Africa Surveyors Nov-Dec digital issue 2021 by Nailex Africa Publishing

Volume 3 issue no. 18

November - December issue 2021

Africa Surveyors Open-pit Mining

Geotechnical Surveying CAD Softwares Engineering Surveys

In this issue...... Shell wins court case to start seismic surveys offshore South Africa....pg 34 www.africasurveyorsonline.com

Emerging contractors key to construction sector recovery....pg 14

Kenya unveils largest shipyard in sub-Saharan Africa....pg 25

November-December issue l 2021

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CONTENTS

Contents Current Issue

Open-pit Mining, Engineering Surey, CAD Software & many more

REGULARS News Briefs

Events

Innovation

Opinion

Project review

Managing Editor Francis David

COVER STORY

Editor-in-Chief

Mining: Open-pit Mining

Editor

Features

Augustine Mwita

Dorcas Kang’ereha

Engineering: Engineering Survey

Writer

Violet Ambale Harriet Mkhaye Irene Joseph Innocent Momanyi

Sales Executives East Africa

Jimmy Mudasia Lydia Kamonya Caiser Momanyi Vincent Murono Sheila Ing’ayitsa

Construction: Geotechnical Surveys Software: CAD Sotware Mapping: MobileMapper Devices Upcoming project: Turkish builder seals $1.9bn deal to extend Tanzania railway

Project Review: The Royal Senchi Hotel

South Africa

Paul Nyakeri Sean Masangwanyi Lisa Brown Thembisa Ndlovu

ADVERTISER'S INDEX

Nigeria

Emelda Njomboro Uche Maxwel

Published by:

Nailex Africa Publishing Nairobi, Kenya.

C.R.Kennedy Survey Solutions............................................IFC Bauder.......................................................................................IBC Position Partners....................................................................OBC Advance Naigation................................................................pg 33 MacArtney...............................................................................pg 13 Deepwater Specialists..........................................................pg 34 Evologics..................................................................................pg 18 Gexcel.......................................................................................pg 23 Caroni........................................................................................pg 38 Diversified Communication.................................................pg 09

The Editor accepts letter and manuscripts for publication from readers all over the world. Include your name and address as a sign of good faith although you may request your name to be withheld from publication. We can reserve the right to edit any material submitted. Send your letters to: info@africasurveyorsonline.com

Disclaimer:

Nailex Africa Publishing makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of its publications, but no warranty is made to such accuracy and no responsibility will be borne by the publisher for the consequences of actions based on information so published. Further, opinions expressed on interviews are not necessarily shared by Nailex Africa Publisher.

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November-December issue l 2021

NEWS BRIEFS

Uganda launches road-building in Congo to boost trade

ganda said on Sunday it had launched a roadbuilding project in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo aimed at boosting trade between the two countries. Sites for the roads were handed over to the contractor, Dott Services Limited, a Ugandan construction firm, the government said in a statement on Sunday. It added that the roads "will open the Eastern part of the country (DRC) to cross border trade with Uganda".

The statement did not give a cost for the 223 km (138 miles) of roads, which will connect Uganda to the eastern Congo cities of Beni, Goma and Butembo. Uganda had announced the plans to build roads in Congo in 2019. Uganda is keen to tap the market in eastern Congo where decades of insecurity has meant local manufacturing is near non-existent and the population there depends on imports for goods ranging from textiles and construction materials to food and beverages.

Nachtigal hydroelectric project in Cameroon over 50% complete

he Minister of Water and Energy in Cameroon, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, recently visited Nachtigal hydroelectric project and estimates that the project is 51.7% finished. The 420MW project is located on the Sanaga River, 65 km north of Yaoundé. “We are glad the lot that includes energy transport to Yaoundé is already completed. As of endNovember 2021, the completion rates were as follows: 52% for the civil engineering lot, 48.2% for the first electromechanical lot, 99.8% for the transmission line lot, 88.6% for the ‘staff housing estate’ lot,” the official said.

According to the Minister of Water and Energy, more progress would have been recorded but the coronavirus pandemic has caused between eight and nine months’ delay. Also, workers organised strikes several times to demand an improvement in their working conditions. Finally, the strikes ended with a strong implication of the government, which sometimes sent ministers on-site to appease the social tensions. The energy infrastructure will generate over 2,900GWh yearly. A result of XAF786 billion ($1.3 billion) investment, the Nachtigal hydroelectric dam is the largest energy infrastructure ever built in Cameroon. The funds for its construction was raised through a public-private partnership between Cameroon and many financial and technical partners. Its partners in the project are Électricité de France (EDF), Société financière internationale (SFI), Africa50 and STOA Infra & Energy, which created the construction company (with EDF as 40% shareholder).

Astra Energy Inc. Establishes Itself in Africa Investing in Clean and Renewable Energy Projects

stra Energy Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets: ASRE) (“Astra” or the “Company”), a renewable and waste-to-energy project developer and technology acquisition company, announces initiation of joint ventures to develop and deploy energy transformation opportunities to meet Africa’s rising demands for modern renewable energy sources. Astra Energy is taking giant steps to achieve its vision of developing clean energy projects that empower communities, protect the environment and shape a sustainable energy landscape for future generations. In November 2021, Astra Energy Inc. established itself in Africa through the creation of a wholly owned subsidiary called Astra Energy Africa. The Company successfully completed the legal registration process, enabling it to conduct business beginning in the

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Surveyors seek use of technology to tame building collapse

country of Uganda. Additionally, Astra acquired both trading and investment licenses registered with the government of Uganda’s public procurement authority. A similar process is being completed in Tanzania and neighboring Zanzibar. As a market penetration strategy, Astra has signed multiple memorandums of understanding in joint ventures with both M&E Associates, one of Uganda’s biggest and most experienced local engineering consulting firms, and Muttico Technical Services Ltd., a large, local high voltage powerline and substation construction and maintenance contractor. The two companies will benefit from both Astra’s ability to raise affordable project financing and its team of highly experienced technical personnel that has been gathered to propel the projects forward successfully.

he Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Lagos branch has called for the use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology to monitor high-rise structures and prevent collapse of such buildings. The chairman of the branch, Mr. Adesina Adeleke, who made the call in Lagos, explained that deploying the technology is necessary because the state cannot run away from building high-rise structures as it ensures management of available land spaces. He said government should make deformation studies a standard requirement for all buildings above two floors within the state. Adeleke noted that it is an embarrassment that despite the availability of expansive professionals in the built environment, the state has continued to record incessant cases of collapse buildings. He said: “The technological improvement in global navigation satellite system techniques has allowed significant advancement of various methodologies applied to control the dynamics of building structures in real time, especially for calculating, controlling, and interpreting satellite survey measurements. The real-time monitoring system works by implementing a local geodetic network with GNSS technology on the structure to be monitored. The timely identification of deformation associated with geologic hazards or ground settlement can save lives, avert large financial liabilities, and avoid severe environmental damage. The advantage of using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is that it can detect if the structure has drifted even for a few centimetres. Besides that, GPS provides cost effective and 3D information that will be useful for structural engineers.” According to Adeleke, there is also the use of high-precision 3-D Laser scanning imagery systems to monitor high-rise structures for any kind of deformation.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Tanzania signs agreements with five mining companies

Mines minister Doto Biteko (left), president Samia Suluhu Hassan (centre), and Black Rock CEO John de Vries at the signing.

ustralia’s Strandline Resources, Black Rock Mining and Orecorp hae signed framework agreements with the government of Tanzania, a step towards the development of their mineral sands, graphite, and gold projects, Reuters reported. However, according to that report, details of the agreements were not immediately available. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, as pledged to grow the mining sector and relations with mining companies have been improving since a January 2020 deal with Barrick Gold ended a longrunning tax dispute. “Today we are participating as a key shareholder in mining our precious resources which have an important role in the economic development of our country,” Hassan said at a ceremony in Dar Es Salaam. The president said that the country aims for the mining sector to contribute 10 percent of GDP by 2025. She also said that the current trend is encouraging as mining currently accounts for around 6.7 percent of GDP. In addition, Petra Diamonds also signed an agreement granting the government a 16 percent free carried interest in its Tanzanian subsidiary Williamson Diamonds Limited. The move brings Petra into line with Tanzania’s 2017 mining legislation which sees the government get a 16 percent free carried interest in all major mines in the country. Like many African countries, Tanzania has sought greater state control of the mining sector.

Tersus Wins Large Order for GNSS Receivers in Nigeria

ersus GNSS has been awarded a major order for 185 Oscar GNSS receivers in Nigeria. This order will further strengthen the position of Tersus in Africa. Tersus has also been officially endorsed by the Nigeria Institute of Surveyors (NIS). Founded in 1934, NIS is one of the oldest organized bodies in Nigeria as well as the umbrella professional organization for all surveyors in Nigeria, whether in private practice, government or academia. With its commitment to R&D and fully independent approach to technology, Tersus GNSS has a wellestablished reputation for affordable, centimetreprecision GNSS solutions. The company’s products are popular among users in over 80 countries. Over the past eight years, Tersus GNSS has developed cuttingedge expertise, a comprehensive portfolio and strong market performance. The firm is building on these significant achievements in the global market by continuing to widen its presence and influence, including by expanding its worldwide dealer network.

Tersus has developed the Oscar GNSS receiver based on its own in-house technology, including its patented ExtremeRTK technology. This makes Oscar immune to magnetic disturbances and calibrationfree. As the latest GNSS RTK system from Tersus, Oscar provides surveyors with unprecedented flexibility and efficiency. For example, users no longer need to hold the survey pole upright or check the bubbles. Furthermore, Oscar provides tilt compensation accuracy of <2cm.

Kenya Plans To Transition To Geo-Referencing Of Boundaries

he government is reviewing outdated national land surveying and mapping policies to enable replace general boundaries as the country transitions to geo-referencing (digitalized) platforms.

Odhiambo said cadastral survey which leads to acquisition of land title deeds is one of the key areas they plan to facilitate policy review every 10 years.

The move will protect public utilities including road reserves on which title deeds will be issued, lock out land grabbers and keep in check quacks out to fleece the public while masquerading as registered land surveyors.

He said lack of digitization meant that a lot of money got wasted while planning to undertake any form of development, hence the need to bring all professionals on to the Land Survey Board (LSB) to curb wastage of funds and time.

Members of the public have been advised to keep safe all early edition maps they possess and avail them during the validation process since the documents will be used as historical reference materials.

“Since 1971, the number of trained Land Surveyors have grown to 2,500 but persistent uncoordinated Land Surveying & Mapping brought total disorganization in the sector,” he stated. “This is why we have fragmented findings leading to duplication of title deeds, lack of data sharing, slow adoption of new technology, insufficient regulation and uncoordinated curriculum development and implementation,” he explained.

The taskforce on Draft National Land Surveying and Mapping Policy, 2021 led by Joel Odhiambo held a forum for a public engagement in Kisumu to seek the views of the public over land. The meeting in Kisumu was a follow up of similar forums held earlier in Lodwar and Eldoret to seek views of the public.

Under the proposed Mapping Bill, 2020 he emphasized the need to establish the office of Surveyor General, County Director of Surveys and the need to devolve some forms of the survey functions.

Petra Diamonds and the government of Tanzania will each give up a proportionate amount of their current stakes to grant the 16 percent free carried interest, which is given to the state without any attached financial obligation.

Odhiambo revealed that they plan to digitize all pieces of land including road reserves and make them easily accessible using computers or cell phones.

Petra’s stake will thus reduce from 75 percent to 63 percent with Tanzania’s stake increasing from 25 to 37 percent.

He was flanked by taskforce members Emanuel Ozera (LSK), Regina Njue of the Ministry of Lands, and Nichodemus Bwika, a physical planner with whom they guided the public discourse.

Under the agreement, Petra and the government will both help fund the restart of the Williamson mine – Tanzania’s only major diamond mine – which Petra suspended in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and which has recently started ramping up.

“These documents for discussion requiring your input are; Survey and Mapping Policy document, Survey Act Cap 299 now broken into two; Survey and Mapping alongside Land Surveyors Registration Act,” he explained.

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“At the same time, we should establish a traditional Geographical names Committee to safeguard traditional names of roads and other projects from deliberate foreign interference or change that relegated the interests of local communities,” Odhiambo further said. “The hydrographic committee would focus on our national borders and prevent such issues like the spat we had between Kenya and our neighbor Somalia over the maritime boundary,” he explained.

November-December issue l 2021

INTERNATIONAL

Steel City Drones Partners with SmartDrone to Provide Quadcopter UAVs for Surveying and Mapping in Southeastern U.S.

teel City Drones, a Birmingham, Alabama-based reseller, is partnering with SmartDrone to provide quadcopter UAVs for surveying and mapping in the southeastern United States. The partnership will offer the region's land surveyors and mapping professionals the latest technology. These drones will be available to Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee for various missions and demonstrations using lidar scanning for surveying and mapping. Available immediately, Steel City Drones is now offering SmartDrone's Discovery package. This complete solution integrates hardware, software, and everything surveying and GIS professionals need for collecting topographic data. "We're excited to partner with SmartDrone and bring this phenomenal product to the Southeast. We've spent the last four years flying drones with lidar. SmartDrone's on-site processing capabilities are an incredible game-changer for anyone who needs survey-grade topography." said Tim Hogan, Co-Owner of Steel City Drones, "Having spent time in Tyler, Texas with the SmartDrone team, we are highly impressed with their professionalism. We're looking forward to working with the SmartDrone team and this outstanding product." The Discovery drone is a fully automated aerial collection platform featuring high-resolution digital lidar and automated self-service lidar processing that augments traditional earth measuring. The Discovery offers customers fast paybacks and significantly increases productivity in the field by as much as ten times. Customers can view results before leaving the job site in real-time with the company's one-click processing suite. Processing with the company's software occurs on the end-users' computer, including the platform. "We are incredibly excited to partner with Steel City Drones to offer the Discovery Drone to a whole new market, which represents a major change from traditional mapping to digital, lower-cost, and more efficient surveying. I have spoken with hundreds of land surveyors, and all agree that drones and accessible aerial lidar are the next big evolution in earth measuring. Our partnership with Steel City Drones allows us to offer uncompromised service to a new region and high-quality data to our customers for fast one-foot contours," said Rob Cammack, CEO for SmartDrone. SmartDrone will be providing intensive training at their headquarters in Tyler, Texas, to bring Steel City Drones onboard and prepare them to service and support customers in the Southeastern U.S.

November-December issue l 2021

UKHO becomes Strategic Member of Open Geospatial Consortium

he Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is pleased to announce that the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has strengthened its long-standing relationship with OGC by enhancing its membership level from Technical to Strategic to provide greater leadership, boost innovation, and advance geospatial data for the marine industry. The UKHO has long been a champion of open standards and innovation at OGC. As a Strategic Member, UKHO will augment its expertise and leadership offering to OGC, while providing greater access to and usage of its marine geospatial data. In this new capacity, UKHO will support the OGC Planning Committee (PC) and Strategic Member Advisory Committee (SMAC) by providing leadership through the exploration of market and technology trends to ensure that OGC’s activities remain effective and agile in a changing technology environment. This includes participating in final approval decisions for all OGC standards and nominations to the Board of Directors. By deepening their collaboration under this new strategic membership, the two organisations aim to drive real change in the marine and land geospatial domains. OGC CEO Nadine Alameh commented: “We’re delighted to welcome UKHO as a Strategic Member of the OGC at a time when the geospatial community is mobilising its expertise to make the world a safer and more sustainable place, across land, space, and water. It’s great to see

UKHO’s commitment to being a global leader in our innovative, problem-solving community, and a firm believer in the power of partnerships and standards to address the changing needs of all those who depend on the marine environment.” Peter Sparkes, UKHO’s CEO, commented: “We’re pleased to enhance our close collaboration with OGC to strengthen our mission of meeting the evolving geospatial needs of mariners around the world, contributing fully to the development of international data standards for navigation, autonomous vessels and marine spatial data infrastructure. The pace of technological change in the maritime sector is accelerating. The geospatial industry needs to respond innovatively and proactively to the decarbonisation and digitalisation challenges our users face. “We will continue to work with the OGC to improve access to, and use of, marine spatial data in support of safe, secure and thriving oceans.” UKHO will work with other Strategic Members, who are also leaders in their fields of expertise, to shape the future of location-based standards and improve their utility for decision-makers across the globe. Other Strategic Members include the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the European Space Agency (ESA), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US Geological Survey (USGS), US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Natural Resources Canada/GeoConnections (NRCan), and Ordnance Survey UK (OS).

Hexagon partners with Airbus for near real-time airborne bathymetric LiDAR surveillance system

exagon’s Geosystems division has announced a partnership with Airbus to integrate two Leica Chiroptera 4X bathymetric LiDAR sensors for maritime surveillance into the C295 MSA, Airbus’ Maritime Surveillance Aircraft. Hexagon’s new technology enables detection of underwater objects in near real-time, a significant innovation in the airborne bathymetry industry. The cutting-edge solution was developed to meet Airbus’ requirements and will first be implemented in two C295 MSA purchased by the Irish Air Corps (IAC). The unique object detection feature enables real-time LiDAR data visualisation and analysis during the flight. Being able to locate the precise position of the object allows operators to preview and analyse information captured below water immediately — a process which previously could take up to several days. “We are delighted to announce the innovative application of the Chiroptera 4X sensor which now identifies small, submerged objects close to real-time, making bathymetric object detection

faster than ever before,” says Anders Ekelund, VP for Bathymetric LiDAR Sensors at Hexagon. “With this latest innovation, we are expanding our current system, adding significant capabilities for the maritime surveillance industry, and introducing new applications for airborne bathymetry.” “We are excited to install the Chiroptera 4X bathymetric LiDAR sensor with the new object detection technology into our C295 MSA. The partnership with Hexagon enables us to provide a new, innovative and integrated LiDAR solution to the Irish Air Corps,” says Alejandro Cabezas, Mission System Engineer at Airbus. “With the combined bathymetric and topographic LiDAR, we see enormous potential in the Chiroptera 4X system to be an efficient application for our customers.” “When we acquired the C295 MSA, we explored various sensors to be added to our fleet, including bathymetric and topographic LiDAR. Airbus introduced us to the Chiroptera 4X which now meets all our requirements,” says Stephen Connolly, Captain of the Irish Air Corps.

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INTERNATIONAL

Bathymetric Surveying with UAV and Echosounder in Dead Sea

sraeli drone service provider ERELIS recently conducted a number of pilot projects using a drone equipped with a single-beam echosounder in the Mediterranean and Dead Sea. The reference bathymetric data was collected using a manned boat and multi-beam and single-beam echosounders and demonstrated a good match between the results of new drone-based and traditional methods. The data was validated by authorized local surveyors and reports from previous surveys of the same areas by Michmoret Campus – Faculty of Marine Sciences, which is part of the Ruppin Academic Center.

Hydro Sensing Meets Hydrography The bathymetric system consisted of a standard commercial DJI drone (UgCS SkyHub onboard computer and terrain-following system with radar altimeter) and Echologger ECT400 single-beam echosounder provided by SPH Engineering, Latvia. For data processing, the Eye4Software Hydromagic software package was employed. “I was surprised by the manoeuvrability of the system and how easy it is to conduct bathymetric surveys using a UAV equipped with an echosounder.

Some of our survey areas were 400–500m away from take-off/landing positions and that means that the term remote sensing comes to the world of hydrography and becomes available to any drone service companies,” Roman Kirsanov, CEO of ERELIS, commented. “It is good to see that the applicability of our system with a single-beam echosounder has been validated in conditions outside of its initial focus on smallscale surveys of inland water bodies, first of all for surveys without actual physical access to the area under investigation, and secondly in situations where it is not reasonable to employ traditional methods. Furthermore, thanks to our partner, we can now also recommend our system for small-scale surveys in coastal areas and virtually in any liquids, as the density of the water in the Dead Sea is 1.24kg/L,” Alexey Dobrovolskiy, CTO of SPH Engineering, added. SPH Engineering announced the launch of a UAV drone, integrated with an echosounder, as a new product for bathymetric surveys of inland and coastal waters in May 2020. This data collection method has been used in a number of countries, including Denmark and the UAE. The method has proven to be both time- and cost-efficient and suitable for

Drone equipped with a single-beam echosounder surveying the Dead Sea.

Survey data of the Dead Sea bathymetry project.

mapping, measuring and inspections, as well as environmental monitoring. This bathymetry solution is also synchronized with the Hydromagic Survey software package.

Southern Empire Starts Airborne Geophysical Survey at Pedro Gold Project

outhern Empire Resources Corp. (Southern Empire) (TSXV: SMP) (Frankfurt: 5RE) (OTC: SMPEF) announces that it has initiated a high-resolution, airborne magnetic and radiometric geophysical surveys of the Pedro Gold Project, located in northeastern Durango State, México. In addition, Southern Empire has engaged Sevicios de Ingeneria Ambiental y Seguridad S.A. de C.V. of Durango to complete 2,000 metres (m; 6,560 feet) of core drilling on the Pedro Gold Project. This first phase, nine-hole core drill program (see Figure 1) is expected to start in January of 2022. The Pedro Gold Project covers prospective geology including the HP Breccia Zone, an epithermal gold system discovered in 2012 by regional grassroots prospecting that was directly supervised by David Tupper, P.Geo., now Southern Empire's Vice President of Exploration, who stated: "When examined as a whole, the geological, geochemical and geophysical expressions of the HP Breccia Zone within the broad extensional tectonic environment of northwest México, present a compelling opportunity for us to discover an epithermal precious metals vein system on the Pedro Property. The predominantly vertical drill holes completed in 2014 by Newmont were designed to test for a large, Carlin-style gold-bearing system hosted by the underlying Carocol Formation sediments. Even though stratabound gold was encountered in near-surface oxidized and silicified conglomerates, none of the 10 Newmont drill holes

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tested the possibility for gold-bearing vein systems, the potential occurrence of which was subsequently enhanced by a 2019 Induced Polarization (IP) survey. We are very excited to drill test these targets!"

• •

Technical Aspects of the Pedro Gold Project Airborne Geophysical Survey For the airborne survey, the geophysical contractor, Terraquest Ltd. Of Markham, Ontario, will complete approximately 384 line-kilometers (km; ~238 miles - approximately 96 flight lines at 50 m spacings flown at azimuth 060 and 240 degrees) to collect data over a total area of approximately 17.7 square kilometers. The survey instruments include a Scintrex CS-3 cesium vapour high-resolution magnetometer and Radiation Solutions RS-500 Advanced Digital Spectrometer. The survey aircraft for this project will be a specifically modified Bell 206 L4 Long Ranger helicopter subcontracted by Heliservircios Internacionales S.A. de C.V. of San Luis Potosi, México. The survey work will be launched from a base at Ciudad Lerdo, Durango.

• • • • • •

Historical reverse circulation and core drilling by Newmont in 2014 that confirmed the presence of gold In 2019, a 70 line-kilometer IP survey identified vertical, feeder vein targets that are not yet drill tested Permits established for up to 25 drill holes Mineral concessions cover ~1,750 hectares ("ha"; 4,324 acres) Mineral concessions cover private ranch lands Located in Durango, a mining-friendly state in north-central México Good access to the project area, ~80 km (50 miles) west-northwest of the city of Torreón Local infrastructure available in the nearby town of Mapimí

Southern Empire holds the Pedro Gold Project through an agreement with Commander Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: CMD) allowing Southern Empire to acquire a 100% beneficial interest. Please see Southern Empire's news release of July 27, 2021, for further information about the Pedro Gold Project.

Pedro Gold Project Highlights:

Qualified Person

•

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared, reviewed, and approved by David Tupper, P.Geo. (British Columbia), Southern Empire's VP Exploration and a Qualified Person (QP) within the context of Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101; Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101).

• •

Outcropping epithermal gold targets with potential for bulk mineable and bonanza-grade vein deposits 4,000 m by 1,000 m gold-in-soil anomaly coincident with gold-bearing, silica-rich breccia outcrops Additional gold targets identified beneath postmineral cover by 2020 geochemical survey

November-December issue l 2021

EVENTS

Geo Week Conference Program and Speaker Lineup Announced

rganizers of Geo Week, the single powerhouse event that champions the coming together of geospatial technologies and the built world, have announced an impressive list of conference sessions and speakers for the 2022 event, which will take place February 6-8, 2022, in Denver, CO. The conference program features more than 125 speakers across 50 sessions with content that explores best practices in 3D capture, working in the built environment, gaining ROI from BIM, defining what’s possible now with lidar, and much more. The coming together of AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference to form Geo Week reflects the increased integration between the built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies. Partner events taking place in conjunction with Geo Week include ASPRS Annual Conference, MAPPS Winter Meeting, and USIBD Annual Symposium, ensuring the presence of geospatial and built world industry movers and shakers all in one place. Presenters representing leading organizations including Autodesk, Esri, USGS, The Beck Group, Hexagon Geosystems, GM, Caltrans, Velodyne Lidar, Draper, MLB and NASA will share their expertise on a range of topics. Featured sessions include: • •

BIM Project Approaches The Digital Twin In Action

November-December issue l 2021

• Locating and Mapping Underground Infrastructure • 3D Technology in Transportation • AR/VR/XR Applications • Mapping for Transportation (Road, Rail) • Exploring How 3D Technology Will Define Our Future Workflows • Advances in Processing of Point Clouds Geo Week will have multiple tracks with content clearly identified as relevant to one or more of the audience groups feeding into Geo Week. The International Lidar Mapping Forum (ILMF) audience has historically been comprised of precision measurement professionals in surveying and mapping who use airborne and terrestrial lidar and related remote sensing technologies. The AEC Next audience has historically been comprised of professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) that use technologies such as reality capture, automation, AI and XR to bid and manage projects and improve workflows. The SPAR 3D audience has historically been comprised of professionals who use 3D capture, scanning, visualization and modeling technologies across a variety of verticals. “We’ve witnessed the growing convergence between geospatial and the built world,” said Lee Corkhill, Group Event Director at Diversified Communications, organizer of Geo Week. “We believe the market is

ready and eager for this next step of leveraging the confluence of technologies for improved collaboration, increased efficiency, and better outcomes. Much of the conference content and technology being showcased will reflect and support this increasing integration. At the same time, we recognize that individuals and organizations are at differing levels of adoption, and so there will be ample content that is more focused on what were traditional AEC Next, ILMF, and SPAR 3D topics.” Geo Week will provide education, technology, and resources for professionals in industries including AEC, Asset & Facility Management, Disaster & Emergency Response, Earth Observation & Satellite Applications, Energy & Utilities, Infrastructure & Transportation, Land & Natural Resource Management, Mining & Aggregates, Surveying & Mapping, and Urban Planning & Smart Cities. More than 80 companies have confirmed booths on the Exhibition Floor with additional companies being confirmed every week and more than 100 associations and media companies are signed on as supporters. Geo Week takes place February 6-8, 2022, with conference programming and exhibits Sunday, February 6 through Tuesday, February 8. Additional features of the programming are vendor-delivered Product Previews, Exhibition Theaters, workshops, and programming hosted by ASPRS, MAPPS, and USIBD.

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The intersection of

geospatial the built world

Accomplish a year’s worth of geospatial business in just one week by attending Geo Week 2022 Imagine a single powerhouse event that champions the coming together of geospatial technologies and the built environment. Where professionals from a range of disciplines network and gain insight into the increasing confluence of their worlds. Where cutting-edge technology offers new possibilities, improved efficiencies, and better outcomes. And where education opens the door to the future just ahead.

FEBRUARY 6-8, 2022 DENVER, CO - USA geo-week.com

AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference, along with partner events ASPRS Annual Conference and USIBD Annual Symposium, are coming together in 2022 to form Geo Week. Each event features its own unique conference programming and combines in a single exhibit hall and inclusive networking activities. Welcome to Geo Week!

Use code SAVE100 for $100 off a conference pass or a free exhibit hall pass.

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Architecture, Engineering & Construction

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Earth Observation & Satellite Applications

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PARTNER EVENTS

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INNOVATION

Trimble Launches New GNSS Base Station

rimble has introduced the R750 modular GNSS receiver, a connected base station for use in civil construction, geospatial and agricultural applications. The R750 provides improved base station performance, giving contractors, surveyors and farmers more reliable and precise positioning in the field. The R750 can be used to broadcast Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections for a wide range of applications, including seismic surveying, monitoring, civil construction, precision agriculture and more. Access to all available satellite signals provides improved performance and reliability when used with a Trimble ProPoint Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) rover. ProPoint gives users improved performance in challenging GNSS conditions, with ground-breaking signal management.

Base stations in remote locations Featuring a built-in LTE modem, the R750 can provide corrections via the internet, making it easier to extend the range of a base station anywhere with cellular coverage. The built-in modem also provides remote access and management, delivery of email alerts and notifications, and data transfer capabilities between the field and the office.

"The R750 delivers significantly improved satellite tracking and connectivity, while also providing a vastly improved user experience," said Scott Crozier, Vice President of Trimble Construction Field Solutions. "The ability to manage the base station remotely and to receive status notifications about the unit while in the office reduces downtime and the need to travel to the site. The new Trimble R750 is a game changer, especially for users who manage base stations in remote locations."

For monitoring applications, the R750 provides precision capabilities for construction and geospatial customers deploying automated systems. Combined with Trimble 4D Control real-time monitoring software, users can capture high-frequency 3D positions for alarming and reporting on movement. The R750 offers multiple communication methods that provide flexibility for customers on how they deploy their monitoring system.

Komatsu adds Smart Construction Drone and Field to line-up

data from multiple sources into one comprehensive picture, Smart Construction Dashboard combines 3D design data with aerial mapping and intelligent machine data, allowing contractors to confirm quantities and visualize job-site progress.

eavy-equipment maker Komatsu has added two new “smart” products to its j0b-site solutions for construction contractors, Smart Construction Field and Smart Construction Drone.

Smart Construction Field

Smart Construction Dashboard is powered by the 3D visualization power and geospatial accuracy of Cesium, a platform that visualizes, analyzes and shares 3D data.

Komatsu has partnered with Moovila, an experienced provider of project management software, to develop Smart Construction Field, a mobile app that allows contractors to easily record job site activity and analyze operational efficiencies in near real time. Reports generated by Smart Construction Field can track daily job-site conditions. Task progress can be broken down by labor, equipment and materials, including machine utilization and fuel distribution, receipts, timecards and subcontractor work. Regardless of equipment brand, Smart Construction Field can collect machine data from an entire fleet.

Smart Construction Drone Smart Construction Drone survey technology collects accurate topography, including quantities

for production tracking and billing, without personnel walking the job site to do a manual survey. Contractors can gather and analyze data throughout each project phase with topographic surveys that incorporate hundreds of thousands of data points. With the capability to take still photos from up to 400 feet above ground level or under bridge decks, Smart Construction Drone can be used as pre-job verification or to keep stakeholders up to date. Smart Construction Drone is designed to work with Smart Construction Dashboard. Built to combine

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Both Smart Construction Drone and Smart Construction Field are part of Komatsu’s Smart Construction solutions, an umbrella of smart applications created to help construction customers optimize their business remotely, and in near-real time. “When the Smart Construction group came in, they integrated everything, and the transition felt seamless,” said Kevin Hawkinson, vice president of operations, A.W. Oakes & Son. “Now, we can take the data, transfer it to the machines, get data back from the machines to the office, and utilize all of that information across the board for bidding, customer reference and billing.”

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INNOVATION

METAGEO Launches with 3D Map Platform for Bringing the Real World into the Metaverse

ETAGEO announces the launch of its GIS platform to enable organizations of all sizes to host, analyze, find and share 3D map datasets between any internetcapable device. The platform processes any location-based map or sensor data from the real world, combines it into a single 3D virtual environment and streams it to any device or Metaverse platform. Today’s traditional GIS platforms are expensive, primarily offer 2D mapping features, are highly complicated and often require an advanced degree to master. 3D map and scan datasets are large, expensive and often hidden. Furthermore, these large files are often unsuitable for viewing on mobile devices or rendering in AR/VR environments. METAGEO addresses these issues with an affordable and easy-to-use platform that can load data from multiple sources. These sources include satellites, drones, mobile devices, public and crowdsourced repositories, IoT sensor data, 3D models, and topographic maps. The data is then processed by the METAGEO platform into a 3D world and streamed to any internet-connected device, enabling live collaboration between the office and field via mobile

•

data Plugin SDK will allow for 3rd party tools to scale and fit any user needs

METAGEO has been designed for a wide range of applications in academia, architecture, engineering, construction, energy, natural resource management, environmental monitoring, utilities, and public safety, among others. The platform uses include planning and managing construction sites, organizing the layouts of events, maps for disaster management, public safety, visualizing inspection imagery from drones and mobile devices, and much more.

or AR device. Key innovations in the METAGEO 3D map platform include: • Fast and intuitive multi-user interface for easy data sharing and collaboration • Aggregation of map and location-based data from a multitude of sources on a global scale • Seamlessly import and sync data from multiple different systems into a single platform • Easily host and stream large datasets between internet-connected devices • Provide ability to find open source and private

“After working with 3D map data for several years, it became apparent that there was no easy way to share big datasets with those who need the information most, those with the boots on the ground,” said Paul Spaur, Founder of METAGEO. “Now with the rapid advancement of mobile hardware, and using advanced processing techniques, we can now leverage this data in real life, and in the metaverse.” METAGEO will be offered in several affordable subscription tiers, including Free Single User, Free Educational, Standard, Commercial and Enterprise. Each tier provides added features and benefits, enabling organizations to scale. METAGEO is available to a limited number of beta subscribers.

Unicore GNSS hardware now available through Rx Networks

nicore Communications is delivering its high-precision GNSS technology to the North American market through Rx Networks.

Unicore is a manufacturer of GNSS hardware and a sister-company to Rx Networks within the BDStar group of companies, which is headquartered in Beijing, China. Unicore GNSS receivers have been deployed in a wide

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variety of applications, including reference stations, surveying, mapping, precision agriculture, machine control, drones and robotics, vehicle navigation, timing, internet of things (IoT) and more. Rx Networks is a supplier of high-accuracy services and assistance data to a growing list of GNSS hardware manufacturers. As high-precision GNSS becomes ubiquitous, those seeking precise positioning solutions can now make use of Unicore

GNSS hardware made even more accurate with Rx Networks data services. “Unicore GNSS hardware has shown to have outstanding positioning performance,” said Cameron Baird, head of Business Development, Hardware Sales. “I am excited to see the democratization of inexpensive high-precision GNSS hardware with Rx Networks’ TruePoint.io PPP-RTK correction services.”

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ENERGY

Kenya Power to use drones in inspecting energy lines, plants

enya Power plans to procure drones to inspect its power plants and lines across the country as part of a fresh plan to increase efficiency and cut costs.

“The adoption of UAV based technology platforms is not just cost-effective but they also increase reliability, improve safety and reduce response times,” said Kenya Power.

This is a step up for Kenya Power which currently relies on a single helicopter to inspect its critical infrastructure and conduct aerial repairs.

“The adoption of UAV usage by Kenya Power will further future proof the company’s utility business and result in reduced power costs to customers and better customer experience.”

The utility said on Tuesday that the high-end unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will speed up monitoring tasks including responding to emergency situations like blackouts which cost the firm billions of shillings a year. “The company intends to implement…a pilot UAV based technology platform that will be used to carry out various services for the company,” said Kenya Power in tender documents published yesterday. “The services to be offered will include inspection of powerlines and substations, vegetation management, corridor mapping, digital terrain modelling and line construction.” Kenya Power said the UAV platform will have a major impact on the company’s business in terms of cutting labour costs and increasing response times for consumers in distress. The drones will be used alongside the company helicopter, it said.

The utility has invited firms to develop and provide drone technology as soon as possible. Kenya Power joins power producer Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) which recently bought two drones to inspect its plants at its Olkaria geothermal fields in Naivasha. KenGen said earlier its UAVs bought at Sh28.7 million would be deployed in the vast Olkaria Fields for surveillance. Utilities in other parts of the world have increasingly turned to drones to scour large power plants and thousands of kilometres of grids for damage and leaks in an attempt to avoid network failures that cost them billions of shillings a year. The flying robots that can travel dozens of kilometres without stopping are seen as the next big thing for

power companies. Thermal and zoom imaging placed on drones can help detect defects that then can be fixed before they become a problem, according to experts. Italy's Snam, Europe's biggest gas utility, said three years ago it tested prototypes of long-distance drones that fly at low altitudes over pipelines and power lines. French energy utility RTE has also tested a longdistance drone, which flew about 50km inspecting transmission lines and sent back data that allowed technicians to virtually model a section of the grid. Drone use across Kenya is likely to become more widespread as legal hurdles and legislation are overcome. The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) said last year it will now use drones as a new weapon to monitor deforestation in gazetted forests as thousands of hectares disappear every year in some of the country’s most biodiverse forests. The aviation regulator recently confirmed it has issued 200 licences to drone pilots since Kenyans were allowed to own and operate UAVs early in this year.

Tunisia government approves the construction of 5 solar power plants (500 MWp)

he Tunisian authorities have approved the implementation of five solar photovoltaic power plants totalling 500 MWp. The construction and management over 20 years of these five solar projects are awarded to several independent power producers (IPP). Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed has authorized the government to approve the implementation of five solar projects with a total capacity of 500 MWp. The decision of the authorities relates specifically to the

contracts of electricity production and occupation agreements of sites and their annexes. These projects have been awarded since 2020 to independent power producers (IPPs), France’s Engie, Italy’s ENI, Norway’s Scatec and China’s TBEA. According to the German International Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the expected power for the five solar projects represents about 6% of Tunisia’s electricity production and will cover the electricity consumption of more than 750,000 households. Belhassen Cheboub, head of electricity and renewable energy at the Ministry of Industry, said that the commissioning is expected within the next two years. Towards the diversification of the Tunisian electricity mix. Tunisia, which

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covers only half of the energy needs of its population and its economy seeks to diversify its production. The goal is to use renewable energy to reach 30% of the electricity mix by 2030 against 3% currently. The Norwegian IPP Scatec has been chosen to build and operate three photovoltaic power plants with a capacity of 300 MWp, in Sidi Bouzid in the center, Tozeur and Tataouine in the south of the country. Scatec wants to provide clean electricity to 300,000 Tunisian homes. For its part, the French giant Engie will build a 100 MWp plant in Gafsa, in the center of the country. This project implemented in partnership with the Moroccan group Nareva aims to supply at least 100,000 Tunisian homes. The legal approvals necessary for the implementation of these five solar projects also concern the Chinese group TBEA which will build and operate the plant of Metbassta with a capacity of 100 MWp, located near Kairouan in the center of the country.

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OPINION

Emerging contractors key to construction sector recovery

Author: Bongani Dladla, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the cidb

he construction sector can lead South Africa’s recovery as the country emerges into a post-Covid 19 economy, but only if emerging contractors are empowered.

This was the consensus among participants at a recent seminar on the state of the industry hosted by the Construction Industry Development Board – cidb. The seminar, attended by more than 700 participants, underscored the role played by the cidb in facilitating the exchange of ideas and opinions which will lead to the transformation of the construction industry. In addition to its primary mandate to promote the contribution of the construction industry to South Africa’s economy and society the cidb also provides a platform where participants in the sector can share research on trends within the sector and relate best practices. There were justifiable concerns about the sharp decrease in construction activity following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic. This was especially felt within the public sector where the cidb plays a critical role to ensure efficient and effective infrastructure delivery. However, there is also significant room for optimism. Investment in infrastructure is a key component of

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the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The plan calls for “aggressive infrastructure investment” with a strong emphasis on localisation, job creation and streamlining of the regulatory framework. Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium Some of the green shoots are already visible. At the recent Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium – SIDSSA 2021 – details were announced of a pipeline of 55 project with a project value of R595bn. This can create an estimated 583 500 direct and indirect jobs. Participants at the cidb seminar expressed strong views that emerging contractors should benefit fully from the pending upswing in building activity and opportunities should be created in which they can improve their grading and become increasingly eligible for major projects. Concurrently, the public sector must significantly improve its capacity to manage infrastructure projects under its control and address long-standing concerns within the industry about delays in the awarding of contracts, delays in the implementation of projects and late payments to contractors. There are expectations that private sector skills will,

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OPINION

“

The public sector must significantly improve its capacity to manage infrastructure projects under its control and address long-standing concerns within the industry about delays in the awarding of contracts, delays in the implementation of projects and late payments to contractors.

increasingly, be drawn in to address issues pertaining to capacity. Again, the cidb, with its experience gained in almost two decades, can make valuable contributions to the dialogues and consultations within the industry. Similarly, there are stronger voices speaking out about endemic corruption and the activities of the so-called ‘construction mafia’ which are delaying vital projects, destroying assets and threatening the lives of contractors and their workers. One of the participants at the seminar, Mr Gregory Mofokeng, the CEO of the Black Business Council in the Built Environment, emphasised the role construction can play in the reindustrialisation of the economy. This can be done through the implementation of localisation programmes where local building materials are used, local expertise is utilised, and local jobs created. At the same time the local industry is not isolated from global trends. Dr Obuks Ejohwomu from the

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”

observer of the local sector, Prof Roger Flanagan of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom predicted that the global construction industry will be at the leading edge of the recovery and that South Africa needs to be part of it.

University of Manchester reminded participants about the high contribution of construction to global emissions and air pollution. The UN Climate Conference – COP 26 – held in Glasgow this month will, no doubt, revise targets for pollution and set new standards to which the construction industry should respond. The introduction of technology-driven solutions brought on by the 4th industrial Revolution will also bring about profound changes to the sector. Construction 4.0 – the integration of 4IR advances into the industry – will revolutionise processes across the entire spectrum of activities. Some of these innovations are already being deployed with great success in the South African industry. Already, many emerging local contractors are embracing new technologies and strengthening their positions within the construction value chain. It is important that the local construction sector should be empowered to benefit from the expected upswing in the post-Covid economy. A keen

He emphasised the fact that it is located in the fastest growing region in Africa and is globally known for its ability to produce great construction companies and contractors who are admired for their competence. The challenges will be to broaden the sector, support emerging contractors – especially black-owned and female-owned businesses – and attract a new generation of entrepreneurs to the sector. The seminar, which will become an annual event, again showed that the cidb is well-placed to play a catalytic role to lead industry stakeholders in construction development. We will be a vital element in the re-emergence of a transformed construction industry which provides the physical infrastructure that makes up the backbone of our country’s economic activity.

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FEATURE

Geotechnical Survey

eotechnical surveys are usually carried out by geologists, geotechnical engineers or geochemists to gain information on the basic physical characteristics of soils, rock strata and sub-surface conditions for various planned constructions and for remediation of damage to earthworks and underground structures caused by natural subsurface events. Geotechnical drilling techniques may include surface sampling, borehole surveys, and GPS technologies to determine soil quality and other factors affecting it. Geotechnical software and computer programs are also used for these surveys. This article gives some interesting details about the importance of geotechnical surveys in our lives and what they actually do. For any construction project to succeed it requires detailed information about the site and the kind of building that will be constructed. A geotechnical survey can provide the information that is needed to plan the site, the type of structure to be built, and the boundaries of where the structure, buildings, and land will be located. It can even help design earthwork or bridge designs based on the information obtained from a survey. Without a geotechnical survey, many of these important steps would not be possible. In order to ensure that the foundation of a building is sound, a geotechnical survey is often the first step to take. An experienced engineer or geotechnical surveyor equipped with the proper equipment can determine if a foundation has problems and can then determine whether to make adjustments or replacement material. “Geotechnical survey involves testing, sampling and studying the material (soil and/or rock) upon which the proposed building will be constructed. The material is then tested, on site or in a laboratory to establish its strength and ability to sustain the

proposed load (building). The report will also give recommendations, with strengths at various levels where foundation can be laid,” says David Adede, Director, Rock Link Geological Consultants Ltd. Improving the soil quality and soil movement rate can prevent soil cracks and other problems that can cause further deterioration to the foundation. A qualified geotechnical surveying team can also determine if there are any underground sources of groundwater that can affect the site and can design an effective groundwater control plan to protect against future excessive groundwater pressure from above ground sources. Groundwater and its effects can also have an impact on structures. Testing for the location of underground water mains or wells can be determined by using geotechnical surveys. Many older structures were designed with boreholes in their construction but it is now known that using geotechnical surveying techniques, they can be detected and inspected before they become major issues. Geotechnical drilling or subsidence may be required in some cases when ground waters are found to be contaminated. Geotechnical survey data and studies can also help plan the use of water storage tanks in order to minimize future damages caused by unexpected flooding. In addition to its important role as a precursor to further archaeological research, a qualified geotechnical surveyor is crucial to developers who are developing a new building. A qualified surveyor will inform builders and architects of the most suitable building design for a structure before it is constructed. It also provides the basis for any required engineering changes once the building is on site. In addition, qualified geotechnical surveyors can also ensure the site has adequate underground protection to prevent natural disasters from occurring.

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Geotechnical surveys can also determine if a property is suitable for construction depending on its potential for instability. Most properties that present the possibility of instability need to be evaluated according to their geotechnical data and the relationship between that data and the site's topography, characteristics and permeability. An example of a property requiring geotechnical investigation is a finite hill that slopes significantly toward the downhill side of the property. An accurate evaluation will provide a valuable service to local developers, contractors, land managers, engineers, and others.

Service and calibration Geotechnical survey often uses high-tech electronic equipment, which requires specialised service and calibration on a regular base. Preventive maintenance (PM) is the practice of maintaining equipment on a regular schedule based on elapsed time or meter readings. The intent is to “prevent” maintenance problems or failures before they take place by following a routine and comprehensive maintenance procedures with a goal of achieving fewer, shorter, and more predictable outages. “Maintenance of Geotechnical equipment vary and range widely, depending on the type of the equipment. There are simple mechanical equipment that do not require maintenance at all. Most of the surveys are, however, done by drilling machines or rigs. These machines are fairly easy to maintain by ensuring frequent lubrication of the moving parts and occasional mechanical check up on worn out parts. Grease is the most frequently used substance for this maintenance,” concludes David.

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GEOTECHNICALSURVEY

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November-December issue l 2021

OIL & GAS

SPIE strengthens PPS solutions for West Africa’s oil and gas assets

PIE Oil & Gas Services, an international subsidiary of SPIE, has deployed its process and pipelines services (PPS) solution, a complete range of topsides and pipelines control and cleaning services in Ghana and Nigeria. The PPS solution covers all phases of the asset life cycle, from engineering and construction, to hook-up, pre-commissioning, commissioning, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning. The launch of the PPS offer follows the purchase of equipment and the integration of PPS specialists operating in Ghana and Nigeria for the precommissioning and maintenance of oil and gas installations. “Acquiring industrial equipment to develop a Process & Pipeline Services line was a unique opportunity for SPIE Nigeria & Ghana to diversify and expand its services portfolio and broaden our technical expertise within the oil and gas industry,” said Olivier Fruit, director of sub-Saharan Africa business unit. The PPS product line includes solutions for engineering and construction, assessment and skills development, commissioning and start-up, operation,

maintenance and integrity tests of oil and gas assets. Through PPS, SPIE Oil & Gas Services provides maintenance operations on pipelines, oil and gas production plants, refineries, LNG, floating production, storage and offloading (FPSOs) performs preventive or corrective maintenance operations but also major maintenance operations, such as shutdowns.

Development prospects One of the first implementations of the PPS offering is currently taking place on the Amenam-Kpono field, located about 30km off the eastern part of the Niger Delta.

Similar services are provided at the Erha Terminal, an FPSO located 97km off the coast of Nigeria. To guarantee the safety of the equipment, SPIE Oil & Gas Services performs torquing and sealing tests and the replacement of 300 metres of export pipeline. “All leaks from bolted joints are avoidable. Preventing leaks in the first place is much more cost effective than repairing leaks and, of course, prevents pollution. Providing clean and leak-free facilities is a key goal for us,” added Mark Notoma, senior manager, business development and PPS and SD Service Line in Nigeria and Ghana.

TotalEnergies EP Gabon finalises divestment of interests to Perenco Oil and Gas

otalEnergies has announced the closing of its agreement to divest to Perenco Oil and Gas Gabon the Cap Lopez Terminal and non-operated assets of its 58%-owned affiliate TotalEnergies EP Gabon The company has announced this after receiving the approval of Gabonese authorities. With this transaction, in an amount of US$350mn before final adjustment, TotalEnergies EP Gabon is divesting its interests in seven mature offshore fields operated by Perenco Oil and Gas Gabon, along with its interests and operatorship in the Cap Lopez oil terminal, to Perenco Oil and Gas Gabon. The divested assets' production stood at 8,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day for the first three quarters of 2021. Henri-Max Ndong-Nzue, president of TotalEnergies EP Gabon, said, “This transaction is aligned with TotalEnergies' strategy to enhance its portfolio by divesting mature, high break-even fields. TotalEnergies EP Gabon is refocusing on its operated offshore assets in the Anguille and Torpille sectors and remains a committed oil industry player in Gabon.”

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November-December issue l 2021

COVER STORY

Open Pit Mining O

pen Pit Mining also called open-cut or opencast mining, is surface mining technique of extracting minerals or rock from beneath the earth, often dug in an open area. This type of mining is one of the numerous varieties of surface mining that has been used since ancient times for different types of minerals. It involves large amounts of rock and is therefore expensive to produce. There are mainly five major types of surface mining, each having certain variations according to the minerals being mined. These are strip mining; open Pit Mine, high wall mining, dredging and surface mining. Each type of mine is used for a specific purpose, but all have the potential to harm the environment in a big way. Open Pit Mining involves extracting minerals from beneath the surface using hydraulic machines or trucks. There is a lot of waste created during this procedure, which leads to the adverse effects on the environment. The most common metals extracted during this procedure are copper, gold, lead, silver, zinc and tin. The waste produced during the process

of open-cast mining contains harmful chemicals, such as cyanide, mercury and lead that pollute the soil and the water table. The long-term effects of such mine wastes on the environment are yet to be assessed. There are two types of open pit mining; one is horizontal and the other vertical. In horizontal type, miners dig a shaft several meters underground to reach the upper area of the mine. The lower shaft is then blocked off and workers make the final stage of extraction. In vertical kind of mines, the shaft is dug at an angle and walls are erected around the shaft to prevent access by men and animals. There are several types of material usually found in open pit mines. Most common one is Lead. Other precious metals, such as gold, silver and platinum, can be found in these mines as well. It is estimated that these mines contribute more than ten million tons of this precious metal every year. Some other factors considered when determining the cost of mining this mineral is equipment and machinery used for mining. These include the amount of rock and the size of the holes to be excavated. The

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equipment and machinery used in this process are specialized and need to be purchased from reputable companies. One disadvantage of using this method is the risk of accidental spills that may contaminate the surrounding environment. It has been seen that there have been cases of children getting lead poisoning after drinking water containing traces of this metallic chemical. Another risk is when workers get sick because of the toxic gases created during the mining process. The process of extracting gold or any other mineral out of the ground involves several factors. This includes the physical extraction of the mineral, which involves manual labor, drilling, lifting and scooping the rock, and other equipment used for the process. The cost of this process greatly depends on the volume of ore to be extracted, and the complexity of the operation. The capital investment needed for the complete operation of an open pit mining operation varies according to the mine and type of mineral involved.

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OPEN - PIT MINING

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ADVERTORIAL

Gexcel's HERON 3D Mapping

ERON is a professional portable 3D mapping system, featuring a single or dual lidar sensor (including long-range) and RGB panoramic camera. HERON supports the use of control points for accurate point cloud models and provides the unique real-time change detection feature for BIM applications. Largely used indoors and outdoors, HERON is highly appreciated in underground and open-pit mines, stockpiles, multi-level buildings, large and complex areas, and engineering construction sites. Thanks to its smart design, HERON can be worn or held in the hand, mounted on vehicles, tilted, used upside down, mounted on a crane, and lifted to several meters if placed on extendible poles. The supplied HERON Desktop software utilizes an advanced patented SLAM algorithm that produces reliable and accurate 3D point cloud models than can be processed in the software Gexcel Reconstructor to extract volumes, profiles, contour lines, areas, cross sections, textured models, plan views, calculation reports, as well as popular multi-sensor integration. HERON supports the full compatibility with a variety of third-party software (e.g. ReCapPro, Micromine, GemcomSurpac, Datamine) and point clouds can be shared through Gexcel partners' cloud platforms 3DUserNet, Cintoo Cloud, Scene WebShare. HERON 3D MAPPING IN THE MINING FIELD The case of an iron underground mine The cavity had to be surveyed quickly because of the presence of mining equipment and for safety restrictions due to a potential risk of rock mass collapse. Conditions were harsh, due to high level of dust and moisture, and bottlenecks. The surveyor walked inside the tunnels and in 1 hour collected all the necessary data.

Multi-level building mapped with HERON. Outputs shown: blueprint map, elevations, Cintoo Cloud immersive tour of the 3D model with high-res images.

as plans and elevations, using HERON software. The client requested a 3D model with high-resolution photos easily that could be easily imported into ReCapPro (to manage deliverables in the Autodesk environment) and into cloud platforms for digital twin purposes. The processed HERON 3D model was exported to ReCapPro. Although plans and elevations can be directly generated within the HERON software, a link to CAD is strategic for further processing, accessing Navisworks, or performing BIM analysis. To address

the requirements of digital twin approach, the HERON model was uploaded to Cintoo Cloud, where the project, located in Google Maps and organized in work zones, can be managed through different levels of access for different types of users (decision-makers, maintainers, technicians, etc.). Cloud data were easily shared, explored, and investigated by performing a virtual immersive tour through the panoramic images. Available tools to measure and add notes, links, and documents helped investigate the space, make decisions, update the database, and support on-site workers.

The accurate processing of the acquisitions was possible thanks to the HERON software provided and in 20/30 minutes it was possible to obtain a 3D mesh model, maps and sections. The 3D mesh was then imported into Micromine where geological, geomechanical, and mining information were added. Mining engineers and surveyors used these data for mining operations, production scheduling, reserve estimation and more. HERON 3D MAPPING IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD Underground mine mapped with HERON. Outputs shown: 3D model, blueprint map, volumes and cross-sections.

The case of building asset management A large multi-level building needed be surveyed indoor and outdoor in a short period of time to quickly obtain a digital twin model (for easy data sharing among stakeholders; maintenance services management; documentation purposes), along with updated plans, maps and elevations. In 20 minutes, HERON surveyed an area of approximately 10,000 sq.m. In 1.5 hours, the data were processed and the colored 3D model with 5K resolution panoramic images was generated, as well

Gexcel is an Italian company starting in 2007. Besides the development and design of software and systems for 3D surveying market, Gexcel provides sales, support, training and service directly by its Italian and Vietnamese offices or by its wide international distributors' network. Gexcel's software and systems are fully compatible with sensors from the main laser scanner manufacturers and with many software and cloud platforms. Find more on www.gexcel.it

November-December issue l 2021

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INFRASTRUCTURE

MOBILE MAPPPPER

Mobile Mapper Devices

obile Mappers, also known as GPS trackers are small electronic devices which provide accurate positioning of any person, vehicle, or item within a certain range of their location. There are two types of GPS trackers available in the market today; analog and digital. Both the series gps and mobile mapper devices have their own advantages and disadvantages. The main advantages of using this type of surveying or mapping equipment is that they are small and light weight, and can easily be carried from place to place. Digital GPS mappers are more dependable than the analog ones as they usually come with a small LCD screen to show the position of the device. However, the digital mappers usually do not have the same level of accuracy as the series gps models. The main disadvantage of using this surveying or mapping equipment is that there are no external power sources required and they cannot function well in cold weather conditions. They can only function up to about -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Mobile GPS devices are powered by rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries. The battery is normally installed in the handheld unit via an electric connection or an USB cable. The units have an onboard charger which can be plugged into a cigarette lighter outlet. To monitor the position of a person, the user has to take out the battery and insert it in the GPS receiver. As the receiver is in constant contact with the earth, the information is displayed as soon as it registers a signal.

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ENGINEERING

Kenya unveils largest shipyard in sub-Saharan Africa

President Uhuru Kenyatta tours the modern shipyard at the Mtongwe Navy base in Mombasa after commissioning it on December 17, 2021

enya has unveiled a modern shipyard at the Mtongwe Navy base in Mombasa, making her the first country in sub-Saharan Africa with such a facility. Kenya Shipyards Ltd (KSL) has the capacity to handle vessels of more than 4,000 tonnes and s150 metres and will boost the East African country’s status as a maritime hub. The new facility has the longest slipway, a platform on which ships are secured and winched out of water into a working area for construction, repair, refitting and maintenance. The modern shipyard has two ship-building hangers, one 150 metres long and 30 metres high and a smaller one 120 metres long, 20 metres high and 13 metres wide. President Uhuru Kenyatta officially opened the facility on Friday as Kenya eyes the lucrative shipbuilding and repair business.The Navy project in Mtongwe gives Kenya a competitive advantage in shipbuilding and maritime engineering in eastern and central Africa, with the inauguration of a marine academy in Kisumu helping to boost human resource training for sustainable growth of the industry. “In the project, Kenya, which owns about 17 military ships, seeks to save $6,800 million per vessel in maintenance fees every 10 years considering that since independence, all Kenyan ships have been serviced and maintained overseas, either in Spain

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or Netherlands.Every ship has a lifespan of 10-15 years before a full makeover,” says a notice from the Kenya Defence Forces Certified ship welders KSL will for the first time in Kenya’s history employ its own certified ship welders, which is part of the Kenyan government’s agenda to create over 10,000 jobs per year in the maritime sector, considering all ship welders in Kenya are foreign.

and will provide civil and modular infrastructure workshops, slipways, jetties, bridges and others required to support the maritime industry. Kenya has already formed a full department on the national blue economy, which will require specialised vessels such as deep sea fishing in the exclusive economic zone, where vast untapped marine fisheries resources are found.

The modern shipyard has two ship-building hangers, one 150 metres long and 30 metres high and a smaller one 120 metres long, 20 metres high and 13 metres wide. President Uhuru Kenyatta officially opened the facility on Friday as Kenya eyes the lucrative shipbuilding and repair business. The Navy project in Mtongwe gives Kenya a competitive advantage in shipbuilding and maritime engineering in eastern and central Africa, with the inauguration of a marine academy in Kisumu helping to boost human resource training for sustainable growth of the industry.

Certified ship welders KSL will for the first time in Kenya’s history employ its own certified ship welders, which is part of the Kenyan government’s agenda to create over 10,000 jobs per year in the maritime sector, considering all ship welders in Kenya are foreign.

Securing Kenya’s marine assets requires wellequipped vessels and KSL will play a key role in offering technical support.Ship construction in Kenya is not a new concept. The country built its first vessel - the MV Uhuru II - at the Kisumu port more than 70 years ago.This is an example of how improving shipping and maritime infrastructure is a key component in Kenya’s economic roadmap, by harnessing maritime resources to propel its industrialisation agenda under Vision 2030. The global market for ship construction, estimated at $126 billion in 2020, is dominated by South Korea 40%, China 25% and Japan 15%. The global maritime trade value is worth $14 trillion, of which 40 percent, worth $5.6 trillion, passes through the east coast of Africa. This means that Kenya will for the first time have the chance to access $ 5.6 trillion of the trade that takes place in this region of Africa by ensuring ships pass through Kenya to undergo repair and maintenance.

KSL is the anchor industry for the blue economy

November-December issue l 2021

FEATURE

CAD Software Create the Best Designs Possible

With the advent of computer based technology, CAD has become increasingly accessible to the average consumer

omputer Aided Design (CAD) is simply the application of computer-assisted design principles to the production of designs. The software has been around for decades and is still a staple in many businesses. CAD software allows a designer to generate complex designs that are then used by a CAD operator to help create the physical product. The software was initially designed to help architects and engineers produce detailed designs for new structures. Today, the software is commonly used to improve the quality of architectural drawings, to increase the productivity of designers, and to build a large database for future manufacturing from automobiles and airplanes, ships and boats to buildings and even furniture. Additionally, with the advent of computer based technology, CAD has become increasingly accessible to the average consumer. Although it may sound like an oxymoron, there are some differences between traditional engineering drawings and CAD software. The first obvious difference is that in order to create a mechanical or electrical piece of equipment, an engineer must physically inspect each component. A CAD operator simply has to draw it on a computer, and then determine where the cut points should be and how deep they need to be. This process is typically done using a cylindrical view. A cylinder is drawn and the distance from the center of the circle is plotted against the rotation of the axis of rotation. As the axis of rotation changes, so does the distance from the center of the circle. This results in a change in the size of the object relative to the center of the

drawing. A CAD software program will allow you to visualize your product as it would actually look. Because it is impossible to examine each and every component of equipment during the production phase of manufacturing, engineers often use CAD software systems to prototype parts before they are designed for production. For example, many manufacturers will produce rubber parts and other industrial products using CAD systems rather than manually designing the pieces. While manual prototypes can be produced for testing purposes, it is very difficult to make any changes after the manufacturing process is complete.

Factors to consider when choosing a CAD Software “The first and main factor is quality. However, we are lucky to live in the time when high quality is not always equal to high price. So, the second important criterion is a good price. Today most software has a free trial version and I’d recommend to test different programs. Make your own decision and

November-December issue l 2021

don’t overpay for brands. There are even good free online CAD viewers,” says Mr. Dmitry Sidorkin, CEO at CADSoftTools. “The next factor concerns the capabilities of the software. If you need to create highly specialized drawings and you work in one definite industry, it is a good idea to buy specialized software that has unique features. If you work with several industries, general purpose CAD software is a great solution. Choose the software offering as many supported formats and features as possible. But make sure that the formats you mostly work with are supported well. And one more factor is the localization of software. It is nice to use the software in your language,” add Mr. Sidorkin. Just like when you would like to choose any other

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CAD SOFTWARE software, there are specific factors that you need to put into consideration before deciding which software to choose for your next project or task, this is according to Sammy Ekaran, Content Writer and SEO Specialist at SelfCAD. He further elaborates on the curated list of the 4 main factors that you need to consider when choosing a 3D modeling Software. 1. The Purpose or Industry you are working on Each 3D modeling has its own target group and it’s meant for specific tasks although all of them have some commonalities. So before choosing any 3D modeling software you need to know the industry you are in and the type of programs used in that area. Once you know the industry you are working in, you will be able to know the 3D modeling software and which 3D modeling technique that you will be using. The 3D modeling techniques available include solid modeling, surface modeling, organic modeling, and box modeling. Not all 3D modeling software can utilize these techniques. So you need to know your specific area of specialization and choose the most appropriate CAD program. It’s very important to choose a 3D modeling software that meets your specific needs or the needs of your company to make your design process easy and efficient. 2. CAD Software or 3D Modeling Software Though these two categories of 3D Software sound like they are the same, they are a bit different. CAD Software are programs used to create drawings and 3D models where precision, simulation, and tolerance are important. They are mostly being used by engineers and product designers. 3D modeling on the other hand is where 3D designs artists and hobbyists create 3D models where geometry is of more importance. The designs created in 3D modeling include toys, games designs etc. Each of these programs are best for their specific needs and you need to know which category is best for you. 3. Ease of Use Before choosing any 3D modeling software, you need to consider ease of use. As a beginner, you have to choose a 3D modeling software that won’t take you a long time to get started. You need a program that will take you only a few weeks or months to be able to create something professional and not years. This ensures that you achieve a lot in a short period of time without having to struggle much. As you choose the easy to use 3D modeling software, you need also to ensure that the program is able to create something complex. There are a lot of easy to use 3D modeling software available in the market but the only challenge is that they are too basic and can’t be used to create complex designs. But there are a good number that are easy to use and can be used to create professional and complex models. 4.

Cost

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Before choosing a 3D modeling software, you need to have your budget in mind. This is because there are cheaper as well as expensive programs that can even cost as much as $9, 000.

Advantages of CAD Software CAD Software is being used in many industries because of its many advantages. According to Ekaran, the following are the key advantages of CAD Software. 1. Ensure there is Accuracy With CAD Software, there is accurate measurement and drawings as compared to manual drawing. Though the 3D designer needs to be attentive when designing the models, CAD software has minimal errors as compared to manual drafting. With a 3D modeling software, it’s easier to prepare complex designs and as long as you have mastered the software, you are only limited by your imagination.

almost at the very beginning of CAD software usage and as you become more experienced, you save more time,” adds Mr. Sidorkin. 4. It Enhances Creativity With CAD software, you don’t have to worry about making design mistakes. You can always undo them and redo again with much ease as the software gives you these capabilities unlike when manually drafting and drawing. This gives one the ability to explore different designs and hence enhancing creativity in the process.

“CAD software also helps reduce errors (we all are people and sometimes make mistakes) and increase productivity,” highlighted Mr. Sidorkin. 2. Useful in Preparing Prototypes 3d modeling an architectural design in Preparing prototypes with CAD software is easier. As long as you have an idea in mind, you can easily turn the idea into a reality. Prototypes are important as they serve as a blueprint for the design that is being created. With CAD software, errors can easily be identified and even rectified. This saves on time and money that would have been spent in demolishing the structures when errors are identified. Some CAD software allows one to even prepare the designs for 3D printing without having to switch to other programs. 3. Saves Cost and Time Before a product is delivered to the market, the engineers usually have to put a lot of effort and time in order to bring it live. With CAD software, the time it takes engineers to come up with their design is greatly reduced regardless of its complexity. “Good CAD software helps you save a lot of time. It doesn’t take long to learn how to use modern software as there are a lot of video lessons that are helpful and the software itself is very user friendly. You start spending less time on the usual drawings

5. Ease of Understanding and Presentation 3D modeling makes it easier for one to understand the design regardless of its complexity. With 3D models, one can be able to see the entire design; how it looks and how it works even before it’s created. 3D modeling makes it easier to understand how the design looks and even how it will be created. Presenting the product design to the clients is easier too because they can be able to see all the details of the design in 3D dimensions. With 3D rendering, materials and colors can be applied too and different categories can be tried to see which one fits the most. Animations can also be created in a CAD software to show how the structure looks like. “For business owners, CAD software usage also means better communication between teams, shorter productions cycles and reduced production costs,” comments Mr. Sidorkin.

6. Easy Installation “Your choice of CAD software should be able to add, as example, MapWorks functionality as third party software and custom menus without problems,” says Joe Smith of CAD-Manufacturing Solutions Inc. There are many different brands of CAD software available. The best CAD software available will depend upon the size of your business, the type of product you are producing, and the type of designs you want to create. The best CAD software allows you to create detailed, accurate designs in various shapes and sizes. It also allows you to change these designs once you’ve finalized them so that you can always have the latest designs available. You should only buy the best cad software that is capable of all the features you want to use. You may find that you can’t use the advanced features of some programs, but this does not mean that they are not right for your business.

November-December issue l 2021

FEATURE

November-December issue l 2021

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ENGINEERING SURVEY

Engineering Survey

ngineering Survey is a comprehensive review of an engineering project, carried out after the survey of the site has been completed and before any worksites are permitted to commence. These surveys are used for many reasons, such as the approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), planning permission, or for the purpose of laying strategic or operational plans for any construction activity. An engineer can use the engineering survey data in order to find out what kind of foundations are required for that particular structure or project. The survey data will as well aid an engineer in designing the structure in the right manner as well as identifying the location of key infrastructure that are crucial in the operations of a building. These surveys are generally carried out on behalf of architects, engineers, contractors, and other professionals. The most common engineering survey services that are carried out by the engineering team are Portable Ground Probes (PGP), GPS and Dumpy Geometry. An engineer gets the initial plans for the project and after a careful analysis, is able to draw them in a CAD

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programme on a computerised map. This helps in preparing a detailed plan of the site, its surroundings and the features of the soil and subsurface, which helps in easy visualization of the site, its topography, and the relationships between structures. The engineer may also suggest the most suitable form of accommodation, which would be economically viable. In most of the cases, engineering survey companies do not undertake structural surveying activities. This is mainly because a structural survey requires expensive specialized machinery that may not be available on every construction site. A qualified structural engineer should be consulted in case of any doubt. A qualified civil engineer is responsible for carrying out the engineering survey and prepares the final report. A qualified groundwater technologist is also involved in the field of engineering survey, as he/she prepares the reports in connection with any groundwater recharge or pollution of water. Many engineering surveys are carried out on the basis of soil tests, water test and Terrain Studies. There are different routes to carry out these surveys. The first route is by use of field guides. These are

general maps, which provide information about the topography of the area, various soils and the type of rocks found in the region. By use of this information, the engineer can plot the topography on the computer-generated map. Based on the information derived from the computergenerated map, the survey team can lay down the different routes, taking into account the gradients, level of the terrain and other factors. After identifying the appropriate routes, the senior engineer and his/her team members proceed in removing the preliminary data from the ground. The second way to carry out engineering surveys is by using the Terrain Study. In this method, the surveyors use a special type of map called the topographical map study. This method has some advantages over the field guides, such as in terms of accuracy. For the same reason, the cost of conducting the surveys is comparatively low; hence, they can be conducted more quickly and easily.

November-December issue l 2021

CONSTRUCTION

Turkish builder seals $1.9bn deal to extend Tanzania railway

urkish construction giant Yapi Merkezi signed a $1.9 billion contract with Tanzania to build the 368 km third phase of a planned railway that will eventually link Dar es Salaam, the commercial hub on the Indian Ocean, to the port city of Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria -- which shares a border with Kenya and Uganda. The gauge width is the same spec as the standardgauge railway that China built in neighboring Kenya, offering the potential to extend the railway across the eastern shores of the African continent. Yapi Merkezi said in a press release that the railway will be the fastest in East Africa, with seven stations between Makutupora and Tabora. All construction, including signalization, telecommunication and electrification work, is slated for completion in 46 months. The company is already nearly done building the firstand second-phase parts of the railway. These span 705 km and cost $3.1 billion. Five phases in total are planned. Phase three will link Makutupora with Tabora, both in central Tanzania. Yapi Merkezi is also in talks with the authorities for phase four, which will run 167 km. But it lost out to a Chinese consortium for phase five. Speaking by phone to Nikkei Asia on Tuesday, Yapi Merkezi Chairman Basar Arioglu said: "The Tanzanian railway authorities were satisfied with our quality, speed and meticulous work on phase one and two. We also hope to sign phase four soon as a result of ongoing negotiations." But Arioglu noted that "competing with China is very tough." He recalled the bidding process for phase five, when a consortium of China Civil Engineering Construction and China Railway Construction beat

Yapi Merkezi with $1.3 billion bid that significantly undercut the Turkish proposal. "Their political network is vast, and their financial capabilities are robust," he said of the Chinese. "They are active in almost all African countries. Yapi Merkezi can only engage in business development activities in four to five African countries at the same time, whereas the Chinese can do business development everywhere at the same time." However, Arioglu said, there have been cases where Yapi Merkezi has underbid Chinese rivals, such as phase one of the Tanzanian railway, as well as a previous railway project in Ethiopia. Arioglu said that to complement the Turk Eximbank's financial capacity, Yapi Merkezi seeks funds from development financial institutions like the African Development Bank or from such export credit agencies as Japan's Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, which was one of the financers of phase two. "Sometimes the Chinese can give unexpectedly low prices that cannot be explained by economic feasibility," Arioglu said. But under normal tenders, "even if our financing is more expensive, we can compete with cheaper engineering, procurement and construction pricing," he said. Better procurement can compensate for the costlier financing, and such factors as better cost calculation, better quality and quicker completion can win bids, the chairman explained. Arioglu acknowledged that a recent trend of African countries expecting contractors to bring financing with them is creating a challenge for Turkey. "But Turkish engineers are very knowledgeable in European standards and use materials in line with European standards, so it gives us a chance to find

European financing," he said. African countries now have a tendency to realize projects under the public-private partnership schemes that Turkish companies are accustomed to, Arioglu said. That the format is not preferred by China is also creating advantages for Turkish companies. "We are not afraid to be an investor in those schemes," he said. He noted that when Yapi Merkezi took on an undersea tunnel for vehicles in the Bosporus strait of Istanbul, its South Korean partner obtained 45% of the financing from South Korean financial institutions. By March, Yapi Merkezi also plans to open the world's longest suspension bridge -- in Canakkale, to span the Dardannelles -- with Turkish and South Korean partners. This and the Bosporus tunnel are buildoperate-transfer public-private partnership schemes. Yapi Merkezi has expertise in railway projects, having completed 62 railway projects on three continents to span 3,800 km and carry 3.5 million people a day. In Africa, it has completed or has projects ongoing in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Senegal, Algeria, Morocco and Sudan. Lauren Johnston, a visiting senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide, said that the signing underscores the urgent need for infrastructure on the continent, where populations are growing but not all families own cars. Johnston said that while China and Turkey are competing for bids, the Turkish-built portions will complement China's early rail investments in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia. "China's infrastructure investments have helped deepen and increasingly internationalize a growing infrastructure construction market in East Africa," she said. But Johnston added that the fact that much of the infrastructure will be financed by debt -- whether attached to China or otherwise -- will become a heavy burden on African countries. "The region's economies need to ensure they grow fast-enough as a result of these investments in order to sustain the new debts," she said.

The Nkrumah Bridge in the first-phase section of the Tanzanian railway. (Photo courtesy of Yapi Merkezi)

The rail-welding process in Tanzania. The standard-gauge railway has the potential to connect with a similar Chinese-built railway in neighboring Kenya. (Photo courtesy of Yapi Merkezi)

November-December issue l 2021

The planned railway will eventually connect Dar Es Salaam, to the port city of Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria -- which shares a border with Kenya and Uganda. (Map courtesy of Yapi Merkezi)

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MINING

De Beers eyes Angola’s reformed diamond mining sector

he world’s largest diamond producer, De Beers Group, has applied to conduct exploration activities in north-eastern Angola.

The move comes after the country passed “substantive and consistent reforms” in its diamond mining sector that will drive “transformative socioeconomic growth for local communities,” the mining giant said in a statement on Tuesday. Following the submission of the exploration application the South African group hopes to kick-off negotiations with the Angolan government for a diamond mining investment deal, the company said. If De Beers exploration licence is granted, Angola will be the only diamond producer in which three of the world’s largest diamond miners operate, including top Russian diamond miner Alrosa and fourth largest Rio Tinto, says New York-based diamond analyst Paul Zimnisky.

Enernet Global acquires KPS Power Africa to accelerate its hybrid mining power solutions presence in African mining

nernet Global Inc, a distributed energy service company whose stated mission is to decarbonise the world’s supply chains, acquired KPS Power Africa (KPSPA) from Australia’s Pacific Energy Group to accelerate its presence in African mining. “Enernet’s global footprint enables it to provide tailored energy solutions for mining, commercial, industrial, remote community and utility customers across its operations in Australia, the Philippines, the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa. KPSPA finances, builds, owns and operates hybrid power plants for the mining sector in Africa. The transaction provides Enernet with a portfolio of projects and expert team to rapidly scale the business.”

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“The combination of KPS Power Africa’s deep roots in mining and power in Africa combined with Enernet’s world-leading expertise on renewable hybrid plants and competitive capital enables us to bring a unique solution to mines across Africa,” said Paul Matthews, Enernet and KPSPA’s CEO. “Mines are under increasing pressure to reduce scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and their CEOs must report to investors and the market on their ambitions to reduce CO2. Together, we finance, build and operate cheaper, cleaner and more reliable power solutions for customers across SubSaharan Africa.” “The acquisition of KPSPA by Enernet Global is a great strategic move which allows both companies to advance hybrid power generation within mining

in Africa. KPSPA has increased its exposure to the renewable energy market and Enernet Global its presence in the African mining industry, which is ideally positioned for renewable hybrid system,” said Ben Zikmundovsky, KPSPA’s General Manager. Enernet and KPSPA deploy distributed on- and offgrid generation projects that integrate renewable energy, battery storage, cogeneration and existing thermal or grid supply. System design and operational optimisation are underpinned by Enernet’s patented technology platform. “Selling energy and services through power purchase agreements, systems are delivered at no capital cost to customers and tailored to their specific energy needs. This lowers costs, adds energy resilience and independence, and dramatically reduces emissions mines in Africa.”

November-December issue l 2021

OIL AND GAS

Nigeria eyes 600TCF gas reserves, seeks foreign investment in oil and gas sector

he federal government of Nigeria is currently working to grow the country’s gas reserve from 206 trillion cubic feet to 600 TCF. This is according to Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum.

Speaking at the 23rd World Petroleum Congress in Houston, Texas, U.S., at a session themed ‘Regional Development and Opportunities in Africa’, Sylva proposed the growth to 600 tcf reserve will ensure that the country is better positioned to utilise its ample gas resources. “We have a lot of gas in Nigeria. We currently have 206 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves,” he said. “This number is already discovered in gas reserves, and the 206 trillion cubic feet reserves were discovered while looking for oil; so it was accidentally discovered.

Timipre Sylva, the minister of state for petroleum

“We were actually going to look for crude oil, and we found gas, and in that process of the accidental discovery of gas, we have found about 206 tcf. “So, the belief is that if we really aim to look for gas dedicatedly, we will find up to 600 trillion cubic feet of gas.” The minister said despite energy transition, the energy mix would still consist of oil as fossil fuel cannot be abandoned overnight. “The future of oil and gas industry in Nigeria is still very bright when we talk about energy transition, we are not expecting that oil will be discarded the next day,” he said. “We are saying that over the years, oil will account for less and less percentage in the global energy mix. “It means that oil is still going to be relevant, but it will not be as relevant as it is today, but it is not going to happen just now. “It’s going to happen years to come, so there are still a lot of opportunities in growing the oil industry. “That’s why we are here to collaborate with the rest of the global community to develop oil industry. “We’ve never discountenanced that the world is serious about the energy transition.” He added that the net-zero target by Nigeria during the COP-26 conference required continued financial support. “We have declared gas as our transition fuel, our pathway to net-zero carbon emissions,” Sylva added. “This presents investment opportunities given the oil and gas reserves which can be commercialized.” Sylva said that discussion had begun with Afrexim Bank to create an energy bank that will finance fossil fuel projects in Nigeria and Africa at large. He also said the PIA provided sufficient incentives to gas producers to commit to energy transition. According to the minister, in the meantime, Nigeria was faced with issues relating to energy poverty, hence the need to provide energy security for its citizens. “We are hoping that by 2060, we would have gotten to the point where we would have moved to the level where the global community is moving to,” he said. “Nigeria never denied energy transition, but there are challenges for us. “We want the global community to understand our position that we are not exactly where they are today. “Forty-three percent of Nigerians are unconnected to off-grid electricity. “So, we have a challenge, and we have to commit to energy security as well, and also the cost on us from the global community to ensure energy security for our people. So, for us, it is a balancing act. “We need to commit to energy security for citizens. It is a balancing act, we need to achieve energy security for Nigerians and also be on course on net zero.”

November-December issue l 2021

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MARINE SURVEYS

South African activists organised several protests against Shell's seismic testing plans\ image courtesy

Shell wins court case to start seismic surveys offshore South Africa

South African high court has struck down an urgent application brought by environmentalists to stop oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) starting seismic surveys to explore for petroleum systems off the eastern seaboard's popular Wild Coast. The applicants, which included Greenpeace Africa and fishermen, had been seeking to stop the survey on the basis it could cause "irreparable harm" to the marine environment, especially to migrating hump-back whales in the area. "The court refused to interdict the seismic survey on the basis that irreparable harm to marine species was not proven by the applicants," said Katherine Johnson, a spokesperson for Natural Justice, one of the organizations in court. "The court ruled that given financial and other prejudice to Shell if the seismic surveys were delayed, the balance of convenience was in Shell's favour," says Johnson.

An online petition and several protests have already been organised against Shell over the survey, which uses a vessel regularly firing an air gun that produces a very powerful shock wave underwater to help map subsea geology.

with the outcome of the case. "Shell is pleased with the court’s decision, which will help move this seismic survey forward in accordance with its regulatory approval and permitting," the company says. "Should viable resources  be found offshore, this could significantly contribute to  the country’s energy security." Johnson said further litigation from the group cannot be ruled out, as it had concerns the company had not obtained the necessary environmental impact assessments. Shell said this week that it had met all the legal obligations to undertake the survey in line with regulations, and received the necessary approvals.

Shell in 2020 acquired a 50% stake in the offshore exploration right held by Impact Africa, a subsidiary of privately owned Impact Oil & Gas. Another group, Sustaining the Wild Coast, which represents communities along the coastline, lodged a separate court application on Thursday also seeking to halt the seismic survey. "We are calling for an immediate halt to the survey and that no seismic surveying be allowed without a proper Environmental Authorisation," said Sinegugu Zukulu, a spokesperson for the group, in a statement.

A Shell spokesperson said the company was happy

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November-December issue l 2021

PROJECT REVIEW

ROYAL SENCHI HOTEL AWARDED THE BEST LUXURY ARCHITECTURE DESIGN HOTEL IN AFRICA BY WORLD LUXURY AWARDS

ocated at Adomi Bridge, Akosombo, north of Accra, the 4-star Hotel and Resort was crowned the best luxury architecture design hotel held by World Luxury Awards in Mauritius. The award event was hosted by the Trou Aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa and had about 1,000 hotels from all across the globe vying for the ultimate prize. The Hotel has 84-rooms that merge tradition with luxury, and is guaranteed to leave guests satisfied and well-rested.

“The Royal Senchi was crafted in the moulds of indigenous ingenuity both in architecture and services,” says Mr Emmanuel Mensah, the head of sales and marketing for the Royal Senchi Hotel. He opined that it was more a win for Ghana than it was for the hotel, explaining that the recognition only but reiterated the value of handed-down premodern technology.

November-December issue l 2021

“We made effective and creative use of the everyday natural resources endowed us,” he said. He added that most of the materials used in the edifice were either sourced locally or from sister African countries. “Some of the logs used for the structure came from upstream the River Volta, and so are many other materials” The World Luxury Hotel Awards is the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry offering

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THE ROYAL SENCHI HOTEL - GHANA

Ghana brand through its attractions and offerings,” he noted. According to the Head of Sales and Marketing of the Royal Senchi Hotel, Mr Emmanuel Mensah said the recognition came with the noble duty to keep meeting the expectations of customers from all walks of life.

international recognition as voted by guests, travelers and industry players alike. Over 300,000 international travelers voted during a four-week period to select the winners. Commenting on the award, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr Akwasi Agyeman commended the hotels for the achievement, saying he foresaw even greater feats in the near future. He said the Hotel had particularly been consistent in pushing the 'Ghana brand' through its unique homegrown attractions and offerings tailored for local and international guests alike. “The Royal Senchi Hotel is not only a beautiful accommodation facility but also, a business that’s promoting the

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“As a country we need to capitalise on what we are globally heralded for, which is our time-honoured hospitality,” he observed, adding “there needs to be a national effort to rapidly grow the sector at a quickened and purposeful pace” He said given the necessary fillip, the industry could become one of the best in Africa and the world, and pull with it other sectors of the economy. Mr. Mensah said as a hotel, the Royal Senchi would continue to celebrate Ghana by representing its diverse culture and tradition in the delivery of worldclass hospitality service. “In spite of the adverse effect of covid-19 on travel and tourism, a full recovery of the sector was in sight, stressing the need for active local patronage of the domestic hospitality industry,”said Mr. Gerard Schraven, General Manager of the hotel. Schraven further said that, the country’s economy would once again see the full contribution of the hospitality industry, if the sector maintained the trend of progress being experienced since the resumption of business after lockdown. The indigenous Ghanaian brand and three chainedbrand hotels in the country were selected from among a pool of world-class hotels and resorts in Africa nominated for the recognition.

November-December issue l 2021

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Africa Surveyors Nov-Dec digital issue 2021

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