun bauxite initiative for Rio Tinto in Australia, which announced project approval in November 2015.[153]

Bechtel completed the engineering, procurement, and construction of a water system and desalination plant for the Escondida copper mine in Chile[139][154] in 2018.[155] The Bechtel-Techint joint venture team built a dual 112-mile-long pipeline to carry desalinated water from the Pacific Coast across the Atacama Desert to the Escondida copper mine approximately 10,000 feet above sea level in the Andes.[156]

In 2023, Bechtel was awarded EPCM contract for the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Humboldt County, Nevada.[157]

Energy

[edit]

The Energy unit designs and builds liquefied natural gas (LNG), oil, pipeline, petrochemicals, natural gas, and water treatment facilities.[76][158][159][160] Since the company's founding, it has built approximately 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of pipeline systems, more than 50 major oil and gas field developments, and completed over 380 major chemical and petrochemical projects.[101] The unit also constructs and tests tanks for LNG storage.[161] Bechtel has built a third of the world's LNG liquefaction capacity.[162]

Between 2011 and 2016, the unit built three LNG plants on Curtis Island in Queensland, Australia.[163][156] It completed the first of six trains in December 2014.[164][165] The complex was named a 2016 Global Best Project by Engineering News-Record in the category of "Power/Industrial"[166] and a Construction Project of the Year by S&P Global Platts.[167] The unit also built the Wheatstone project, a two-train LNG plant that is one of Australia's largest energy resource efforts.[91][168] Following completion of Train 1 in late 2017, Train 2 of the facility moved into production mid-2018.[169][170]

Bechtel has built five LNG production trains for Cheniere Energy Partners LP as the Sabine Pass liquefaction project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.[171] The initial cargo from the first completed train was delivered in 2016.[172][173] In November 2018, the unit has completed the first of three LNG trains on the Corpus Christi Liquefaction project in Texas.[174] The Corpus Christi, project includes three LNG trains, three LNG storage tanks, and two berths.[175][176] In 2016, Bechtel completed roof raises on two tanks at a liquefaction plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, for Cheniere.[156]

In May 2013, the unit was awarded a contract for the front-end engineering design of the Pacific NorthWest LNG in Vancouver, BC.[177] In March 2014, the unit was awarded a contract to construct facilities in Georgia for the Shah Deniz II gas field in Azerbaijan.[159] In August 2015, Bechtel was contracted by Delfin LNG, to provide front-end engineering and design for a planned floating LNG vessel at Port Delfin off the coastline of Louisiana, which would be the first in the U.S.[178] Also in 2015, the unit was awarded a contract to manage the engineering, procurement, and construction of 12 new natural-gas pipelines in Thailand.[179]

The company was part of a consortium selected by PTT GC America in 2015 to provide front-end engineering and design for a new petrochemical complex in Belmont County, Ohio.[180] It is also the lead contractor for a Shell petrochemical plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.[181]

Bechtel's technology was licensed for facility upgrades at the Rijeka Refinery in Croatia in February 2014.[182] In 2016, the unit was contracted by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation to design an upgrade to the coker unit at the Assiut refinery in Egypt using its ThruPlus technology.[183] Also in 2016, it was awarded a contract to upgrade a refinery in Beaumont, Texas, for ExxonMobil, using ExxonMobil's proprietary SCANfining technology.[184]

In late 2017, the unit was selected to design and build Tellurian's Driftwood LNG project, a proposed liquefied gas facility in Louisiana.[185] In January 2018, the unit was awarded a front-end engineering design contract for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's planned offshore ultra-sour gas mega project located in the north western area of Abu Dhabi.[186][187][188]

In June 2019, Kallanish Energy reported that Bechtel had been hired by Thailand's PTT Global Chemical America and South Korea-based partner Daelim to build a $6 billion ethane cracker on the Ohio River in Belmont County, Ohio.[189]

Nuclear, Security & Environmental

[edit]

The Nuclear, Security & Environmental unit handles the company's government work and commercial nuclear businesses.[99] The unit supports U.S. and international governmental organizations including the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy.[190][191] Since the 1950s, Bechtel has designed, serviced, or delivered 80 percent of all nuclear plants in the U.S.[101]

As of 2019, Bechtel leads or is a member of a consortium that manages a national laboratory and several national security-related facilities in the U.S., including: the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the combined operations of the Y-12 National Security Complex and the Pantex Plant.[192][191][193]

Bechtel has been contracted to manage the United States Navy's nuclear propulsion research facilities since 2011.[191] In June 2013 the unit completed design and construction on a U.S. Missile Defense Agency project at Fort Greely, Alaska, which included three missile fields and forty silos.[194] In 2014 the U.K. Ministry of Defence selected Bechtel to support the Royal Navy and Air Force on procurement and managed support services.[195] Additionally, in 2016, Bechtel began providing testing and operations for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex at the Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee.[196]

Other government work includes the construction of the facilities to treat the liquid radioactive waste stored underground at the Department of Energy's Hanford nuclear waste site in Washington.[77][197][198] Bechtel and AECOM agreed in 2016 to pay $125 million to settle claims by the U.S. Department of Justice that the companies used subpar work while building a nuclear waste treatment facility at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state, in addition to allegedly using public funds for lobbying. The companies did not admit wrongdoing; they said they settled to avoid long, costly litigation.[199][200][201] In late 2017, Bechtel completed the assembly of two nuclear waste melters, each at 300 tons. The melters are the largest of their kind ever built in the United States.[202]

The unit also manages U.S. Department of Defense contracts to dismantle and dispose of stored chemical weapons, including decades-old mustard and nerve gas from World War II.[77][197][198] By 2019, the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Colorado had destroyed nearly 100,000 munitions.[203] Bechtel completed the construction of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in 2015.[204] Since May 2012, Bechtel has been part of a consortium completing the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement, a structure that will safely confine the damaged Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Number 4.[205] Bechtel continues to oversee the operation. In November 2016, the team slid a massive containment arch to cover the damaged nuclear reactor and contain radioactive material.[156]

In 2016, Bechtel completed work on Tennessee Valley Authority's Watts Bar 2 nuclear reactor.[206][207][208] In May 2016, a joint venture including Bechtel won a contract to conduct front-end engineering and design for the eventual construction of Wylfa Newydd, a nuclear power station in Wales for Horizon Nuclear Power.[209]

In August 2017, Bechtel took over as the lead contractor to complete construction at Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle, estimated in 2022 at $30 billion.[210] Bechtel was awarded the contract and took over day-to-day construction of Plant Vogtle's Units 3 and 4 after Westinghouse Electric, the designer and principal contractor for the two new reactors, filed for bankruptcy.[211]

As of 2018, Bechtel is building the Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee. The $6.5 billion project is part of the National Nuclear Security Administration program to replace aging, Cold War-era facilities that service, refresh, and replace the uranium stages of nuclear warheads.[212][213]

As of April 2025, Dena Volovar is to succeed John Howanitz as president of Bechtel’s nuclear, security and environmental business (NS&E), the company has announced. Howanitz is retiring in April after 42 years with Bechtel. He has served as president of the NSS&E business since 2021. Volovar brings more than 26 years of experience within Bechtel to the role. This includes executive vice president and general manager of NS&E’s environmental and security business line, where she managed Bechtel’s relationship with the US Department of Energy.[214]

Manufacturing and technology

[edit]

The Manufacturing & Technology unit designs and builds projects in the semiconductor, electric vehicle, synthetic materials, and data center markets.[215] M&T was contracted by Intel in November 2022 to build a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Ohio.[216] Another project initiated in 2022–2023 included electrical vehicle charging infrastructure for school bus provider First Student.[217]

Management

[edit]

Brendan Bechtel is chairman and CEO and is the fifth generation of the Bechtel family to lead the company.[218] Craig Albert is president and chief operating officer.[219] Keith Hennessey is chief financial officer.[220]

Several high-ranking Bechtel executives at times held important positions in the United States government. Notably, Ronald Reagan's cabinet had two former Bechtel executives: Caspar Weinberger and George Shultz, serving as Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State respectively.[221]

At the end of 2009 Jude Laspa, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President and Director, retired from Bechtel ending a 43 year career with the company.[222]

Financials and rankings

[edit]

In 2017, Bechtel ranked eighth on Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies by revenue,[223] and 7th on Fortune's list of the 25 Most Important Private Companies.[224] The company has been named the top U.S. Contractor by revenue by Engineering News-Record for 20 years in a row[225][226] and ranked 12th on the publication's Top 250 International Contractors list by revenue for 2018.[227]

Major projects

[edit]
Name Image Description
Hoover Dam Arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River commissioned by the Bureau of Reclamation to control flooding and provide water and hydroelectric power to the Southwestern United States and California.[228] At the time of construction, it was the world's biggest dam and the largest public works project in the history of the U.S.[15][228] Bechtel bid on the project as part of Six Companies, Inc., a group of several smaller contractors. Bechtel led construction from 1931 until completion in 1935.[8] The Hoover Dam was Bechtel's first megaproject.[16]
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Public transportation system for San Francisco Bay Area. Bechtel engineered, designed, and built BART for the Bay Area Rapid Transit District through a joint venture called Parsons-Brinckerhoff-Tudor-Bechtel. Construction began in 1964 and was completed in 1976.[191][229]
Jubail Industrial City Largest industrial city in the Middle East and the largest construction engineering project in the world.[191][230] Bechtel has been overseeing construction since the project's inception in the mid-1970s.[191] The city has been built from a master plan designed by Bechtel and encompasses infrastructure to support 19 primary industries, and produce oil and gas-based products including refined oil, petrochemicals, steel, glass and aluminum. Bechtel has also built housing, retail space, mosques, schools, clinics, and fire stations. Bechtel began construction on an expansion to the city, called Jubail Industrial City II, in 2006.[230]
Channel Tunnel 32-mile undersea tunnel connecting the United Kingdom and France considered by the American Society of Civil Engineers to be one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World".[231] Bechtel was chosen to manage the project by Eurotunnel in 1987. Construction lasted from 1988 to 1994.[232]
Kuwait Oil Field Restoration Following the Gulf War, Bechtel was contracted to lead a team to restore oil fields damaged by Iraqi forces, including repairing 749 wells, of which 650 were on fire. Bechtel completed the task in eight months and under budget.[233]
Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Section of Interstate 93 that runs through downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Bechtel and Parsons Brinckerhoff jointly supervised the planning and construction that re-routed and rebuilt the Central Artery from an elevated roadway to a series of tunnels.[234] Planning began in 1982 and construction lasted from 1991 to 2006, approximately ten years longer than initially planned.[235] Also known as "Big Dig", the project included construction of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world,[234] and an underwater tunnel that traverses the Boston Harbor and connects downtown Boston with Logan International Airport.[234] The megaproject was considered the most complex and expensive highway project in United States history.[235][236]
High Speed 1 High-speed railway that connects London with the Channel Tunnel. Originally called the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), Bechtel led the London and Continental Railways consortium of companies in the design, project management, and construction of the railway, including a renovation of the St Pancras railway station.[11][232] The group was selected by the UK government in 1996 and construction was completed in 2007. High Speed 1 is considered the "UK's first truly high speed rail line".[11]
Athens Metro Rapid transit system in Athens, Greece. Bechtel led a consortium that built two new lines, including 17 miles of rail expansion and two stations prior to the 2004 Summer Olympics.[11] The company also worked with Greece's Ministry of Culture and Sports to ensure unearthed archaeological artifacts were preserved.[191] It's estimated that the system reduced traffic by between 200,00 and 375,000 cars.[11][191]
Chernobyl New Safe Confinement Structure to confine the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which exploded in 1986 in the worst nuclear accident in history.[191] The confinement is designed to last 100 years and replaces the original "sarcophagus" erected to contain radiation following the Chernobyl disaster.[237] Bechtel began repairs in 1998 and was part of the team overseeing construction of the arch, which was installed over Unit 4 of the reactor in November 2016.[237][238][239]
Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant Vitrification plant to process radioactive waste at the Hanford site in Washington into a stable form that can be safely disposed. Bechtel was selected by the United States Department of Energy to lead the team designing, constructing, and commissioning the plant,[240] which is expected be the largest of its kind.[241] Work began in 2001, but the project had significant delays due to technical problems and design issues.[240] A new plant for processing "low-activity" waste was completed in January 2021.[242]
Tacoma Narrows Bridge Suspension bridge crossing the Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. The current Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened in 1950 after the original one collapsed in 1940. Bechtel was selected with Peter Kiewit and Sons by the Washington State Department of Transportation to build a second, parallel bridge to accommodate increased traffic.[243] Construction began in 2002 and was completed in 2007. It was the largest American bridge built since the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in 1964.[243][244]
Sabine Pass LNG Facility of six LNG trains currently in development and a regasification plant at Sabine Pass in Louisiana. Bechtel is working on the project for Cheniere Energy Partners. Between 2005 and 2009, Bechtel built the regasification terminal. As of 2016, Trains 1 and 2 are complete, and the other trains are at varying levels of construction.[245]
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory U.S. research facilities that focus on nuclear weapons and national security. Bechtel has managed both laboratories in a joint venture with the University of California and other organizations since 2006 under contracts with the Department of Energy.[191]
Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station completion Nuclear power plant in Tennessee made up of two reactors used for electric power generation. In 2007, Bechtel was chosen by the Tennessee Valley Authority to complete the second unit, which had stopped construction in 1985. Watts Bar Unit 2 was completed in 2015. It was the first nuclear reactor to come online in the United States since 1996.[246]
Crossrail Commuter rail linking Heathrow Airport to central London and providing connections to the city and suburbs.[191] Bechtel is part of a team of companies overseeing construction. Development began in 2009 and tunneling was completed in 2015. The Crossrail is the largest infrastructure project in Europe, and it serves an estimated 1.5 million people.[247]
Gabon National Infrastructure Master plan for infrastructure development in Gabon. Called "Le Gabon Émergent", the plan was created by Bechtel and President Ali Bongo Ondimba in 2010. Its goal is to invest $25 billion in new infrastructure by 2025.[248][249] Bechtel established the country's National Infrastructure Agency and is overseeing all public works projects in the country through 2016, including in the areas of education, housing, and transport.[249]
Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System Solar thermal energy plant in the Mojave Desert in California. The plant was developed and designed by BrightSource Energy, which contracted Bechtel to construct the plant between 2009 and 2014. Bechtel was also an investor in the project. Ivanpah uses heat-generating mirrors that create steam, powering turbines that produce electricity. When it opened in February 2014, it was the largest operating solar farm in the world.[191][250]
Curtis Island LNG Three liquefied natural gas plants on Curtis Island in Queensland, Australia. Bechtel was contracted to design and build the LNGs for three separate joint ventures. Upon completion, the trains will produce 8% of all LNG production.[191]
Riyadh Metro Rapid transit system under construction in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Bechtel was contracted in 2013 to head a consortium to develop six lines, including all tunneling and stations. In 2016, Bechtel stated that it is the largest civil engineering project the company has undertaken in its history.[191][251] The first lines of the Riyadh Metro are scheduled to begin operation in the final quarter of 2021.[252]
Romania A3 Motorway This is one of the most expensive highways in the world. Bechtel abandoned the project after it only built 54 km of the planned 400 km of Transylvania Motorway, for EUR 1.25 billion.[191][253]

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Bechtel

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Bechtel Corporation is a privately held American engineering, construction, procurement, and project management company founded in 1898 by Warren A. Bechtel as a railroad grading business in Oklahoma Territory. The firm, now headquartered in Reston, Virginia, and led by the Bechtel family across generations, specializes in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects worldwide, including energy facilities, transportation systems, and industrial plants, often for government and industry clients. With an estimated 50,000 employees, Bechtel has contributed to transformative developments such as nuclear power plants, pipelines, and civil engineering feats that support global energy and mobility needs. Its projects have included recent advancements like the completion of new U.S. nuclear reactors after decades without such builds and ongoing solar energy initiatives. Defining its operations are capabilities in handling complex, high-stakes endeavors, though the company has encountered disputes, including settlements for contract overcharges to the U.S. Department of Energy and legal challenges in international concessions like Bolivia's water privatization.

History

Founding and Early Expansion (1898–1940s)

Warren A. Bechtel initiated the company's activities in 1898 in , where he used mule-drawn scrapers to grade railroad beds after his cattle ranching efforts failed. This marked the start of a focus on heavy contracts in . By the early , Bechtel relocated operations to , undertaking subcontracts for railroad extensions including the and the Natron Cut-Off of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In the 1920s, the firm diversified into hydroelectric , executing projects for in , such as dams and power facilities. The W.A. Bechtel Company was incorporated in May 1925 by along with his sons Warren A. Jr., Stephen D., and John, formalizing family involvement in management and operations. These ventures also included highway construction, contributing to regional development amid growing demand for transportation and power. The project represented a major milestone in the company's early expansion. In 1931, co-formed the consortium, which secured the U.S. government contract to construct the dam on the for $48.8 million, the largest such award at the time. Completed in 1936—two years ahead of schedule and $1.5 million under budget—the project employed over 5,000 workers at peak and generated hydroelectric power while enabling irrigation for millions of acres. 's death in August 1933 prompted his son Stephen D. Bechtel Sr. to assume leadership, steering the firm through additional New Deal-era contracts for dams, pipelines, and roads in the late . This period established Bechtel's expertise in large-scale , positioning it for wartime contributions.

World War II Contributions and Post-War Infrastructure Boom (1940s–1960s)

During , Bechtel partnered with to construct the California Shipbuilding Corporation (Calship) and Marinship yards in the , producing a combined total of approximately 560 vessels, including ships, ships, and tankers, to support Allied maritime needs. These efforts also encompassed building petroleum refineries, chemical plants, and the 1,580-mile Canol across Canada's Territory to , aimed at supplying fuel to the Pacific theater. The shipbuilding syndicates generated substantial profits, with Calship directors realizing $44 million from an initial $100,000 investment by the postwar period, reflecting the scale of wartime mobilization. In the immediate postwar years, Bechtel capitalized on global reconstruction and resource demands by completing the 1,100-mile (Tapline) in 1947, linking Saudi Arabian oil fields to the at , , which at the time represented a major engineering feat in arid terrain. The company pioneered "" project delivery, committing to hand over fully operational facilities by fixed dates for set fees, a model that streamlined complex builds. This approach facilitated expansion into nuclear energy, including construction of the Experimental Breeder Reactor-1 (EBR-1) in , under Atomic Energy Commission contract; operational in 1951, it became the world's first reactor to generate usable electricity from on December 20 of that year. The 1950s and early 1960s marked Bechtel's infrastructure surge amid priorities and economic growth, with projects like a reprocessing plant and South Korea's power initiative, which doubled the nation's energy capacity. In 1960, Bechtel completed the Dresden Nuclear Power Station in , the first U.S. commercial nuclear plant to enter operation, advancing civilian atomic energy applications. By Stephen D. Bechtel Sr.'s retirement in 1960, annual sales had risen from $20 million to $463 million, underscoring the firm's dominance in pipelines, refineries, and power infrastructure amid postwar industrialization.

International Megaprojects and Energy Sector Dominance (1970s–1990s)

During the 1970s, Bechtel solidified its role in the energy sector through participation in the (TAPS), a 800-mile conduit transporting crude oil from Alaska's North Slope to the port of Valdez, with construction commencing in 1974 and completion in 1977; the firm managed engineering, procurement, and construction for key segments amid harsh Arctic conditions. This project capitalized on the , enabling U.S. energy independence efforts by facilitating output from the Prudhoe Bay field, which peaked at over 2 million barrels per day by the early 1980s. Bechtel's international expansion accelerated with the project in , awarded in 1976 by the Royal Commission for Jubail and , transforming a coastal into the world's largest industrial complex focused on , refineries, and power generation; spanning 1,016 square kilometers, it involved constructing over 100 plants, utilities, and at a cost exceeding $20 billion by the 1980s. This underscored Bechtel's engineering prowess in the hydrocarbon sector, leveraging Saudi oil wealth post-embargo to build integrated energy facilities that processed billions of barrels annually, though revenues later declined amid the 1986 oil glut, dropping from $14.13 billion in 1984 to $6.55 billion in 1986 as contracts slowed. In the late 1980s, Bechtel secured for the (Chunnel), an undersea rail link between the and , contracted in 1987 to oversee the 50-kilometer bore completed in 1994 at a cost of £4.65 billion, coordinating multinational consortia despite delays and overruns. The 1990s highlighted sector resilience when, following Iraq's 1991 invasion of Kuwait, Bechtel led the restoration of 650 sabotaged oil wells, extinguishing fires in nine months using innovative techniques like seawater injection and capping, restoring pre-war production of 2 million barrels per day within a year and preventing environmental catastrophe from 11 million barrels of spilled oil. These efforts reinforced Bechtel's dominance in high-stakes infrastructure, with the firm handling 1,450 projects globally by 1988, predominantly in oil, gas, and pipelines amid shifting .

21st-Century Adaptation and Resilience (2000s–Present)

In the early 2000s, Bechtel adapted to geopolitical instability by securing a $680 million contract from the U.S. Agency for (USAID) in April 2003 to rehabilitate key Iraqi , including power generation, , and systems across 10 cities. The firm managed the repair of over 1,200 schools and faced severe security challenges, with 52 workers killed amid threats, yet completed substantial portions of the work despite audits highlighting mismanagement in specific contracts, such as a $50 million project cancellation due to delays and cost overruns. This period underscored Bechtel's resilience in high-risk environments, leveraging its engineering expertise to restore essential services while navigating bureaucratic and hostile conditions that hampered broader reconstruction efforts. Amid the 2008 global financial crisis, Bechtel reported record business results, with a backlog exceeding $70 billion by 2009, reflecting its diversified portfolio across energy, infrastructure, and government sectors that buffered against cyclical downturns in oil and gas. The company sustained operations through megaprojects like the expansion of the Jamnagar Refinery in and the twinning of the , demonstrating adaptability by shifting focus to stable public-sector and international contracts during economic volatility. Later oil price collapses, such as in 2014-2016, prompted workforce adjustments but were mitigated by pivoting to (LNG) facilities, including the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project, which supported export growth amid U.S. shale boom dynamics. Bechtel further adapted to the by diversifying into renewables, completing the 392 MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in in 2014, one of the world's largest solar thermal projects, and partnering with firms like Sabanci Renewables for U.S. solar developments using integrated (EPC) solutions. The company committed to net-zero Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 2050, integrating decarbonization into project delivery, such as hybrid solar technologies and sustainable rail initiatives like London's (opened 2022) and . These efforts highlight resilience through technological innovation and market expansion, positioning Bechtel to address global demands while maintaining core competencies in large-scale .

Business Operations and Segments

Infrastructure and Civil Works

Bechtel's Infrastructure and Civil Works segment provides , , , and services for transportation and urban projects globally, specializing in highways, railways, metros, airports, ports, bridges, tunnels, and facilities. The division emphasizes integrated delivery of complex systems, often incorporating , local content requirements, and workforce development to support in host regions. A foundational project in this segment was the in the United States, constructed between 1931 and 1936, which stands as an engineering marvel providing flood control, water storage for irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation with a capacity of over 2,000 megawatts. In the realm of rail infrastructure, Bechtel managed the undersea construction of the , a 51-kilometer rail link beneath the connecting , , to Coquelles, , with tunneling commencing in 1986 and the link opening to service in 1994. More recently, Bechtel served as lead contractor for the in , delivering a 176-kilometer, six-line network with 85 stations—the world's largest metro system constructed in a single phase—inaugurated on November 27, 2024, and projected to initially serve 1.2 million passengers daily with a maximum capacity of 3.6 million. The firm also contributed to London's project, now operating as the , which spans over 100 kilometers including 42 kilometers of twin-bore tunnels and 10 new underground stations, with Bechtel's delivery partnership aiding completion and passenger services commencing in phases from 2022 to full operation by 2023. Other significant undertakings include , the UK's first line completed in 2007, which halved journey times between and the to 41 minutes, and the , a $20 billion greenfield development opened in 1998 that integrated runways, terminals, road networks, and rail links on reclaimed land. These projects exemplify Bechtel's capacity to execute megascale civil works under demanding timelines and technical challenges, often in joint ventures to leverage specialized expertise.

Mining, Metals, and Resources

Bechtel's Mining and Metals business unit provides , , , and services for resource extraction and processing facilities, specializing in metals such as , , , and other critical minerals required for , , and advanced . The unit supports the development of concentrators, smelters, plants, and systems integral to operations, with a portfolio that includes expansions of major deposits and greenfield projects in challenging terrains. The division traces its expertise to the mid-20th century, with metallurgical engineering roles established by , enabling Bechtel to undertake complex processing facilities like aluminum smelters and . Over six decades, it has contributed to global metals production by delivering for high-volume ore handling and recovery, including early involvement in expansions such as Freeport's operations in starting in 1970. In copper mining, Bechtel has executed significant expansions, including the engineering, procurement, and construction for in , the world's largest mine, which enhanced production capacity through optimized concentrator upgrades. The Los Bronces project, completed in 2011, doubled output at the Chilean site via a 65-kilometer and advanced management in Andean terrain. More recently, Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 in incorporated a pioneering facility and operates on 100% renewable energy, targeting annual production of 272,000 metric tons of . The Los Pelambres expansion further demonstrates capabilities in high-altitude processing. Bechtel's recent focus includes and projects critical to battery supply chains and precious metals demand. For Thacker Pass Phase I in , awarded in partnership with Lithium Americas and , Bechtel is constructing a clay mine and processing plant with a final investment decision in April 2025, aiming to produce 40,000 tons of battery-grade annually to bolster domestic supply. In 2025, Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) contracted Bechtel for management of the Ar Rjum mine, featuring an open-pit operation processing 8 million tons of ore per year. Additionally, in 2023, engaged Bechtel to compile techno-economic studies for deep-sea nodule collection under the contract, evaluating polymetallic resources for , , and .

Energy, Chemicals, and Renewables Transition

Bechtel's energy operations encompass liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, power generation, and emerging low-carbon technologies, with a portfolio emphasizing reliable supply amid global demand for flexible energy options. The company has engineered numerous LNG export terminals, including the Rio Grande LNG project in Texas, the largest privately funded such initiative, capable of adding 17.6 million metric tons per year to global capacity upon completion. Similarly, the Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 terminal in Southeast Texas provides direct Gulf of Mexico access for natural gas liquefaction and export, supporting U.S. energy exports as a lower-emission alternative to coal. Other notable projects include expansions at the Corpus Christi Liquefaction facility with Cheniere Energy and the Wheatstone LNG development for Chevron Australia, which enhances natural gas supply while integrating indigenous workforce participation. In the chemicals sector, Bechtel specializes in complexes and production facilities, delivering projects that convert feedstocks like into high-value products. The Chemicals project for Shell Polymers, completed in 2022, constructed an cracker and three units producing 1.6 million tonnes annually, alongside a 275 MW plant and water treatment systems, generating over 9,000 construction jobs. Earlier efforts include the Jamnagar Refinery expansion in , transforming it into the world's largest refining hub with 1.2 million barrels per day capacity for fuels and . Bechtel has also executed crackers, such as a project for ExxonMobil's Baytown complex in (2020) and a major facility in estimated at $7-10 billion, incorporating world-scale cracking. Supporting the renewables transition, Bechtel invests in , and to facilitate decarbonization, though its LNG work underscores natural gas's role as an interim fuel for grid stability and emissions reduction relative to heavier fossils. In solar, the company leads the 1.3 GW Mammoth Solar facility in , advancing to full construction in 2025, and the Escape Solar project, handling for a photovoltaic array. Offshore efforts include a port masterplan for to bolster the sector's infrastructure renewal. For , Bechtel partners with CWP Global on North African facilities integrating electrolyzers with solar and for , targeting large-scale exports. These initiatives align with broader carbon capture and strategies outlined in Bechtel's framework.

Nuclear, Defense, and Environmental Management

Bechtel has managed nuclear projects since 1948, including infrastructure construction for the Manhattan Project at the Hanford Site in Washington. The company completed Watts Bar Unit 2 in Tennessee, the first new nuclear reactor built in the United States in over three decades, which generates 1,150 megawatts of carbon-free electricity sufficient for approximately one million homes. Earlier contributions include the design and construction of the Experimental Breeder Reactor 1 in Idaho, a pioneering facility that demonstrated the first use of nuclear power to generate electricity in 1951. In defense-related work, Bechtel supports U.S. through contracts for high-security and components. The firm constructed missile silos and launch facilities for the system, enhancing ballistic missile defense capabilities across and . Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc., a , holds Navy contracts for naval plant design and development, including a 2024 modification valued at $447 million. Additional defense efforts encompass chemical weapons disposal facilities, such as a 2025 U.S. contract modification worth $242 million for destruction operations. Bechtel's environmental management focuses on nuclear site decommissioning and hazardous waste remediation, with experience across more than 500 sites. At the , Bechtel leads the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, where low-activity waste operations commenced on October 15, 2025, processing legacy radioactive tank waste into stable glass logs for long-term storage. The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Bechtel a $3 billion, 10-year contract in 2022 to manage and operate the in , the nation's sole deep geologic repository for defense-related transuranic waste. These initiatives address Cold War-era nuclear legacies, prioritizing safe containment and disposal to mitigate environmental risks.

Leadership and Ownership Structure

Family-Controlled Governance

Bechtel Corporation operates as a privately held entity, with ownership and control concentrated within the Bechtel family, descendants of founder , who established the firm in 1898 as a family-run enterprise. This structure has preserved family dominance over strategic direction, insulating the company from external influences and public disclosure requirements typical of listed firms. Leadership has transitioned across five generations of the family, beginning with , followed by his son Stephen D. Bechtel Sr., grandson Stephen D. Bechtel Jr., great-grandson , and now Riley's son . assumed the role of in May 2016 and was elected chairman of the board in April 2017, succeeding his father, who had served as CEO from 1989 to 2014. Under this lineage, the board of directors includes family members and select executives, emphasizing continuity and alignment with generational values of engineering excellence and project execution. The family-controlled governance model supports extended investment horizons and risk tolerance for megaprojects, as evidenced by Bechtel's avoidance of short-term profit pressures that often constrain publicly traded competitors. This approach has facilitated decisions prioritizing technical and global commitments over immediate financial returns, though it limits transparency and external capital access. stewardship extends to via the Bechtel family foundation, which funds and community initiatives, reinforcing internal accountability mechanisms.

Key Executives and Strategic Direction

Brendan Bechtel serves as chairman and of Bechtel Group, Inc., positions he has held since 2017 and 2016, respectively, representing the fifth generation of family in the company. Prior to these roles, he was president and from 2014 to 2016, overseeing global operations, and earlier managed the oil, gas, and chemicals business unit. Bechtel, who holds a master's degree in engineering and an MBA from , has emphasized rebuilding U.S. in and advancing in construction to enhance project efficiency. Craig Albert acts as president and , managing and overseeing Bechtel's global operations across its business segments. Other senior executives include Keith Hennessey as , Ailie MacAdam as president of and metals, and Catherine Hunt Ryan in a senior capacity focused on and strategy. Under Bechtel's leadership, the company's strategic priorities center on , including a commitment to support net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through projects in cleaner energy and renewables transition. Bechtel pursues global expansion into emerging markets while diversifying across , , and sectors to build resiliency via increased supplier diversity and stronger partnerships. The firm also addresses and challenges, integrating advanced technology and ethics to deliver resilient that supports economic transitions and stakeholder trust.

Financial Performance and Market Position

Bechtel Corporation's revenue has exhibited volatility characteristic of the and sector, influenced by project cycles, commodity prices, and global economic disruptions such as the . In 2019, the company reported of $21.8 billion, driven by ongoing large-scale projects in and . This figure declined to $17.6 billion in 2020 amid pandemic-related delays and reduced activity in oil and gas sectors. remained relatively flat at $17.5 billion in 2021, reflecting cautious recovery and a focus on backlog execution rather than aggressive expansion.
YearRevenue (USD billions)Key Factors
201921.8Strong project execution in and resources.
202017.6 impacts and oil market downturn.
202117.5Flat performance amid challenges.
202216.8Continued project completions with selective new awards.
202320.6Rebound from diversified backlog in and renewables.
By 2022, revenue dipped slightly to $16.8 billion, attributable to completions of major contracts and a strategic emphasis on high-margin opportunities amid inflationary pressures. Recovery accelerated in 2023, reaching $20.6 billion, supported by new awards in civil infrastructure and energy transition projects. Backlog trends mirror this pattern, contracting from $38.3 billion in 2019 to $27.8 billion in 2021 before expanding to $44.7 billion by 2022, signaling robust future revenue potential through secured contracts. As a privately held firm, Bechtel does not publicly disclose detailed profitability metrics such as or EBITDA, limiting direct analysis of margins. However, sustained backlog growth and consistent generation indicate operational resilience and implied profitability, with industry observers noting effective cost management in volatile markets. Subsidiary performance, such as the arm's pre-tax profit increase despite fluctuations, suggests localized efficiency gains that contribute to overall financial health. The company's project-based model prioritizes long-term backlog over short-term earnings volatility, enabling profitability through risk allocation in contracts.

Workforce, Global Reach, and Industry Rankings

Bechtel employs approximately 50,000 personnel across its , procurement, construction, and project management operations. This workforce supports execution of complex megaprojects, often peaking at thousands of workers per site, as seen in initiatives like the Shell Polymers Monaca plant, which required 9,000 at its height. The company's global footprint spans offices in key regions, including corporate headquarters in ; facilities in the United States, , (with a new regional headquarters opened in , , in September 2023), , , , , and . Bechtel has delivered over 25,000 projects in more than 160 countries across all seven continents since its founding, enabling localized execution in diverse markets from to the . Bechtel consistently ranks among the top global engineering and firms. In the Engineering News-Record's 2024 Top 400 Contractors , it placed third by construction , reflecting its scale in sectors like and . For 2025 commercial contractors, it secured second position overall, underscoring sustained leadership amid exceeding $20 billion annually. These rankings derive from verified awards and highlight Bechtel's dominance in international contracting, though private status limits direct peer comparisons on profitability.

Major Projects and Engineering Achievements

Landmark Infrastructure Projects

Bechtel has delivered several landmark projects, including , undersea tunnels, urban highways, and rail systems that have reshaped connectivity and urban landscapes globally. These initiatives demonstrate the company's expertise in managing complex, large-scale engineering challenges involving tunneling, earthworks, and integration with existing . One of Bechtel's earliest megaprojects was its role in the , constructed as part of the consortium from 1931 to 1935. The 726-foot-high arch-gravity dam on the created , the largest in the United States by volume, supplying hydroelectric power to millions and enabling for over 2 million acres of farmland in the Southwest. This project marked Bechtel's entry into massive civil works and was completed two years ahead of schedule despite the Great Depression-era constraints. In the realm of transcontinental tunneling, Bechtel managed the project, connecting , , to Coquelles, , via a 31.4-mile undersea rail link. Excavation commenced in 1988 using tunnel boring machines, achieving a breakthrough in 1990, with the tunnel opening to service in 1994 after costing approximately £4.65 billion. The dual rail tunnels and service tunnel facilitate high-speed passenger and freight transport, reducing travel time between and to about 2 hours 15 minutes. Bechtel, in joint venture with Parsons Brinckerhoff, oversaw the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel project, commonly called the , from 1987 to 2007. This $14.8 billion effort replaced a deteriorating 1.5-mile elevated section with an 8.5-mile underground highway, added the 3.5-mile under , and created the Zakim Bridge, improving traffic flow and urban aesthetics while connecting to . The project involved over 17 million tons of excavated material and innovative construction techniques. More recently, Bechtel contributed to London's project, delivering the , a 100-kilometer east-west rail network with 42 kilometers of new twin-bore tunnels and 10 new stations. Passenger services began in phases from 2022, fully operational by November 2023, boosting London's rail capacity by 10% and bringing 1.5 million additional people within 45 minutes of via 24 trains per hour. In Saudi Arabia, Bechtel supported the , the world's largest metro system constructed in a single phase, featuring six lines spanning 176 kilometers with 85 stations. Groundbreaking occurred in 2014, with the network inaugurating operations in December 2024 at a cost of $25 billion, designed to handle up to 3.6 million passengers daily and alleviate road congestion in the capital.

Energy and Resource Developments

Bechtel has developed extensive capabilities in infrastructure, encompassing (LNG) export terminals, refineries, and upstream field expansions, contributing significantly to global supply chains. The company has constructed facilities accounting for approximately 30% of worldwide LNG capacity, facilitating the transition to cleaner-burning and enhancing accessibility in emerging markets. Key LNG projects include the Curtis Island facilities in , where Bechtel simultaneously built three production trains for separate clients between 2011 and 2015, yielding over 25 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG output, equivalent to about 8% of global production at the time. In the United States, Bechtel serves as the (EPC) contractor for major LNG export projects such as LNG in , which upon completion will add 17.6 MTPA to global capacity as the state's largest privately funded LNG initiative, with construction advancing toward first LNG production in 2027. Similarly, expansions at Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi Liquefaction facility, including Stages 3 and beyond initiated in the mid-2010s, have established it as a pivotal U.S. greenfield LNG export site capable of delivering flexible energy volumes worldwide. Bechtel's work extends to LNG, where it delivered Train 6 EPC services starting in 2022, building on prior trains to support over 61 million tonnes annually across 14 global LNG trains constructed since 2015. Oil refining and upstream developments further highlight Bechtel's energy portfolio. The Jamnagar Refinery in , expanded by Bechtel in phases through the early , operates as the world's largest refining complex with a capacity of 1.24 million barrels per day, integrating crude processing, petrochemical production, and export terminals. In , the Third Generation Project, executed jointly with since the , expanded Tengiz oilfield operations, incorporating advanced drilling and processing to boost production amid challenging subsurface conditions. Historically, Bechtel led the post-1991 effort to extinguish and cap over 700 Kuwaiti oil well fires set during the , restoring production infrastructure critical to regional energy recovery. In resource developments, Bechtel focuses on expansions for critical minerals like and , essential for technologies. The Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 mine expansion in , approved for full in January 2019, features a pioneering desalination plant supplying 1,157 liters per second and is designed to transition to operations by 2025, targeting annual output exceeding 230,000 tonnes once ramped up. At the mine in , Bechtel's Phase IV expansion in the early 2000s enhanced the world's largest operation through optimized and infrastructure upgrades. For , Bechtel provides EPCM services for Thacker Pass Phase I in , a project greenlit for in April 2025, aiming to produce 40,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade to support supply chains. These initiatives underscore Bechtel's integration of resource extraction with sustainable water and energy management in arid environments.

Innovative and High-Impact Initiatives


Bechtel has led several initiatives addressing complex global challenges through advanced solutions. One prominent example is the New Safe Confinement (NSC) for the , where Bechtel headed the international responsible for designing and constructing the massive steel arch structure. Completed in 2016 and fully operational by 2019, the NSC encapsulates the damaged Unit 4 reactor, preventing radioactive releases and enabling safer decommissioning over the next century. This project, spanning 22 years and involving collaboration with entities like NOVARKA, was recognized as one of the 50 most influential projects of the past half-century for its scale and safety innovations. In nuclear energy advancement, Bechtel constructed Units 3 and 4 at the in Georgia, marking the first new nuclear reactors built in the United States in over three decades. Unit 3 achieved commercial operation in 2023, followed by Unit 4 in 2024, collectively providing clean, carbon-free electricity to over one million homes and businesses while creating approximately 800 permanent jobs. These reactors incorporate passive safety features, enhancing reliability without reliance on external power for cooling. Additionally, Bechtel is engineering the Natrium Demonstration Project, an advanced with integrated , aimed at delivering scalable, dispatchable carbon-free power. Bechtel has pioneered renewable energy projects, including the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California's , the world's largest solar thermal facility upon completion in 2014 with a 377-megawatt capacity using towers. This initiative demonstrated scalable , producing electricity on demand despite intermittent sunlight. More recently, Bechtel developed the Low Energy Ejector Desalination System (LEEDS), a breakthrough technology for treating in oil and gas operations, recovering over 50% as reusable clean water with significantly lower energy use than conventional methods. Deployed in pilots in the Permian Basin since 2023, LEEDS addresses in arid regions and earned Bechtel recognition on Fortune's 2025 Change the World list.

Bolivian Water Concession Dispute (1999–2006)

In 1999, Bolivia's government, facing fiscal pressures and requirements from international lenders, enacted Law No. 2029 on October 21, which regulated and services and facilitated their to attract for expanding coverage and . This led to the award of a 40-year concession for Cochabamba's municipal and system to Aguas del Tunari (AdT), a approved on September 3, 1999, with operations commencing November 1. Bechtel held an indirect 27.5% stake in AdT via its 50% ownership of International Water Ltd., which controlled 55% of the ; other partners included and local firms. AdT inherited a debt-ridden system from the prior public operator, SEMAPA, which provided service to only about 60% of Cochabamba's population amid chronic mismanagement and underinvestment. To fund expansions, including a planned (Misicuni project) and system upgrades, AdT raised rates by an average of 35% in January 2000, as required to repay $30 million in inherited debts and align tariffs with costs after removals; rates were partially rolled back with refunds in . While Bechtel maintained these adjustments kept tariffs comparable to other Bolivian cities and included social tariffs for the poor, critics, including local activists, reported hikes exceeding 50%—up to 200% for some rural and flat-rate users—rendering unaffordable in a region where monthly minimum wages were under $100. Protests erupted in November 1999, organized by the Coordinadora por la Defensa del Agua y la Vida, initially against Law 2029's provisions limiting rural irrigation cooperatives and fears of well seizures (though AdT did not own aquifers or regulate private wells). Escalation followed rate announcements, culminating in the "" of January–April 2000, with road blockades, strikes, and clashes involving tens of thousands; the government under President responded with a on April 8, military deployment, and force that killed at least six civilians and injured over 170. On April 10, 2000, amid the unrest, authorities terminated AdT's contract, seized assets, and expelled the company, returning control to SEMAPA. During its five-month tenure, AdT increased water availability by 30% through immediate repairs and connections, without owning the or resources. AdT then pursued arbitration against at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID Case No. ARB/02/3) under the – , claiming expropriation and seeking $50 million for sunk costs and lost opportunities—not the exaggerated $25 billion initially rumored in some media. The tribunal affirmed jurisdiction in October 2005, but on January 19, 2006, Bechtel and partners dropped the claim in a settlement yielding no compensation to AdT, with paying a nominal 2 bolivianos (about $0.30) symbolically. Bechtel has argued that activist and media narratives, often from sources critical of , overstated rate impacts and corporate overreach while underreporting the need for reforms in a system plagued by leaks, low pressure, and inequitable access; the episode highlighted tensions between market-oriented efficiency gains and public affordability concerns in developing economies.

Post-Invasion Iraq Reconstruction (2003–2010s)

In April 2003, shortly after the U.S.-led invasion of , the U.S. Agency for (USAID) awarded Bechtel a no-bid valued at up to $680 million over 18 months to rehabilitate , including power generation and distribution, and systems, and facilities. The selection process involved limited competition among pre-qualified firms under USAID's indefinite quantity, indefinite delivery framework, justified by the urgency of post-war stabilization, though critics, including Democratic members of , alleged due to ties between Bechtel's former CEO Riley Bechtel and Bush administration advisors. In January 2004, Bechtel secured a follow-on ceiling of $1.8 billion, bringing total potential value to approximately $2.3 billion for expanded work on electrical grids, oil infrastructure, and civil projects like schools and bridges. Bechtel's efforts faced severe operational challenges, including insurgent attacks that killed over 50 subcontractor employees and disrupted in a war zone, leading to project delays and cost escalations across 's reconstruction broadly estimated at $60 billion total U.S. funding. Specific achievements included rehabilitating 13 of 20 planned power generation facilities, restoring electricity to over 400 substations serving millions, and managing upgrades to 1,239 schools in urban areas, with 119 subcontracts awarded to Iraqi firms by late to build local capacity. However, a 2007 audit by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) revealed that Bechtel completed only about half of 76 and projects and left numerous electrical and tasks unfinished, attributing shortfalls to risks, scope changes, and subcontractor underperformance rather than direct mismanagement. Controversies intensified over perceived and inefficiency, with allegations that Bechtel inflated costs—such as a disputed $15 million quote for a plant repair, which the company refuted as misreported—and benefited from non-competitive awards amid broader reconstruction waste exceeding $10 billion due to , poor planning, and . Bechtel exited in November 2006 after fulfilling core obligations, reporting a profit despite obstacles, while handing off unfinished elements to successors; subsequent reviews, including a 2008 , highlighted millions in uncompleted subcontracts tied to delays, though reviews questioned only 0.02% of Bechtel's billed costs for allowability. These issues reflected systemic flaws in 's reconstruction, where violence and bureaucratic hurdles undermined outcomes, as documented in SIGIR reports, rather than isolated to Bechtel, though the firm's scale amplified scrutiny from outlets skeptical of private contractors in government-led wars.

Environmental, Safety, and Contract Disputes

Bechtel has faced multiple environmental disputes, particularly in nuclear waste management projects under U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contracts. At the in Washington, Bechtel National Inc. was involved in the and Immobilization (WTP), where failures and concerns led to and overruns exceeding $10 billion by 2015; the DOE fined Bechtel for retaliating against whistleblowers who raised issues about technical flaws risking nuclear waste leaks. In 2016, Bechtel settled a civil alleging false claims and improper billing on the WTP, agreeing to pay $67.5 million without admitting liability. Additionally, between 2009 and 2019, Bechtel and partner overcharged the DOE $57.8 million for unallowable idle labor costs at Hanford and other sites, resolving the matter via a whistleblower-initiated settlement. Safety violations have drawn OSHA and DOE scrutiny across Bechtel's operations. In 2012, Bechtel National received a $150,000 fine after two incidents at Hanford: one worker lost two toes when a 569-pound rail slipped during positioning in July 2010, and another suffered crush injuries from a falling in 2011, attributed to inadequate and assessments. A 2018 DOE Final Notice of Violation cited Bechtel for multiple worker lapses at Hanford, including failure to implement procedures and inadequate fall protection, stemming from a 2017 investigation. More recently, in October 2025, three workers died and two were injured in a collapse at the Port Arthur LNG project in ; Bechtel's internal review identified contributing factors like inadequate recognition and non-compliance with fall protection protocols, prompting program-wide revisions, though the company noted victims failed to tie off. Bechtel has accumulated over $20 million in OSHA penalties since 2000 for violations including improper and crane barricades. Contract disputes often involve government projects and billing practices. Bechtel has paid $936 million in penalties since 2000 for government contracting-related offenses, including False Claims Act violations from overbilling on DOE cleanup contracts. In 2016, the U.S. settled claims against Bechtel for knowingly mischarging labor and using federal funds for unallowable costs on contracts, though specifics on payment amounts were not disclosed in the resolution. A 2019 Federal Circuit ruling denied Bechtel's $500,000 reimbursement claim from DOE for defense costs in settled third-party lawsuits, deeming the payments ineligible under contract terms. In LNG projects, Bechtel sought in 2025 over a wrongful suit from the Port Arthur incident, arguing contract clauses mandated private resolution over litigation. These cases highlight recurring tensions over cost accountability in fixed-price and cost-reimbursable agreements with federal agencies.

Economic and Societal Impact

Contributions to Global Development and

Bechtel has significantly contributed to global through its extensive involvement in (LNG) infrastructure, constructing facilities that account for approximately one-third of worldwide LNG liquefaction capacity and enabling the annual of about 66 million tonnes of LNG. Key projects include the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project, which began operations in 2016 and marked the first U.S. LNG to non-free countries, and the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project, with Train 2 delivering its first cargo in 2019, enhancing supply reliability for import-dependent nations. These developments have supported energy diversification, particularly for following disruptions in Russian gas supplies, by expanding flexible, market-driven capabilities from stable producers like the . In addition to LNG, Bechtel's work on critical minerals extraction and nuclear energy advances energy resilience. The company received approval in April 2025 to construct the Thacker Pass lithium mine and processing facility in Nevada, projected to produce 40,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium annually to support domestic supply chains for electric vehicles and renewable storage, reducing reliance on foreign sources. Bechtel has also provided engineering and construction services for over 150 nuclear power plants globally, including ongoing support for advanced reactors like TerraPower's Natrium demonstration project, which integrates nuclear generation with energy storage for dispatchable, low-carbon power. Such initiatives promote long-term energy independence by enabling scalable, secure baseload electricity amid fluctuating fossil fuel markets. Bechtel's infrastructure projects in developing regions have driven and societal stability, exemplifying contributions to global development. In , a decade-long from 2010 to 2020 delivered a $25 billion national infrastructure program, encompassing modern highways, ports, airports, hospitals, and schools, while building local engineering capacity through training over 80% Gabonese workers by project end. This effort supported the government's diversification from oil dependency, fostering improved connectivity and public services in a resource-rich but infrastructure-limited nation. Similarly, since the 1970s, Bechtel has managed the development of Saudi Arabia's and industrial cities, constructing over 8,300 hectares of expansion in Jubail II alone, including highways, residential units for 50,000 people by , and industrial facilities that created thousands of jobs and diversified the through and hubs. These megaprojects have generated sustained and technological transfer, aiding industrialization in emerging economies.

Criticisms of Government Partnerships and Regulatory Hurdles

Bechtel's extensive contracts, particularly with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), have faced scrutiny for billing irregularities and potential favoritism in award processes. In September 2020, Bechtel National Inc. and agreed to pay $5.775 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations for overcharging the DOE approximately $12.6 million for unreasonable and unallowable idle time by craft workers at the nuclear reservation from 2009 to 2019, during which workers were paid for non-productive hours without proper justification or mitigation efforts. Similarly, in November 2016, Bechtel entities settled a lawsuit for $11.8 million after admitting to mischarging the DOE for unallowable costs, including expenses improperly reimbursed under federal rules prohibiting such claims on contracts. These settlements highlight recurring audits revealing deficiencies in cost controls and compliance within taxpayer-funded partnerships. Lobbying activities have amplified criticisms of , with Bechtel spending $530,000 on federal lobbying in 2025 through mid-year, targeting nuclear regulations, Department of Defense appropriations, and energy policy—areas directly benefiting its portfolio of DOE and military . Watchdog reports contend that such expenditures, combined with historical executive ties to administrations, foster perceptions of , as evidenced by repeated bid protests from competitors alleging biased evaluations in DOE awards, though the Government Accountability Office has upheld Bechtel's selections in cases like a $3 billion Hanford in 2022 and a $10 billion project in 2020. Critics from organizations like CorpWatch argue these dynamics prioritize profit over competitive bidding, citing patterns in post-conflict and nuclear projects where rapid awards bypassed rigorous scrutiny. Regulatory hurdles have compounded partnership critiques, with Bechtel's megaprojects often entangled in compliance disputes that delay and inflate costs, attributed by some to overly prescriptive rules but by auditors to contractor shortcomings. A March 2024 DOE of the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant found Bechtel failed to meet contractual targets for self-performed work (achieving only 21% against a 35% goal) and subcontracting limitations, resulting in $100 million-plus in unearned fee adjustments and exposing vulnerabilities in managing nuclear safety regulations under strict oversight. Internationally, direct negotiations, as in Balkan highway deals, have drawn rebukes for circumventing standard regulatory transparency, leading to concerns over environmental impact assessments and local oversight in favor of accelerated approvals. Proponents of , including industry voices, counter that such hurdles—exemplified by protracted permitting in U.S. nuclear initiatives—stifle , yet empirical overruns in Bechtel-led efforts underscore accountability challenges in blending public funding with private execution.

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