Page 26 - Book_Artelia_10years

Model of the sea water intake for Zouk Michaël thermal power plant
Lebanon, 1974

Katse dam - Lesotho, 1993-1997

Sogreah meets Sogelerg
and focuses on regional development

In the 1980s, as the creation of large irrigation areas began to decline, Sogreah seized a number of
new opportunities. It responded to the oil crises by developing its design and construction supervision
activities for dams and hydropower plants. In the face of increasing urbanisation, it strengthened its
capabilities in the fields of water supply and sewerage. With the expansion of global trade, it asserted
its expertise in port and coastal engineering.
Beginning in the 1990s, it also sought to re-establish its activities in France, working closely with local
authorities after the government’s new decentralisation laws opened up fresh prospects for private-
sector engineering companies. As a pioneer in the field, it also pursued its physical and numerical
modelling activities by joining the expanding international networks of experts encouraged by the
European Union.
However, with nearly 80% of its turnover gained outside France, Sogreah was highly vulnerable to
fluctuations in the economic situation internationally. It experienced two serious setbacks in 1970 and
1986, which led to some major reorganisations within the company.

24 I ARTELIA, 10 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE