ATR May 2013 Cover_Layout 1 24/04/2013 14:40 Page 1
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Europe â‚Ź10, Ghana C1.8, Kenya Ksh200, Nigeria N330, South Africa R25, UK ÂŁ7, USA $12
May2013
African Review of Business and Technology
P39
May 2013
Sustainable building practices
Volume 47 Number 23
P47
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The Big Data challenge for South African scientists P25
Managing engineering, procurement, and construction Economy:
Improving the Nigerian public sector P19
Power:
Renewable energy plant in Mauritania P33
Mining:
Power for Zambian copper mining P49
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UP FRONT
Editor’s Note
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Europe €10, Ghana C1.8, Kenya Ksh200, Nigeria N330, South Africa R25, UK £7, USA $12
May2013
P39
Sustainable building practices
T
his issue reports on Nigeria's Ekiti State government’s strategies to help improve public sector efficiency and accountability; and Zambia economic prospects for 2013. In banking and finance, this issue looks at mobile money and financial inclusion. Technological development is covered with respect to storage and data solutions, and how rugged microservers are designed to handle harsh desert conditions. This issue covers, also, printing developments, with appenticeships in South Africa's printing sector. Materials handling is addressed in guidance on buying lift trucks - on how learning the market values of a second hand unit, and judging its condition, requires a combination of knowledge and experience. There is, also, a feature on how ship-to-shore cranes deployed at the Durban Container Terminal in South Africa represent a first for African port logistics. Solar power is featured with respect to renewable energy in Mauritania, and the potential of a solar power plant in Nouakchott - and also in an article on systems that have been developed to optimise marine propulsion plant operation. In construction, there is an appraisal of sustainable building practices, an overview of the use of compressors - and an understanding of the prospects for the Ghanaian housing sector. Mining is addressed through articles on project housing - and on power solutions for Zambian operations.
P47
Managing engineering, procurement, and construction
The Big Data challenge for South African scientists P25
Economy:
Improving the Nigerian public sector P19
Power:
Renewable energy plant in Mauritania P33
Mining:
Power for Zambian copper mining P49
Main cover picture: K’Enyuka Inset, bottom left: SKA Inset, top right: Hatch
Andrew Croft, Managing Editor
Contents P25
REGULARS 04 Agenda:
14 Bulletin:
Public and private sector initiatives, around Africa
50 Solutions:
Innovations in security, and market news
Innovations to support construction and mining
FEATURES 19 Economy and Finance Improving accountability in the Nigerian public sector; budgetary considerations in Zambia; and approaches to financial inclusion in Rwanda
25 Technology Researching and prototyping data storage architectures; and private sector progress through printing apprenticeships
P43
28 Logistics Finding the right forklift truck; and cranes for South African port logistics
33 Power Utilising energy expertise in Mauritania; and automation for marine propulsion
39 Construction Sustainable building practices; applications for compressors; and prospects for the Ghanaian housing industry Audit Bureau of Circulations Business Magazines
Managing Editor: Andrew Croft andrew.croft@alaincharles.com Editorial and Design team: Bob Adams, Hiriyti Bairu, Lizzie Carroll, David Clancy, Kasturi Gupta, Ranganath GS, Prashant AP, Rhonita Patnaik, Genaro Santos, Zsa Tebbit, Nicky Valsamakis and Ben Watts Publisher: Nick Fordham Advertising Sales Director: Pallavi Pandey Advertising Sales Manager: Jane Wellman Tel: +44 114 262 1523 Fax: +44 7976 232791 Email: Jane.wellman@alaincharles.com
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47 Mining Project housing for mining operations; and power products for Zambian miners China: Ying Wang Tel: +86 10 8472 1899 Fax: +86 10 8472 1900 Email: ying.mathieson@alaincharles.com
Russia: Sergei Salov Tel: +7495 540 7564 Fax: +7495 540 7565 Email: mne@acpmos.ru
India: Tanmay Mishra Tel: +91 80 65684483 Fax: +91 80 40600791 Email: tanmay.mishra@alaincharles.com
South Africa: Annabel Marx Tel: +27 218519017 Fax: +27 46 624 5931 Email: annabel.marx@alaincharles.com
Nigeria: Bola Olowo Tel: +234 80 34349299 Email: bola.olowo@alaincharles.com Qatar: Saida Hamad Tel: +974 55745780 Email: saida.hamad@alaincharles.com
UAE: Camilla Capece Tel: +971 4 448 9260 Fax: +971 4 448 9261 Email: camilla.capece@alaincharles.com UK: Steve Thomas Tel: +44 20 7834 7676 Fax: +44 20 7973 0076 Email: stephen.thomas@alaincharles.com USA: Michael Tomashefsky Tel: +1 203 226 2882 Fax: +1 203 226 7447 Email: michael.tomashefsky@alaincharles.com
Head Office: Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 7834 7676, Fax: +44 (0)20 7973 0076 Middle East Regional Office: Alain Charles Middle East FZ-LLC, Office 215, Loft No 2/A, PO Box 502207, Dubai Media City, UAE, Tel: +971 4 448 9260, Fax: +971 4 448 9261 Production: Nathanielle Kumar, Donatella Moranelli, Nick Salt and Sophia White E-mail: production@alaincharles.com Subscriptions: circulation@alaincharles.com Chairman: Derek Fordham
Printed by: Wyndeham Grange Ltd US Mailing Agent: African Review of Business & Technology, USPS. No. 390-890 is published 11 times a year for US$140 per year by Alain Charles Publishing, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX, UK. Peridicals postage paid at Rahway, New Jersey. Postmaster: send address corrections to Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, c/o Mercury Airfreight International Ltd, 365 Blair Rd, Avenel, NJ 07001.
ISSN: 0954 6782
Serving the world of business
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NEWS
Agenda / North Satellite imagery helps fight locust plagues DMC International Imaging (DMCii) is helping The Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) to predict the spread of locust plagues across North Africa as part of a pro-active approach to tackle the destructive phenomenon using satellite imagery. Every year, North Africa is subjected to locust plagues that threaten to decimate crops and endanger countries’ food security. The satellite imagery is used to assess vegetation conditions, which helps to predict the locations of locust breeding grounds. The imagery, from the UK-DMC2 satellite, is used in conjunction with weather data to help create locust forecasts and focus the application of pesticides to prevent the spread of swarms. Last year, in a six-month summer campaign to fight the spread of locusts, DMCii acquired monthly images of regions in Southern Algeria, Northern Mali and Northern Niger for ASAL. Now, imagery is being acquired before the summer season starts, to predict as well as monitor the threat of locusts. Mr Karim Houari, International Cooperation Director of the Algerian Space Agency commented, “The use of satellite imagery has helped us in the past, during the invasion period, to identify and control areas at risk of locust swarms. This year, in terms of locust risk prediction in remission period, we used DMCii data for the ecological assessment of locust breeding areas (biotopes). It is an important contribution for the rationalisation of local response and to reduce damage of this destructive phenomenon.” Paul Stephens, Director of Sales and Marketing at DMCii, said, “The ability to get timely imagery of large areas is vital because locust swarms can develop quickly and travel about 100km a day. Our 650km wide images allow large areas of land, spanning multiple countries, to be rapidly monitored, helping the local authorities combat locust swarms before they can migrate across the continent.”
FVC distributes for Revolabs systems in MENA
R
evolabs Inc has named FVC as a distributor of the company's wireless audio systems for unified communications in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Under the agreement, FVC now offers Revolabs' plug-and-play, desktop, and wireless unified communications products to its network of partners in a wide range of MENA markets - including education, oil and gas, government and defense, finance, and healthcare. FVC maintains dedicated offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Kenya, Nigeria, and others, working through a growing network of channel partners in more than 45 countries. By partnering with Revolabs, FVC has strengthened its unified communications offerings with unmatched audio quality and wireless flexibility.
Promoting economic growth and resilience The state of nations in the Middle East and North Africa are of fundamental importance for shaping the economic, social and governance systems of the future. Home to youthful populations, energy endowments and some of the fastest-growing economies globally, the region as a whole has formidable assets to drive positive outcomes. Two years after the start of the transitions in North Africa, this promise is compounded by a clear urgency for decision-makers to deliver development and prosperity throughout the populations. The World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa - taking place in the Dead Sea, Jordan, 24-26 May 2013 along the theme of ‘Advancing Conditions for Growth and Resilience’ - convenes more
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African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
than 900 leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the Levant, North Africa and internationally. Representing government, industry, media, civil society and youth, these stakeholders will come together to advance understanding, dialogue and action on the most immediate and urgent priorities as well as long-term imperatives. * Co-chairs at the WEF event in Jordan are: Jin-Yong Cai - Executive Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC) * Ibrahim S Dabdoub - Group Chief Executive Officer, National Bank of Kuwait * Samer S Khoury - President, Engineering and Construction, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)
Mina Al Oraibi, Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Asharq Al-Awsat (Photo: World Economic Forum)
* Mohammed H Al Mady - Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) * Mina Al Oraibi - Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper * Martin Senn - Group Chief Executive Officer, Zurich Insurance Group www.africanreview.com
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NEWS
Agenda / East Burundi set to benefit from increased European funding Burundians have been praised for efforts and progress in economic, political and social governance. The European Union has increased budget support following acclamations that the country had improved its business environment and improved its macro-economic performance. Over the past five years, FDI flows to Burundi have been increasing due to the stable political and business environment and going forward, the trend is expected to continue with a 49 per cent funding of their 2012/2013 budget by donors. Burundi ranked highly in the ease of doing business scores compared to Kenya and other subSaharan countries. Doing Business measures the ease of starting a business in an economy by recording all procedures officially required or commonly done in practice by an entrepreneur to start up and formally operate an industrial or commercial business - as well as the time and cost required to complete these procedures. The ranking on the ease of starting a business is the simple average of the percentile rankings on the four component indicators: procedures, time, cost and paid-in minimum capital requirement. Going forward, StratLink - Africa, Ltd predicts a further growth in investor confidence. According to a recent report by the World Bank, Burundi's One Stop Shop requires only four steps to register a business, half the number needed on average by the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. Information on new companies is published in a journal and new companies are registered with the country’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. This efficiency in procedure and records is expected to attract more businesses into the country.
EgyptAir’s new service between Harare and Cairo EgyptAir, the flag carrier of Egypt, is committed to operating a new service between Harare and Cairo via Dar es Salaam, connecting to the entire EgyptAir wide network in the Middle East, Far East and Europe. Roshdy Zakaria, Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir, said, “With the operation of four weekly flights between Harare and Cairo starting June 2013, EgyptAir will increase its points in Africa to 19 destinations in addition to five more destinations via its code-share agreements. EgyptAir will operate its B737-800 between Harare and Cairo. The aircraft allows customers to enjoy many new innovative services. Customers flying business class, which provides 24 seats, will enjoy the personal entertainment system displayed on wide screens. The economy class consists of 120 seats, and accommodates a wider seat pitch. The airline also applies a premium piece concept with two pieces each - 23 kilos on economy and 32 kilos on business in addition to their on-board baggage of seven kilos.
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African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
EgyptAir will operate B737-800 aircraft between Harare and Cairo
Customers joining the airline’s frequent flyer programme, EgyptAir Plus, will enjoy many special benefits and services such as the priority check-in, priority boarding, upgrading class of travel against miles and free tickets against miles. In addition to this, the airline says gold card holders will have access to more than 1,000 lounges around the globe and premium services onboard 27 Star Alliance member reaching more than 1,329 destinations around the globe. Wallace Mawire
Bobcat reaches Ethiopia
D
oosan Construction Equipment has appointed My Wish Enterprise PLC, based in Addis Ababa, as the new authorised dealer in Ethiopia for Bobcat compact equipment. The appointment to represent Bobcat follows three successful years for My Wish Enterprise as the official dealer in Ethiopia for the Doosan Heavy range of equipment. Husamudin Seifu, managing director of My Wish Enterprise, said, “We are very pleased to add Bobcat equipment to our existing Doosan Heavy representation. The Doosan and Bobcat teams based in Belgium and the Czech Republic provide strong professional support. Training managers from the company were recently at our facilities in Addis Ababa to give our sales and service staff thorough and professional Sales Skills and Product training on Doosan machines. As a result, through our service people we have already secured more than 10 customers who have placed an order, encouraging me to raise the sales forecasts for 2013.” Under the new Bobcat agreement, My Wish Enterprise is now responsible for marketing in Ethiopia the complete range of Bobcat equipment, which includes skid-steer, compact tracked and all wheel steer loaders; compact excavators; telescopic handlers; utility vehicles and a comprehensive selection of attachments for these machines.
Husamudin Seifu, managing director of My Wish Enterprise
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NEWS
Agenda / South Event promotes opportunities in African energy The 2013 Power & Electricity World Africa conference and exhibition, which took place in April 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, addressed pertinent issues that affect the industry across Africa, with experts at the conference providing insights and solutions to power producers and utilities, large energy users, developers, government and investors. One of the highlights of the conference was the opening address by the Hon Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister, Department of Energy. Her speech on driving forward the African energy agenda gave an optimistic start to the conference. Further speakers of note included Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim-Kuchi, Minister of State for Power, Nigeria speaking on tapping into opportunities presented by the energy sector and Honourable Alemayehu Tegenu, Minister, Ministry of Mines and Energy discussing identifying high performance energy investments in East Africa. With three dedicated exhibition halls filled with 300 sponsors and exhibitors, the two day exhibition attracted 5,000 visitors participating in over 150+ free seminar sessions ranging from topics on power generation, renewable energy and intelligent building and lighting. In addition to the industry-led conference and array of free seminar sessions, a host of launches, prize give-aways and networking opportunities tied the event together. With Samsung’s launch of their most “energy efficient system” to date, and their give-away of three Samsung Series 7 All-In-One computers, the Sustain & Build exhibition hall drew a variety of visitors in the construction, architecture and sustainable development sector. Visitors, delegates, speakers, and sponsors gathered at the Sixth annual Africa Energy Awards ceremony held at the Sandton Sun. The awards celebrated the continued growth, success and exceptional performances of the power and energy sector in Africa within the previous year. The awards evening took place at a spectacular gala dinner filled with entertainment, dinner, drinks and networking, as leading industry players were recognised for their part in the continued growth and success of Africa’s power and energy sector.
Collaboration transforms workforce McDonald's South Africa, part of the global food service retailer, is using IBM social business software to embrace the convergence of social, mobile and cloud facilitating its expansion to new markets and enabling its employees to collaborate more effectively. McDonald's is working with IBM and its business partner, Knowledge Dimension, to transform the way its almost 200 restaurants and 8,000 employees communicate and collaborate, thereby helping the company communicate and operate more effectively. McDonald's will begin transforming into a social enterprise to help geographically dispersed employees to communicate more effectively, sharing ideas McDonald's staff member in Johannesburg, South Africa, that will allow them to deliver exceptional signing up to social networking to communicate faster (Photo: IBM) customer service.
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Extraction solutions attract attention
F
LSmidth is fielding increasing enquiries from the local South Africa mining sector for its comprehensive and innovative range of precious metal extraction solutions. Its offering in this arena was significantly enhanced in 2009, when the company acquired the business of the American firm Summit Valley, specialists in the design and fabrication of modular plants and equipment for the extraction of gold and silver. This technology includes the industry’s highest capacity electrowinning cell used in precious metals recovery. The Summit Valley speciality product range is known worldwide, having been used in 24 countries on six continents over the last 18 years. This equipment and know-how has significantly strengthened FLSmidth’s offering in precious metals processing, positioning it as the only company in Africa capable of offering a complete end-to-end gold solution, drawn from in-house technology. “Our part of the FLSmidth group specialises in individual components, but we also have world class capabilities in terms of combining these components into customer-specific integrated gold room and plant packages,” Summit Valley equipment specialist, Cameron Barton said during a recent visit to South Africa.
The ADR plant at Kisladag Mine.
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NEWS
Agenda / West Minister to open Ghanaian infrastructure event Hon Collins Dauda, Minister of Water Resources, Works & Housing, Government of Ghana, is scheduled to open the Water Africa and West Africa Building & Construction international trade exhibition, which will take place on 22-24 May 2013 in Accra. On the construction side, the exhibition will showcase machinery, tools and techniques for the housing and infrastructure construction sector. It aims to help those providing civil engineering and housing projects in West Africa to see new materials and machinery for use in construction and talk to experts on how best to use them. The water section of the show offers an opportunity for companies to put their water supply and wastewater treatment products and services before purchasers from central and local government, industry, agriculture, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other key players from the entire West Africa region. The importance of this leading trade event to the country and the region can be gauged by the support it receives. The exhibition and its accompanying seminars are endorsed and supported by: Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing; Ghana Water Company Limited; Water Resources Commission; Water Research Institute (CSIR); Community Water and Sanitation Agency; Ghana Institution of Engineers; Ghana Institute of Architects; Ghana Institution of Surveyors; and Ghana Real Estate Developers Association. To attend the seminar programme on Water and Construction industries is free of charge, which will be run in co-ordination with the relevant government ministries. Ghana’s Urban and Rural Water Challenges will be on 22 May. Infrastructure Challenges for Ghana will be on 23 May. Further information contact the event organisers on: e-mail: info@ace-events.com website: www.ace-events.com
Zero48 distributes Terex in Guinea Terex Construction is now working with international equipment services specialist Zero48, which is acting as the first Terex dealer in West Africa - through the Zero48 subsidiary company IBS Sarl. With Guinea's economy largely dependent on agriculture and mineral production, the new relationship between Zero48 and Terex Construction will be ideal to meet the demands for trucks in the mining industry and for construction machines to develop new infrastructures. Potential owners of Terex trucks will also be reassured to know that Zero48, through its subsidiary company IBS Sarl, can provide aftermarket support for the trucks when they are out in the field, in addition to numerous equipment monitoring solutions. Terex Sales Director for North West Africa, Manuel Leal, explained, “Guinea is a fastgrowing market, therefore, we are pleased to form a relationship with a company that has experience in delivering major construction initiatives in the region.”
Ghanaian firm forges ahead with Ada coastal protection works Frankipile Ghana, a division of Esorfranki Geotechnical, is progressing well on the urgent Ada Coastal Protection Works project launched by Ghana’s Ministry for Works and Housing to reduce coastal erosion along the Ada Foah coastline, protect local industries such as fishing and tourism, and prevent or retard the silting up of the river delta. Ada Foah is some 100km east of Accra near the Volta River estuary that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Conditions, constantly in flux, and exacerbated by waves reaching heights of 20 metres, were particularly challenging, with the ground profile below sea level consisting generally of sands interbedded with layers of silts and clays of varying proportions and consistency. Design and supervision of the project are being undertaken by International
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African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
Aerial view of the temporary works
Marine & Dredging Consultants (IMDC) with Dredging International (DI) acting as the main contractor. Seven rock groynes varying in length from 100 to 200 metres will be constructed perpendicular to the shoreline over a distance of approximately 4.7km west from the Volta river mouth. Frankipile Ghana is responsible for the temporary works including the main and support jetties and the cofferdams.
Garry Boyd, work director of Esorfranki Geotechnical says the company was able to draw on six decades of experience in geotechnical and marine work to design a customised and comprehensive geotechnical solution for this complex project. “It represents the biggest we have undertaken in Ghana to date. We first designed and implemented the temporary works necessary to construct the offshore rock groynes, building one main jetty for the placement of the rock material, ranging in mass from 300 kg to 10,000 kg, for the full length of each groyne. These temporary works will total approximately 2.5 linear kilometres of jetties and 1.5 linear kilometres of sheet piles with a total contract value of about €10mn [US$13mn],” Boyd said. www.africanreview.com
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NEWS
Events / 2013 June
18-19
24-26
Africa Insurance & Reinsurance
Africa Rail
Nairobi, Kenya www.aidembs.com
Johannesburg, South Africa www.terrapinn.com
East Africa's International Trade Exhibition (EAITE)
18-20
24-27
IFSEC South Africa
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania www.exhibitionsinafrica.com
Johannesburg, South Africa www.ifsecsa.com
Africa's Transport and Infrastructure Show
11-12
19-22
Connecting West Africa
plastexpo
25-26
Dakar, Senegal www.comworldseries.com
Casablanca, Morocco www.plast-expo.com
Road Trans Africa
17-18
20-24
Broadcast, Film & Music Africa
Inter Build Egypt
30 Jun-2 Jul
Nairobi, Kenya www.aitecafrica.com
Cairo, Egypt www.interbuildegypt.com
17-18
24-26
Africa’s Southern African International Trade Exhibition for retail products (SAITEX)
Africa Media & Business Exchange
Africa Ports and Harbours
Nairobi, Kenya www.aitecafrica.com
Johannesburg, South Africa www.terrapinn.com
6-8
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African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
Johannesburg, South Africa www.terrapinn.com
Johannesburg, South Africa www.terrapinn.com
Johannesburg, South Africa www.exhibitionsafrica.com
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NEWS
Bulletin / Industry A show of strong growth in private security
new ways to generate sustainable
security function and other vital building
revenues for this south-east African
systems onto a single network - one of the
Commercial security, homeland security
republic.
latest trends in major commercial
and fire exhibition IFSEC South Africa
buildings; “Developing the requirements
takes place 18-20 June 2013 in
for a security system or for facilities
Johannesburg, South Africa, attracting
management is important to meet
almost 6,000 buyers and senior decision-
business policy, drive operations, enable
makers to see more than 200 exhibitors: “It
strategy and even comply with industry
provides the perfect platform for
regulations,” he said.
exhibitors to generate high quality sales newest products and services and engage
Addressing the data centre in the cloud
with leading security professionals,” says
Roelof Louw, cloud expert at T-Systems in
Gary Corin, managing director of
South Africa, says many organisations are
organisers Specialised Exhibitions
acknowledging the benefits of migrating
Montgomery.
to the cloud and are seeing their
leads, launch and demonstrate their
competitors either considering this option
Using mobiles to verify banknotes
G4S community projects around the world benefit thousands of families, including many in Malawi
Developed by Giesecke & Devrient (G&D)
or having already made the move; within larger corporates, he notes, there are not only security and compliance barriers to
MAGnite is a security feature for
contend with, but the data centre is also a significant consideration - and corporates
between special colour pigments and
Managing security and safety, intelligently
simple magnets, such as those found in
CNL Software and e-Thele SQD Networks
existing data centre infrastructure or
the speakers of mobile phones; these
offer the IPSecurityCenter PSIM solution -
taking the hosted route, and this decision
colour pigments align along the magnetic
to address increasing security concerns
can impact the adoption of cloud services.
field lines when the banknote is placed
within the mining industry, with respect to
over a magnet and make the feature
the provision of safe working conditions
visible, so that a high-contrast change of
and the protection of valuable
Meeting on cyber threats in East Africa
the image appears on the banknote,
commodities, machinery, buildings,
The 2nd Annual East Africa IT and Cyber
allowing users to verify its authenticity
transportation and other assets remaining
Security Convention, taking place 28-29
instantly.
a high priority; James Condron, vice-
November 2013, will bring together
banknotes based on the interaction
need to make the decision on utilising
president of sales at CNL Software, said,
leading cyber and IT security experts who
Security firm makes a difference in Malawi
“IPSecurityCenter connects and manages
will provide key insights into critical
disparate security and safety intelligence
cybersecurity issues surrounding cyber
G4S corporate funding for five projects
systems such as video surveillance, zone
networks, mobile, and IT infrastructures;
around the world has been showing what
detection, structural monitoring,
cyber threats have been identified as the
can be achieved by giving back to the
ventilation systems, incident reporting,
most pressing challenges to the security
community - the security firm has a long
waste management and personnel
of organisation whether private or public
history of helping good causes, and in
systems from anywhere across the
in East Africa, but with the governments in
2007 it unveiled a programme to provide
organisation’s site or sites.”
the region launching several systematic
corporate funding for five projects around
and well-resourced strategic initiatives to
Commercial networks and security concerns
safeguard our critical infrastructure and
group’s Acacia Project in Malawi was the last of five programmes to receive G4S
General manager at Johnson Controls
Nairobi, Kenya, in November, is - how
corporate funding - children were key
Systems and Service Africa, Neil Cameron
should organisations respond?
players in the project, aimed at finding
spoke recently of the convergence of the
the world for a five-year period; the
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African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
systems, the question to be addressed in
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NEWS
Bulletin / Markets Private equity market in Africa attracts investors A rise in Africa's consumer class and potential returns of double what investors are hoping for has made Africa’s private equity market an attractive place for investment, according to the report, 'Structured Finance Conditions for infrastructure project bonds in African
A recent meeting held at The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business discussed the prospect of success in Africa
markets', released by financial advisory firm Ernst & Young and African Venture Capital Association, which indicates that private equity activity is moving away from the South African market, with West Africa making up 25 per cent of private equity: “We are extremely optimistic about prospects for success in this region,” said David Marchick, managing director of the Carlyle Group at a briefing held with the African Development Bank and the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business.
Slowing emerging market hits Nestlé Swiss group Nestlé experienced a drop in revenues for the third consecutive quarter, with a key factor of the slowdown being Nestlé’s Asia-Oceania-Africa zone, which rose by 6.1 per cent, half the rate recorded a year earlier, as distributors in Asia slashed orders because of a Lunar New Year and distributors used up stock and held back on new products; Nestlé insisted that it predicts its sales growth in Africa to rise despite concerns among analysts over its performance in some emerging markets.
Tanzania faces mine closures Tanzania, Africa’s fourth-largest gold-producer, is suffering a continued slump in gold prices which may cause the closure of mines in the country, according to a senior official in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, who added that the gold slump has cost the world’s two largest producers, Barrick Gold Corp and Newmont Mining Corp, US$169bn in market value since bullion hit new highs in 2011. Gold producers turned their back on global stocks, which rebounded in the past two years, and shareholders have that have opted to exchange traded funds that track bullion, face closing mines or closing themselves down - “Any company that hasn’t been focused on efficiencies and costs for the last three to four years is going to fail in this market,” said Gavin Thomas, CEO of Sydney-based gold miner Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd.
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African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
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NEWS
Bulletin / IT Technology revolutionises Kenyan TB management
Côte d'Ivoire top of SAP expansion agenda
South Korea invests in Rwandan IT industry
Through a computer and mobile phone
Software corporation SAP has announced its
The Korea International Cooperation
based program called TIBU, health facilities in
commitment to Côte d'Ivoire as part of its
Agency (KOICA), which is run by the South
Kenya are now able to request tuberculosis
Africa growth strategy. SAP will implement
Korean government, has committed to
drugs in real time and manage patient data
skills development and employability
provide the Rwandan IT ministry with a
more effectively, according to UN news
training in the country as part of its African
US$5.6mn ICT Innovation Centre upgrade.
agency IRIN. The Kenyan government is also
expansion plan. The company, in
Construction of the centre, which will be
using the technology to support multi-drug-
partnership with the Côte d'Ivoire
set up at the Integrated Polytechnic
resistant tuberculosis patients living far from
government and other stakeholders, will be
Regional Center (IPRC) Kigali Campus, will
medical facilities, sending money to patients
supporting the country’s 2020 objective to
reportedly commence in 2014 and will be
via the Mpesa mobile money transfer system
implement transformational e-government
completed within 30 months. Sangchul
to cover transport costs. Kenya is currently
services across the country. The country,
Kim, resident representative of KOICA
ranked as fifteenth out of 22 on the UN World
which was one of the first in sub-Saharan
Rwanda, said the project will aid job
Health Organization’s list of countries with
Africa to gain full Internet access and mobile
creation in IT, human resource
the highest tuberculosis burden in the world
telephony, currently has an 80 per cent
development and capacity building as well
and it has the fifth-highest tuberculosis
Internet penetration rate and a subscriber
as contribute towards the country’s Vision
burden in Africa.
base of 18mn, SAP said.
2020.
www.africanreview.com
African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
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Nigeria
ECONOMY
Improving institutional engagement Nigeria's Ekiti State Government is set to implement strategies that will help improve public sector efficiency and accountability
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team of IBM specialists completing a month-long consulting assignment has presented recommendations to Nigeria's Ekiti State Government (EKSG) for strategies that will help improve efficiency and engagement with citizens. The team also completed projects and plans that will help improve productivity at the state's university. The 15-person IBM team, the members of which came from across 10 countries, is the sixth group since 2009 to provide assistance to Nigeria as part of IBM's Corporate Service Corps. The Corp provides problem-solving support to educational institutions, small businesses, non-governmental organisations and governmental agencies in emerging markets. Transparency and accountability Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State governor, thanked IBM team members at a ceremony marking the project's completion. “Our partnership with IBM will be a crucial performance enabler and game changer for Ekiti State, as effective application of information and communication technology will certainly help our state build a more accountable system. “The collective vision of my administration for Ekiti State is to create a society that everyone will be proud of. We must eradicate poverty and develop the human capital for which we are known,” said Dr Fayemi. Working with the state's Bureau of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, the IBM team suggested the establishment of an intergovernmental paperless system for official documents, making it easier to share information and collaborate internally. Externally, the team developed a blueprint for a system to make it easier for citizens to obtain information. Transparency and accountability were the key themes underpinning these projects. Promoting effective technology IBM also reviewed the computing technology assets of the Ekiti State Ministry of Education and the state-owned university, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, where the IBM team worked on databases and websites that will make promotional, student and administrative information more readily accessible. The work by the IBM team will make it easier for the state to work with non-governmental organisations such as the New Initiative for Sustainable Development, which promotes the effective use of technology in the academic, commercial and public sectors. Taiwo Otiti, IBM’s country general manager for West Africa, said, www.africanreview.com
IBM’s intention is to assist the people and government of Ekiti State to lay a solid foundation for future growth and enhance its human development programmes and initiatives” Taiwo Otiti, country general manager for West Africa, IBM.
“Technology combined with sound management strategies has the power to unlock underdevelopment and help boost economic activities. “IBM’s intention is to assist the people and government of Ekiti State to lay a solid foundation for future growth and enhance its human development programmes and initiatives.” ‘Putting People First’ Ekiti is one of Nigeria’s 36 states. Nearly two-thirds of its 2.5mn population is involved in agriculture, producing a variety of cash and food crops, including timber, cocoa, coffee, citrus fruits and vegetables. ‘Putting People First’ is the theme of the EKSG’s 20102014 fiscal blueprint, which aims to ensure that efficient management of the state’s natural and human resources yields social and economic dividends. Previous IBM Corporate Service Corps teams in Calabar, Cross River State and Abuja have worked on government projects for education, healthcare, finance, poverty eradication, forestry research and electric power policy. IBM's Corporate Service Corps provides access to sophisticated expertise to help improve local conditions, enhance government services and foster job creation. Team members, who are among IBM’s top talent, offer skills in areas that include information technology, research, marketing, finance, consulting, human resources and law. Africa is a significant focus for the IBM initiative. Since 2008, the Corps has deployed more than 500 IBM employees on 50 teams to South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and Egypt. Worldwide, more than 2,000 IBM workers from 50 countries have participated in Corporate Service Corps, completing more than 700 assignments in 30 countries. ■ African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
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ECONOMY
Zambia
Forecasting strength in key sectors Zambia’s economic prospects for 2013 look bright - but the nation's government must beware over-expenditure in its civil service if it is to finance planned programmes
Z
ambia’s economic prospects for 2013 look bright but the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that a surge in civil service wages beyond what is enshrined in the budget would derail the government’s ability to finance the planned programmes. The Bretton Woods institution projects the country’s inflation will be at six per cent under the current monetary policy framework. IMF chief of mission, John Wakemann-Linn, said the Zambian economy performed well last year. He was speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka recently following the conclusion of a review of Zambia’s 2012 economic developments and prospects. The IMF staff mission, which visited Lusaka between October and November 2012, had fruitful discussions with the Minister of Finance, Alexander Chikwanda, Bank of Zambia (BoZ) Governor, Michael Gondwe, and other senior government officials and representatives from the private sector. Wakemann-Linn said that the mission supported the aggregate targets in the 2013 budget. Fiscal deficit “Given spending and projected tax revenues and grants, the fiscal deficit is likely to be close to four per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), in part due to one-time capital expenditures financed from the recent Eurobond,” he said. It is imperative that civil service wages are kept in line with budget provisions. There are near-term downside risks for the Zambian economy, arising from uncertainty in the global economy. Whereas the Zambian economy has performed favourably, further deterioration in the global economic conditions could squeeze trade credit lines, reduce demand for Zambian exports and lower copper prices. The Zambian authorities should prepare contingency plans, in the event that one or more of these pessimistic scenarios materialise.
Although the aggregate budget for 2012 figures was encouraging, there are some expenditure areas that indicate challenges, such as expenditure on maize purchases. “While recorded expenditure on maize purchases were as budgeted (US$57.7mn), roughly US$269mn was needed to pay for the purchase of the 2012 maize harvest. To finance these purchases, it was necessary for Government to guarantee commercial banks’ loans to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) at over US$173mn,” WakemannLinn elaborated. Inflation in check The IMF also welcomed the introduction of the policy rate by the central bank as a step towards modernising the implementation of the monetary policy in Zambia. BoZ was commended further for keeping inflation in check. At the same event, secretary to the treasurer, Fredson Yamba, said it was the government’s intention to continue engaging the IMF and other stake holders in the country’s economic development process. The Zambian government had worthwhile discussions with the IMF on the overall performance of the economy, budget performance, external sector and structural reforms that are being undertaken. The real GDP growth for 2012 was projected at over seven per cent, a positive outcome in light of the current global financial backdrop. “In terms of medium term, both the government and the IMF are confident that prospects remain positive,” said Yamba. “We are confident that growth in 2013 and beyond will be close to eight per cent per annum, while other macroeconomic fundamentals such as inflation and the budget deficit will continue to remain within manageable and sustainable limits, on condition that the global economic environment does not deteriorate further.” ■
Zambia increases financial scrutiny on mining companies
N
ew amendments to the Banking of Zambia Act will mean that mining companies in the country will be legally required to deposit all of their earnings from mineral exports into Zambian commercial banks. Companies will then be allowed to transfer the money offshore. The measure has been designed by the Zambian government to give an overview of the earnings of mining companies which it can then
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Zambia is Africa’s top copper producer (Source: Didier Descouens)
use to calculate taxes or create new tax legislation. The amendments to the act have already been agreed by President Michael Sata. The government is also giving powers to its central bank to examine the financial transactions of foreign-owned mining companies so that potential losses to the state can be monitored. Zambia is Africa’s top copper producer.
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FINANCE
Mobile Money
Managing money with the mobile channel Institutions such as Visa are enabling initiatives that enable understanding of financial inclusion, of how to connect cash to communities
F
or five decades Visa has aspired to extend financial communities the full range of services available to them, securely, reliably and conveniently. But Visa has been acutely aware that much of the world is without access to financial services. Technology makes access possible, and visa is leveraging technology, and its association with governments, to deliver business models that make financial inclusion possible. The key is to make financial inclusion profitable for all involved in the financial ecosystem. In this regard, Rwanda offers an exemplary business model - encompassing private and public sector development that has truly transformed the lives and businesses of individuals, communities, enterprises and authorities. An aspect of this framework, crucial to success as a payment scheme, is interoperable branchless banking. Visa saw the opportunity to make this possible using the mobile channel. Making it happen, with a service that is intuitive and secure From a operator perspective, the network model is another key. Visa's acquisition of Fundamo in 2011 gave it a mobile wallet, a transformative tool, that works beyond the mobile operator service, enabling variable cost schemes for operators. It is the basis for closed loop operators to overlay a virtual Visa account, to conduct commerce, to engage with banks, using Visa Mobile Prepaid. What matters here is that customer relationship with the bank, which can lead to more than financial inclusion. It is early days - there have been 120 launches to date, with 120 launches planned at this point - but what matters here is that establishment of a network that is reliable, that can be trusted and be seen to be trusted, that is price sensitive, that is intuitive to use and adapt to.
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What matters, also, is that customer relationship with the mobile network operator. Visa has to bring to the table an environment that is so secure, seamless and simple that end-users can act without consciously having to acknowledge any distinction between communications firm and financial institution. Shaping the regulatory landscape It should not be forgotten that governments are the gateways to success. In this sense, Visa is leading negotiations with and helping to shape the regulatory and legislative
The key is to make financial inclusion profitable for all involved; Rwanda offers an exemplary business model - encompassing private and public sector development”
frameworks for, successful financial environments that bring services to customers. Trying to persuade regulators to construct facilitating environments can be challenging, and this is not forgotten by any stakeholder invested in financial inclusion be they the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Oxfam, Orange, Airtel, or indeed Visa. There can be resistance, within countries with relatively immature legislative frameworks, as with external financiers who work within traditional financing systems - but Visa is prioritising paradigm change in this regard. Visa holds that change in, perhaps, a dozen key markets will deliver the tipping point needed for true change to occur. Do not forget, also, that the financial and communications stakeholders understand a core principle - 'cooperate to compete'. Collaboration works to serve commercial development, and socio-economic development. Banks and operators, in their respective industries, already understand the value of cooperation, of collaboration, of consensus, on standards, technologies, models and modes of delivery. ■
Visa Study reveals opportunity to increase awareness of mobile money in Nigeria
V
isa Inc. and global mobile financial services solutions provider, Fundamo have revealed the results of the Visa Mobile Money Study for Nigeria. The Visa study has revealed that only 35 per cent of participants are aware of mobile money compared to an average of 56 per cent across all six of the emerging markets reviewed. The study drew attention to the fact customers’ needs for financial services go well beyond the established transaction set offered by mobile money services today. The Visa survey also points out that the success of mobile financial services is established by how deeply a mobile money provider understands its customers and adapts the service to the needs of consumers and mobile money agents. Other highlights include mobile money receiving the highest ‘liking’ score across countries surveyed. Nigeria has nearly 110mn mobile subscribers with only 56mn of the population being bank account holders. www.africanreview.com
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EQUIPMENT
Finance Project development finance facility launched
T
he Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) recently signed an historic partnership today with the Dutch development bank, FMO – (Nederlandse FinancieringsMaatschappij voor Ontwikkelings Landen N.V), activating a US$15mn project development facility for power, transportation, oil and gas infrastructure, agribusiness and social infrastructure projects in sub-Sahara Africa. AFC aims to support development of infrastructure while seeking a competitive return on capital for its shareholders. Since it began operations in 2007, AFC has created the building blocks with which to achieve this objective. It has raised US$1.1bn in fully paidin equity capital. Its shareholding base is private sector majority owned (57.5 per cent). AFC is driven by a diverse team of experienced professionals from investment banking, engineering and other backgrounds.
L-R: (Standing) Jurgen Rigterink, chief investment officer, FMO; Andrew Alli, president & CEO Africa Finance Corporation; (Seated) Oliver Andrews, director & chief coverage officer at Africa Finance Corporation
Reporting on African project bonds A report published by the African Development Bank explores how structured finance techniques can mobilise African domestic capital to support economic infrastructure projects and economic growth. The report, ‘Structured Finance – Conditions for infrastructure project bonds in African markets’, was launched by AfDB Vice President Finance Charles Boamah in Washington, DC, in the USA, on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. During the launching ceremony, African Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors discussed how African markets could mobilise capital for infrastructure projects, especially through African capital markets. They will also discuss how policy-makers and development institutions can help the process. The new AfDB report highlights the opportunity for project bonds, while outlining the conditions for efficient capital markets. In that regard, the report explains the crucial role of constructive government policies and draws the lessons from other markets that might be useful for Africa. Financial resources The release of this new report comes at a very opportune time. African countries have been growing at rates in excess of five per cent. Indeed, seven out of the 10 fastestgrowing countries in the last few years are in Africa. This has created a growing middle class and a flourishing financial sector. Savings are accumulating with institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies. Africa has the financial resources to play a significant role in building African infrastructure, especially since domestic capital markets are growing in several countries. Domestic government bond markets are well established and becoming increasingly sophisticated. In many markets, non-government issuers are actively raising funds. An opportunity for further innovation exists and would be welcomed by the market. Several African countries today have given priority to the issuance of ‘infrastructure bonds’. Many countries have been attracted by the example of Kenya, which has launched infrastructure bonds both from the central government and from state-owned enterprises such as KenGen. The government of Kenya has led the way by introducing certain tax advantages for investors buying such bonds. This has helped to build interest in the institutional sector.
Sanlam positions to expand financial services portfolio Banlam Emerging Markets (SEM), a division within the Sanlam Group tasked with international expansion, says it is well on track to deliver on its mandate of supporting the Sanlam Group objective of improving its financial services profile in selected emerging markets. This is in line with the Sanlam Group strategy, which defines emerging markets as one of the key areas to be exploited for potential growth in the business. Sanlam Group chief executive Dr Johan van Zyl said, “In 2011 Sanlam’s international business contributed around 15 per cent of
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operating profit (pre-minorities). Our view is that this contribution can be doubled over the next five years as these markets are seen as key growth engines. Considerable work continues to be done to identify core markets for expansion.” SEM CEO Mr Heinie Werth says the company is pleased with the progress made by the business cluster responsible for Sanlam’s expansion in emerging markets outside South Africa. Currently, SEM is doing business in 12 countries in Africa. Says Werth, “We are making steady progress towards our
objectives and we are satisfied that the cluster is well positioned to increase its contribution to the Group over the next five years as the markets we operate in are seen as key growth engines.” Werth says also that strong local partnerships play an important role in the company’s performance. “We rely on strong local partners and management to drive business growth within each country and this has been mutually beneficial in India and in our operations in Africa.” www.africanreview.com
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Storage TECHNOLOGY
How microservers handle harsh conditions Researching and prototyping microserver architectures based on liquidcooled 3D stacked chips in South Africa
S
quare Kilometer Array (SKA) South Africa, a business unit of the country’s National Research Foundation, is joining ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, and IBM in a four-year collaboration to research extremely fast but low-power exascale computer systems. The collaboration will be aimed at developing advanced technologies for handling the huge amount of data that will be produced by the SKA, an international effort to build the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope, which is to be located in Southern Africa and Australia to help better understand the history of the universe. The project constitutes the ultimate Big Data challenge and scientists must produce major advances in computing to deal with it. The impact of those advances will be felt far beyond the SKA project, helping to usher in a new era of computing, which IBM calls the era of cognitive systems. When the SKA is completed, it will collect Big Data from deep space containing information dating back to the Big Bang more than 13bn years ago. The aperture arrays and dishes of the SKA will produce 10 times the global internet traffic, but the power to process all of this data as it is collected far exceeds the capabilities of the current stateof-the-art technology.
A foundation for innovation As part of the global effort to solve this challenge, ASTRON and IBM launched the DOME public-private partnership last year to develop a fundamental IT roadmap for the SKA. The collaboration includes a user platform where organisations from around the world can jointly investigate emerging technologies in high-performance, energyefficient computing, nanophotonics and data streaming. Through its SKA South Africa unit, the National Research Foundation is now a user platform partner in DOME. Simon Ratcliffe, technical co-ordinator for DOME South Africa said, "The DOME collaboration brings together a dream team of scientists and engineers in an exciting partnership of public and private institutions. This project lays the foundation to help the scientific community solve other data challenges such as climate change, genetic information and personal medical data.” Scientists from all three organisations will collaborate remotely and at the newly established ASTRON & IBM Center for Exascale Technology in Drenthe, the Netherlands. More specifically, scientists from SKA South Africa will focus on the following research themes: ● Visualising the challenge - fundamental research will be conducted into signal processing and advanced computing algorithms for the capture, processing, and analysis of the SKA data so clear images can be produced for astronomers to study. www.africanreview.com
An artistic impression of the MeerKAT array
Desert-proof technology - the DOME team is researching and prototyping microserver architectures based on liquid-cooled 3D stacked chips. The team in South Africa will extend this research to make the microservers rugged or ‘desert-proof’ to handle the extreme environmental conditions where the SKA will be located. ● Software analytics -- the 64 dishes of the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa will be used for the testing and development of a software program that will aid in the design of the entire computing system holistically and optimally - taking into account all of the cost and performance trade-offs for the eventual 3,000 SKA dishes. “The DOME research has implications far beyond astronomy. These scientific advances will help build the foundation for a new era of computing, providing technologies that learn and reason. Ultimately, these cognitive technologies will help to transform entire industries, including healthcare and finance,” said Dr Ton Engbersen, DOME project leader at IBM Research. “For example, we are designing a system for storing information that learns from its interactions with the data and parcels it out in real time to the storage medium that’s most appropriate for each bit, which can also be applied to medical images.” Dr Albert-Jan Boonstra, DOME project leader at ASTRON said, "DOME is not only innovating in the laboratory, but our user platform is setting a new standard in open collaboration. In addition to SKA South Africa, four additional organisations are expected to join in the coming weeks, including universities and small- and medium-sized businesses located in the Netherlands." The initial five-year DOME collaboration is being financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (EL&I) and the Province of Drenthe. ■ ●
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TECHNOLOGY Printers
Developing private sector printing skills How future leaders in the printing industry benefit from management and leadership development as well as technical and non-technical training
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ccording to the South African government’s National Development Plan (NDP), which aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030, the country can realise its developmental goals by, amongst other things, drawing on the energies of its people; building capabilities; and promoting leadership and partnerships throughout society. The NDP states that improving the quality of education, skills, development and innovation will play an important role in realising this goal and that business, labour, communities and government will need to work together to achieve faster economic growth. These are ideals supported by Paarl Media, a leading South African company in print and technology processes, through its bolstered and recently re-accredited Academy of Print training programme. The company seeks to harness the country’s future leaders of the printing industry through its academy which offers management and leadership development as well as technical and non-technical training. “South Africa has unique challenges in terms of growing an inclusive economy and becoming globally competitive,” said Nico Grobbelaar, Executive Director Human Resources of the Paarl Media Group. “To overcome these challenges, crucial skills transfer and developing highly skilled employees should be a high priority across every sector.” Grobbelaar said that the Paarl Media Academy of Print is based on in-house training programmes developed to ensure that highly skilled workers are produced. These programmes offer occupational, technical, functional, compliance driven, soft skills, leadership and management courses. “We believe that a career in printing is so much more than putting ink on paper. It’s about combining professionally trained individuals with the most advanced technology to bring books, magazines, marketing material, newspapers and labels to life. This is a belief that brought the academy to life in 2011,” said Grobbelaar. Only two years since its launch, the academy has received accreditation from the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA and of the City and Guilds of London Institute. Future leaders “As one of the leaders in the printing industry, the company has put its money where its mouth is in its commitment to developing future leaders,” said Grobbelaar. “Substantial investment has gone into research and the development of focused theoretical and practical training programmes as well as training materials required for the programme.”
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Paarl Media Academy of Print apprentices
The company is calling on young bright minds who would like a promising career in the printing industry to enrol for the programme. Prospective students are assessed against a test battery which includes elements of verbal comprehension, numerical computation, visual estimation, technical understanding, mechanical comprehension, fault diagnosis and spatial recognition. “The standards and criteria for joining and staying on the programme are quite high but we encourage candidates with a pass in Grade 12 mathematical literacy or an equivalent qualification, good communication skills in English, to apply,” explained Grobbelaar. Since its establishment and formal opening in March 2011, a total of 65 apprentices have been indentured in the various trades. These trades are all classified as critical and scarce skills occupations within the printing industry. The Paarl Media Academy recently finalised the recruitment of its 2013 intake, with 42 apprentices officially starting their training on 2 April 2013. “Upon completion of the programme, students will receive a FP&M SETA certificate as well as a City and Guilds of London Institute certificate which is an international certification,” said Grobbelaar. “Furthermore they will also receive a Paarl Media Academy certificate carrying both marks of accreditation. Successful candidates are also enabled to apply for the positions that they have qualified for within the company.” ■ www.africanreview.com
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LOGISTICS
Lift Trucks
Finding a forklift at the right price A large quantity of forklifts in South Africa means a competitive market in the case of second-hand forklifts too
Learning the market values of a second hand unit, including judging its condition, requires a combination of knowledge and experience
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rices for forklifts, in the case of new equipment, can easily be established through the distributors of such equipment as can the prices for refurbished units. In the case of second hand equipment establishing any fair and equitable price is not a simple matter and is probably the function of experience in the trade, more than anything else. There is a sound competition in forklifts in South Africa for new units, so prices are influenced by the local market to be reasonable and the only variation on prices (other than periodic price increases) will be the R/$ relationship, which could influence the price of imports from time to time. Because of a high population of forklifts in South Africa, there equally should be a competitive market in the case of secondhand forklifts. The problem however lies in the establishment of a base price to use in the comparison of prices for forklifts in the second hand market. Unlike cars that have records of date of manufacture, a maintenance history, a record of kilometres done and a market driven by supply and demand, the same does not necessarily apply to forklifts and certainly not to manual forklifts. The second hand prices for forklifts, therefore, seem to be a bit problematic and not easily verifiable. The only real indicator of value would be any record of workload, i.e. hours in operation, rather like aircraft, that will provide a reliable guide of its
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probable condition. Another factor to use would be to determine the written down cost of the machine by depreciating the original value of the truck by the amount allowable by SARS and then to allow some additional value according to market conditions. Real market experience on the other hand would probably be more accurate in the establishing of prices of forklifts in the secondhand market. It would appear to be a little risky when buying a second hand unit from the market, and not through a dealer, unless you really know the market and related values. The real risk, however, of a second-hand unit, seems to lie in the condition of a forklift, particularly when it is a mechanised unit. Where to find a manual forklift for sale Finding a manual forklift for sale is not too difficult. You should, however, first consider your requirements for such a machine. Is it to be used as a height stacker and if so at what height or are you simply looking for a pallet truck to move pallets about? If you are looking to buy a new forklift the obvious places to look would be the major distributors of such equipment, to be found on the Internet or the yellow pages or possibly in advertisements contained in trade journals. Should you wish to purchase a second hand manual forklift for sale, you could in the first instance contact the major distributors or else contact second hand
dealers, look in the newspapers or even in trade journals for advertisements. There ought to be many out there for sale for some reason or another and finding one in good condition and complying with your specifications should not take too long in the industrialised areas of South Africa. There are not too many things that can go wrong with a manual forklift for sale, the most notable would be the wheel bearings may need to be replaced or the hydraulic system to be overhauled. The other obvious part that may be damaged would be the fork, which is easily replaced. You, however, will also find overhauled units available that may carry some form of guarantee, particularly looking for such a unit at the main distributors or dealers. Manual forklifts are hard working machines and often abused by their operators so it would be in your interest to exercise care in where you buy such a unit and if available, find out what its history of use is. Again, if you are to rely on sound performance of the forklift in your business, it may well be in your interest to buy or possibly rent an overhauled unit from a distributor, with the added advantage of a possible guarantee on the machine. While it is always important to preserve working capital in business and not unnecessarily embark on capital expenditure, it nonetheless is important to buy quality rather than buy cheaply and regretting it later. â– www.africanreview.com
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LOGISTICS
Cranes
Tandem lifting for Durban terminal Transnet Port Terminals has taken delivery of three new ZPMC tandem lift ship-to-shore cranes for the Durban Container Terminal.
How ship-to-shore cranes, for the Durban Container Terminal in South Africa, represent a first for African port logistics
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outh African port operator Transnet Port Terminals set a precedent in Africa when it took possession of three new tandem lift ship-to-shore cranes for the Durban Container Terminal that are the first of their kind on the continent. The equipment - purchased from Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co (ZPMC) in Shanghai, China - will revive the Durban terminal and result in improved efficiencies and reduced service times. Transnet Port Terminals acting chief executive Pru Archary said, "We celebrate a milestone with the delivery of three mega cranes, the largest of their kind deployed at any container terminal in the southern hemisphere. "This acquisition will make Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 the first terminal in Africa to operate tandem lift ship-to-shore cranes, which reaffirms our commitment to delivering world-class port services in Africa," Archary added. The cranes form part of a fleet of seven meant to boost equipment at the country's flagship terminal; the remaining four arrived in early 2013. A Transnet Port Terminals team headed by general manager for capital projects Logan Naidoo has been working on the design standards of the cranes for the past 15 months. Improving port longevity "These cranes have been designed to take us into the next 20 years of the port's longevity and are capable of servicing the latest-generation container vessels with a span of 24 containers across the deck," Naidoo said. They will also be able to service the next generation of ‘megamax’
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vessels that will dock at the terminal's North Quay once it is deepened, which is scheduled for the near future. "These cranes will ensure that the Durban Container Terminal is taken as a serious player in the global shipping fraternity and its arrival is a milestone in the delivery of Transnet's market demand strategy," Transnet Port Terminals said. Naidoo added, "Transnet Port Terminals has US$3.6bn worth of capital projects planned over the next seven years, with a key focus on upgrading infrastructure at various terminals and replacing aged equipment. "The investment in the tandem lift ship-to-shore cranes, valued at US$76mn, was prioritised as one of Transnet Port Terminals' top 10 capital projects under the market demand strategy." Job creation In addition to improving efficiency and productivity at the terminal, the acquisition will allow for job creation and opportunities for local engineering companies and graduates. "In line with Transnet's tender policy, the recipient of every tender is required to produce a competitive supplier development plan (CSDP)," the company said. As such, ZPMC has selected local port equipment spares and maintenance company, Elgin Marine Services, as its CSDP partner. "Elgin Marine Services has employed and will mentor and develop 11 young newly graduated engineers from previously disadvantaged communities to whom skills will be transferred," Transnet Port Terminals said. ■ www.africanreview.com
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EQUIPMENT
Logistics Camrail’s new locomotives
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he Camrail company, designated concessionaire for the Cameroon railway network and subsidiary of Bolloré Africa Logistics, recently placed into service six new CC 2500 locomotives - acquired by the Bolloré Group after rolling off the assembly line at the National Railway Equipment Company (NREC), a locomotive manufacturer based in Chicago in the USA, featuring a 2,500-horsepower engine and serving to increase the company's hauling capacity. Camrail operates a 20-year concession for the Cameroon National Railway, and owns the rolling stock used, with the government of Cameroon maintaining ownership of the track. Camrail is seeking to accelerate the modernisation of Cameroon's rail transport network for both passengers and freight nationwide and within the local region. These recent acquisitions have been made as part of the commitments adopted by Bolloré Africa Logistics under the terms of amendment 2 of the Concession Agreement, signed in November 2008 between the Cameroon government and Camrail. This amendment outlines a capital investment programme totalling some 230bn Central African francs (US$460mn), 158bn (US$314mn) of which are to be undertaken by the concessionaire over a period extending until 2030. Already three years ago, Camrail had purchased two new CC 3300 locomotives and invested, among other things, in modernising both the Yaoundé and N'Gaoundéré train stations. Moreover, some 40 passenger cars are expected to be added to the company's rolling stock by June 2013. Another 15 passenger cars, along with 50 platform cars and 25 tanker cars, have been ordered.
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Best practice meets local expertise at logistics firm In a recent study conducted by the World Bank on international logistics competitiveness, South Africa was ranked 24th out of 150 countries, the best-ranked developing country, even beating China (placed 30th). In spite of lower rankings (124th) on domestic logistics costs, South Africa is rapidly moving up the rankings as a key node in the international freight network. In 2012 international logistics firm Dachser Logistics expanded its intercontinental network through acquiring local operator Jonen Freight, which boasts 30 years of experience in the local market. Now, with offices in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town and a comprehensive international network, Dachser South Africa brings both local expertise and global coverage
to address logistics needs. As well as air and sea freight services, the logistics provider offers its customers a wide range of supplementary services such as customs clearance, warehousing and distribution. “Since the acquisition, our Dachser South Africa office has been implementing international best practice,” says Deltev Duve, Managing Director of Dachser South Africa. “For decades, Dachser has been demonstrating that an outstanding workforce and innovative technologies are crucial for optimising the flow of goods. We’ve applied this technology and training in our local processes with excellent results.” www.dachser.com
Konecranes’ solution for materials management in manufacturing A new service innovation by Konecranes makes it possible to raise efficiency in materials management in manufacturing. Konecranes Group’s Agilon is a patented materials management solution for managing, storing, picking and replenishing components with a maximum size of 60x40x45cm and weighing up to 25kg. The new product was presented at the Logistics trade fair in Tampere, Finland in April 2013. The Agilon materials management solution consists of a net portal, a shelving system and a robot that travels within the shelving, picks the parts listed in the picking request made by the operator, and brings them straight to the service point. A clear user interface shows the availability of parts and displays a picture of the part needed. The solution can be used for storing hundreds or even thousands of different components and it allows real time information on the components to be shared via the portal with various parties in the supply chain. The product is easy and safe to use and it frees up floor space in a production plant. Improving productivity is one of the key factors for success in international competition. The Agilon materials management solution offered by Konecranes makes it possible in production to reduce the amount of working time spent in looking for goods, counting parts and making purchasing orders. When parts are needed in production, Agilon brings them to the work station safely, conveniently and quickly. If required, Agilon is able to send refill orders straight to the supplier. The new Agilon service expands Konecranes’ service offering for materials management in manufacturing. The product is sold under a service contract that includes the modular, upgradable Agilon system, software and updates, maintenance and spare parts. www.konecranes.com www.africanreview.com
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Solar Power
POWER
Masdar brings energy expertise to Mauritania The potential of a 15 MW solar power plant in Nouakchott, which is set to deliver 10 per cent of electricity capacity in Mauritania
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asdar has been developing a 15 MW solar power project in Nouakchott, Mauritania capital, to deliver 10 per cent of the country’s electricity capacity. Masdar is a renewable energy company based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which has large and small-scale power projects around the world. The project is the first utility-scale solar power installation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. “Mauritania has some of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, making it an ideal place for solar power installations,” said Mauritania’s Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines, H.E. Taleb Ould Abdivall. “We are pleased to be working with such esteemed partners on this important project and remain committed to harnessing our abundant renewable energy resources. Masdar has gained tremendous experience in the renewable energy sector through its projects worldwide and we look forward to future opportunities for cooperation.” Mauritania has an installed grid capacity of just 144 MW, supplied mostly by diesel generators, but the country has significant untapped renewable energy potential in the form of both solar and wind. In fact, the country’s wind energy potential is almost four times its annual energy demand.
energy efficiency and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The Nouakchott solar power plant will be owned and operated by Société Mauritanienne de l’Électricité (SOMELEC), the government-owned electric utility in Mauritania. “We’ve entrusted Masdar to represent us in this important project and are extremely pleased with the professionalism and speed of the process thus far,” said Moahmed Salem Ould Bechir, general director of SOMELEC. Of Masdar, CEO Dr Al Jaber said, “Over the last several decades, the UAE has gained tremendous experience as an energy leader in the hydrocarbon industry. Through Masdar’s global clean energy projects, this leadership position is being further strengthened as we now export renewable energy.” ■
Low electrification rate The 15 MW solar photovoltaic project provides for the annual demand growth in the country, estimated to be at a rate of 12 per cent in 2012. It will also supply much needed power to Mauritania, which currently faces severe energy shortages. The country has a relatively low electrification rate of 60 per cent. The Masdar solar power project is next to the university in Nouakchott, and will serve as a learning laboratory for solar energy development in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. “This project also proves that energy access and commercially viable renewable energy can go hand-in-hand,” said Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chief executive officer of Masdar. “Partnerships are at the core of Masdar’s business strategy and projects like this one underscore the critical role collaboration plays in renewable energy development. “With the demand for energy rapidly increasing – especially in the developing world – tapping into renewable energy is critical. The integration of wind, solar and hydro power helps to reduce the strain on our natural resources and serves as a bridge to energy security and economic development opportunities. Investing in renewable energy preserves natural resources, contributes to energy security and water security, and fosters sustainable development.” Along with renewable energy projects in Tonga and Afghanistan, the Mauritania project is part of Masdar’s commitment to the United Nations’ ‘Year of Sustainable Energy for All’ – a global initiative announced by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, which aims to ensure universal access to modern energy services, double the global rate of improvement in www.africanreview.com
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POWER
Condition Monitoring
The key to ship automation The sophisticated systems that have been developed to optimise marine propulsion plant operation
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n its drive to be a total systems supplier to the maritime industry, Wärtsilä is looking far beyond its core propulsionrelated product portfolio. Modern ships have many systems – in addition to those controlling the machinery there are cargo systems, communication systems, voyage planning and navigation – the list goes on. At the same time, this complexity of ship systems is countered by desires to cut costs and reduce manning levels, without compromising efficiency or safety. All of these pointers lead to one thing – a higher level of automation across all ship systems. Wärtsilä has built a strong foundation for this in its application of condition monitoring (CM) and condition based maintenance (CBM) systems for its engines. “Condition based maintenance is about knowledge of the particular installation, with maintenance decisions based on real-time monitoring. This means A - PCMS advisory monitor B5 - Pressure transmitters in steering system maintenance planning and actions being B - PCMS sensors C - Internally mounted accelerometers taken accordingly, thus avoiding B1 - Oil monitoring unit in lubrication system D - Monitoring of nautical parameters through B2 - Pressure transmitters in pitch system IAMS or GPS devices unscheduled downtime,” says Jens Vägar, B3 - Externally mounted accelerometers E - PCMS cabinet CBM manager at Wärtsilä’s Technical B4 - Temperature transmitter in lubrication system Services in Vaasa, Finland. “In short, condition monitoring and condition based maintenance help optimise performance.” the Netherlands. Information from the sensors is sent to the Vägar describes CBM as being first and foremost a thorough centres at regular intervals, and compared with the data held on understanding of the process coupled with the input of relevant file for that installation. Wärtsilä engineers determine the ‘normal’ data, which enables predictions to be made based on analysis levels after taking into account the particularities of the and trends. These predictions, in turn, lead to the formulation of individual installation and the expected conditions. Should any plans and schedules for maintenance, with cost predictions. Such parameter extend beyond the normal range, or if a trend is noted plans are dynamic rather than governed by pre-determined that indicates a problem may be developing, this is noted, and schedules, allowing maintenance to be performed when it is the engineer determines whether action may be needed. actually needed, rather than ‘just in case’, and coordinated with At agreed intervals, generally monthly, Wärtsilä sends a report the ship’s operational schedule. The final element is a follow-up to to the customer, with any deviations from normal highlighted by confirm that the maintenance has been successful. a ‘traffic light’ system, where green signifies that all is OK, yellow shows that caution may be needed but there is no immediate risk Keeping track of trends and developments of failure, and red indicates that maintenance action needs to be Wärtsilä has three CBM centres: Vaasa, looking after four-stroke carried out or planned for the near future. The report will include engines in both marine and power plant applications; Winterthur the engineers’ recommendations. Interim reports will be sent if a in Switzerland for two-strokes, and the CBM Centre Propulsion in critical point is noticed.
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POWER
Condition Monitoring
Service agreements for all situations The exact level of attention that the customer can expect depends on the type of service agreement in force. Wärtsilä operates four levels of service: ● Parts supply, with fitting by Wärtsilä service personnel if required; ● Technical management, which covers inspections, expert assistance and monthly reporting, exchange programme planning, and which can also include online condition monitoring, maintenance planning and full technical support and training; ● Maintenance agreement with the customer’s own operating personnel backed by planned maintenance, including service crews from the Wärtsilä global network where and when needed. This level of service is generally provided on a fixed price basis, with performance guarantees. ● Asset management, which is a comprehensive operation and maintenance agreement, tailored to individual customer requirements, but generally covering full operation, management and maintenance services, again with performance guarantees. Wärtsilä has considerable experience in long-term service agreements based on the CBM concept, with some 400 installations and 1,700 engines. The latest agreements also include thrusters. The company’s first marine application was in 2002, for a Dutch dredger, and since then agreements have been implemented for a broad variety of vessels, mainly in the offshore and cruise sectors, but also general cargo and other ship types. The first marine installation to have a permanent 24/7 online connection to the Wärtsilä service centre was in 2007, on a drill ship operating in the North Sea oilfield. The company has seen a steady increase in the number of CBM installations. Up to now, most have been in land-based power plants. However, the number of marine installations is also on the increase. With the growth of affordable satellite communication data links, about 70 per cent of the marine installations can now be offered the use of an online connection, whereas earlier it was only about 30 per cent. Although CBM itself is an established concept to avoid unplanned downtime, with some 90 per cent accuracy, and increased availability and reliability, Wärtsilä sees its enhanced version of the system as a way of helping ship operators optimise performance and reduce costs still further. “Improvements in fuel consumption of up to five per cent are perfectly achievable through using CBM to optimise the running of a propulsion plant,” says Vägar. “This is on top of the well-known benefit of reduced maintenance costs, which is up to 20 per cent with our system.” The system makes it possible to optimise ship propulsion plant operation, making use of mathematical models for calculating the ideal operating parameters, and to dynamically compare actual with optimum values. The system takes into account variables, such as ambient conditions, as well as installation-specific data including the engine specification, installation type and configuration, and design criteria. As well as optimising fuel consumption, it can be configured to reduce harmful exhaust emissions. Using measured values of parameters, such as fuel pressure, charge air pressure and bearing temperatures, the engine’s operation can be optimised and a maintenance plan drawn up. “CBM allows maintenance functions to be scheduled together; not all scheduled intervals, based on actual hours of operation, can coincide exactly,” says Vägar.
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Optimisers provides a holistic approach to asset analysis - combining relevant information concerning the operating environment and developments that could impact lifecycle and fuel consumption” Wärtsilä Optimisers – a ‘next generation’ platform Thus, the existing CBM system provides a basis for a more comprehensive, and more integrated, way of monitoring the operation of the whole ship. Wärtsilä describes this as the ‘Optimisers’ concept. The concept provides a platform to add different equipment, and to link, through any type of communication link, to any application located anywhere. The monitoring provided at Wärtsilä’s CBM centres can, therefore, be used in conjunction with the owners’ and operators’ own office-based systems, as well as third-party tools like turbocharger analysis systems. “Instead of having 10 different monitoring systems, we need just one to monitor everything,” Vägar explains. One very important consideration in such an approach is security of data. Easy optimisation and maintenance of the software is essential, with no risk of obsolescence. Vägar explains that another key issue is getting different types of systems, from different manufacturers, to communicate. He is confident that Wärtsilä can develop a suitable communication protocol that can be used by its partners; a major step in this direction has been achieved with the Wärtsilä 3C control system. This is described as “the first such system to fully integrate all significant data into a single platform to support decision making”. The Wärtsilä 3C is at present a shipboard system rather than one intended for data exchange between ship and shore, but it should provide a platform suitable for expansion into remote operation. As a system designed for “fluent control of the vessel with priority given to situational awareness, safety, ergonomics and efficiency, which acts as a key enabler for the leveraging of energy management and integrated navigational solutions into a single powerful tool”, it goes a long way towards realising the company’s expectations regarding Optimisers. With 3C, advanced route planning is enabled through online data processing between the various systems, including ECDIS, voyage optimiser, econometer, power management, automation, weather chart, Navtex, and dynamic hull data. The Optimisers system collects data on site, stores and analyses this data according to pre-set rules, and sends the data to Wärtsilä for more detailed analysis and a complete report. The on-site system provides simple reports and trending information to assist with instant decision-making, and users will have access to the Wärtsilä portal to access the detailed information and to obtain assistance. The principle – any data, anywhere – rather accurately describes the approach. Optimisers provides a more holistic approach to asset analysis, as it combines not just engine data, but also all relevant information concerning the operating environment and developments that could significantly impact the lifecycle and fuel consumption of the installation. The on-site platform can be likened to a hub for information through which different services, such as PCMS, can transmit data to Wärtsilä’s CBM centres. The central side not only provides Wärtsilä experts with access to the data, but also enables the customer to obtain relevant data via the Wärtsilä portal. ■ Mirja-Maija Santala, Wärtsilä Corporation www.africanreview.com
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EQUIPMENT
Power A broader range of high efficiency solar inverters AEG Power Solutions (AEG PS), a leading global manufacturer of power electronic systems and solutions for industrial power supplies and renewable energies, has enhanced its product portfolio with an 880 kVA central solar inverter, the Protect PV.800. Responding proactively to a major efficiency concern in the market, AEG PS has expanded its product spectrum for high-end output solar equipment with integrated grid stabilising features. The PV.800 is a new member of the Protect PV solar inverter family that was first successfully established in 2009 and includes the PV.250, PV.500 and PV.630 in various indoor and outdoor configurations. The Protect PV.800 is able to support up to 1,300 kWp, which extends AEG PS’ existing range of products for multi-megawatt utility scale PV systems. “As you scale up your power, the cost per watt decreases. In a large solar powered electricity park you need less inverters, less equipment and less maintenance, all resulting in decreased costs,” says Trevor de Vries, managing director at 3W Power South Africa. Percentage gains for local power The Protect PV.800 inverter will also be manufactured in the company’s South African factory with a local content of up to 30 per cent and 65 per cent on the TKS-C ZA1600 solution. Based in Montague Park, Milnerton, just outside of Cape Town, the factory was opened last September and is capable of producing at least 200 MW per annum. The South African company is registered and operating under the same name as the group’s holding company - 3W Power and is trading under the AEG brand. In designing Protect PV.800, grid stability issues have been taken into consideration. The new solar inverter PV.800 consequently offers improved features for the grid connection such as stabilising reactive power input in case of load peaks. Fault ride through (FRT) capabilities are configurable for voltages and current, and the innovative field programming solution allows for specific customisation for all grid codes. Designed for global use, the Protect PV.800 fulfills all requirements in compliance with relevant national standards and guidelines. As with the previous versions, it can also be integrated in the turnkey container solution, TKS-C 1600, enabling a total nominal AC output of 1600 kVA and connecting to a DC generation capacity of up to 2600 kWp. Further technical highlights include the power stack, PV Core, with a feedback and control technology that was developed in-house, which provides an input voltage range of up to 1,000 volts and one of the highest power efficiencies as a result of the optimised pulse-pattern algorithms. Additionally, an active-earthing feature is available on all the Protect PV range inverters and allows Protect PV.800 to The Protect PV.800 from AEG operate as well with thin-film modules.
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Sustainability CONSTRUCTION
Environmental and social sustainability
Success of a project can now hinge on how environmental management is approached
Considerations with regard to coherent corporate practices in the continent’s key construction industry operations
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he environmental management of construction, especially on complex, large-scale projects, has become a specialised activity that is multi-disciplinary in its approach. Hatch Goba Environmental Services Group (ESG) Regional Director for Africa Max Clark says that the range of environmental, social and sustainability issues that need to be dealt with during the construction phase has grown tremendously over recent years. Clark points out that no longer is the focus on just preventing environmental impacts at the construction site, but also outside of the site with a great amount of emphasis being placed on cross-disciplinary matters. “Hatch Goba’s ESG has developed an approach, which has been piloted internationally, to integrate environmental management with construction services in order to manage issues within and outside of the site more effectively,” he explains. Clark adds that as unlikely as it may have seemed years ago, currently the success of a project can now hinge on how environmental management is approached. Hatch Goba’s ESG approach manages the sustainability work stream, including environmental and social components throughout the project lifecycle. Hatch Goba ESG becomes an integral part of the construction team long before site establishment by getting involved from concept and pre-feasibility stage – both of which set the scene for construction. Management of social issues The ever-increasing scope of construction environmental management has resulted in the management of social issues and the fostering of sustainable development taking centre stage. “Through our experience on mega-projects of different kinds, we have identified several aspects that are important in construction environmental management, including local procurement, selection of construction materials, job creation,
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CONSTRUCTION
Sustainability
workforce planning and training and community engagement. Furthermore, typical impacts that would require management on a construction site include removal of vegetation, relocation of animals, relocation of rare species and plants noise management, air quality management and meeting permit conditions during construction,” explains Clark. Projects are often delayed or sometimes even stopped during construction due to environmental or social issues that have been neglected prior to site establishment. Clark stresses that the cost impact resulting from these delays is usually considerable. Hatch Goba’s ESG makes use of risk and opportunity assessments to develop an approach for each aspect and impact, while consultation with the client and communities is used to refine it. The approach is multi-disciplinary with the environmental objectives being integrated into the roles of the construction team. Hatch Goba’s ESG works closely with the overall project team to help manage each component of the construction environmental management plan (CEMP). Community engagement Speaking on the social aspects that need to be considered in a construction project, Clark points out that the biggest shift has been seen in community engagement, which is no longer confined to the environmental impact assessment (EIA): “Ongoing community participation during construction is important in order to identify and create opportunities for the community. In order to determine how much a community is benefitting from a new development, Hatch Goba ESG conducts a comprehensive baseline of a community’s socio-economic status against which it measures impacts and programmes that are developed through community consultation.
“The sooner these programmes are established, the sooner benefits will start to be realised and project benefits to the community will be realised by all. It takes time to develop links with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the area and to establish a level of trust with the affected community.” Clark adds, “Interaction with local communities is of utmost importance – maintaining a good relationship with the local communities and the construction site workforce is critical. Imported workforces may be regarded as stealing jobs or not paying due respect to local customs. This education is integrated into awareness programmes, which are carried through to the induction process and implemented throughout the project lifecycle.” Job creation Job creation is an important aspect of the CEMP in that a construction project can benefit affected communities by providing employment to unskilled and semi-skilled community members. Community members are provided with the opportunity to get work experience and develop new skills to improve their standard of living. This requires co-operation among social specialists from Hatch Goba ESG, the recruitment team and the industrial relations practice. Clark concludes by saying that an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach during construction involving the environmental management team together with the other project disciplines is important in order to maximise environmental and socioeconomic opportunities, to manage risk and to ensure successful project delivery. ■
The environmental management of construction has become a specialised activity
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CONSTRUCTION
Compressors
Coming up for refined air How and why good design can ensure the successful application of any compressed air system
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ompressors provide a handy supply of safe compressed air to manufacturers and construction contractors everywhere. Most established users are aware of the costs these machines bring with them and the initial purchase price is not nearly as significant as the running costs, including for maintenance, in the long-term. Energy consumption is a key issue, whether the compressor is powered by electricity or diesel. The use of sophisticated software is usually needed to keep working performance at its peak. Apart from the selection of the right supplier and size of compressor, the key requirement is to ensure that the complete air system is correctly designed from the outset, allowing for later system expansion. A modern compressor must be able to reliably and economically deliver the quantity and quality of air required at all times. Condensate disposal All hardware must be sized and controlled properly. The compressor should be ventilated and all the condensates that accumulate must be disposed of automatically and promptly. An initial survey is needed to determine the operator’s needs and flexible provision for later expansion should also be made. Leading suppliers have their own mobile consultants with their own proprietary software to provide this service. The key consideration is the precise timing of variations in expected air demand. For occasional peaks it is often best to rely on an auxiliary standby unit from the same supplier. Having made a thorough inventory of any equipment already in place, the technician will check the layout plan of the existing air delivery system, or the space available in the case of brand-new plant. Using a standard questionnaire, the technician will then check the details of the applications now required, which may include compressed air of different qualities (dryness and oil-freeness for example) at separate take-off points. This may be achieved by local treatment from a central facility.
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Having collected this data the expert will then suggest various design possibilities. The final choice is often the result of a trade-off decision, making the best use of facilities already available. The complete existing system will then be checked, with pressure drops at all critical points being recorded. All connections will be examined with test equipment. Moisture retention within the system is particularly undesirable, so all condensate drain-off points need to be inspected at this stage. Pressure-drop measurement equipment must be used throughout. Correct loading of the compressor(s) and functioning of the control system can be checked at the same time. Air system designers will make allowances for all anticipated consumption requirements and the extent and likelihood of cyclical fluctuations. Computer-aided design techniques are usually used to carry out this task, resulting in a detailed cost profile for the most likely series of proposals. Partial-load operating weaknesses are a particularly important area of investigation at this stage. Another is whether the suggested hardware solution will fit neatly into the space available, along with the necessary facilities needed to ensure adequate cooling. Automatic warning systems An adequate and updatable control system is nearly as important as optimal energy consumption. Records of power use, air output and pressure and maintenance requirements should be created, with automatic warning systems installed. Ensuring efficient cooling of the compressor is essential, especially wherever ambient air temperatures exceed 30ÂşC. An efficient wasteheat recovery system, which can capture well over 75 per cent of the energy supplied, can result in significant savings. The compressor should be rigidly fixed into a well ventilated plant room with a sealed floor and away from any sources of dust. Ducting should be used to keep input and exhausted air away from one another and any air dryers should be kept well away from the compressor itself. â–
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Ghana CONSTRUCTION
Tackling Ghana’s housing deficit The Ghanaian government needs to provide 150,000 homes in the next 20 years if its to overcome its housing deficit
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he time has come for policymakers and experts in Ghana’s housing industry to put their thinking caps on and find appropriate means by which the country’s housing deficit of more than 1.7mn can be tackled in a gradual and systematic manner. Ghana needs an annual delivery of 150,000 houses within the next 20 years if it aims to address its housing deficit. In the eight year term of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, 4,720 affordable housing units were at various stages of completion at Borteyman–Nungua, Kpone, all in Greater Accra Region, Asokore–Mampong in Ashanti Region, Koforidua in Eastern Region, Tamale, in Northern Region and Wa, in Upper West Region. In 2006, 4,720 housing units were made up of 1,896 one–unit bedrooms and 2,824 two– unit bedrooms. In 2009, the then newly elected government of National
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Democratic Congress (NDC) entered into an agreement with STX Engineering and Construction Limited of South Korea for the latter to construct 200,000 houses in Ghana over a five-year time span, at an estimated cost of US$10bn. Partners in the provison of affordable accommodation The deal, hailed by many as the best thing ever to happen to Ghana, collapsed because of persistent boardroom wrangling between the Ghanaian and Korean partners of STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited, the local subsidiary of STX Korea. On 30 December 2011, the government of the NDC announced that it was on the verge of abrogating the multi–billion housing deal between the government of
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CONSTRUCTION
Ghana
Ghana and STX Engineering and Construction Limited of South Korea; it eventually abrogated the contract and subsequently took the matter to court. The case is still pending at the court. This development made the current government focus on the state– owned construction company, the State Housing Company Ltd as well as enter into partnership with some dependable foreign and private investors in the housing industry to help construct affordable houses throughout the country as the years go by. Redeveloping with public-private arrangements In July 2012, the then minister for water resources works and housing, Enoch Tei Mensah expressed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to create an enabling environment for public-private partnership to pool investments into the housing sector in order to bridge the housing deficit gap. Mensah announced that the State Housing Company Limited would redevelop its old estates within Accra and Takoradi and also embark on other new projects. He noted that it was the government’s plan to revise the country’s building regulations to ensure that Ghana’s building codes were adhered to, for best practices and international standards. According to Mensah, there were plans to review the Rent Control ACT to make rental–housing investment more attractive. Some feats achieved by the ministry include the Ghana Housing Profile that provides in–depth information on the housing sector and the enactment of the Engineering Council. However, he said, there are plans to speed up enactment of the Condominium ACT to regulate high–rise buildings in the country. Recently, Pozzolana Ghana Limited (PGL), a subsidiary of PMC Global Link of the United States of America, and the SHC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to supply cement to SHC. The MoU was signed by Dr Mark Nii Akwei Ankrah, managing director of SHC, and Gari Kannins, PMC Global Link CEO. Dr Ankrah stated that the Ghanaian government
was committed to improving the living standards of people in the country, and providing them with quality housing to reduce the housing deficit. The SHC’s boss said his company would be organising investment and capacity building seminars for local contractors and other stakeholders in the housing industry, to upgrade their knowledge and improve on their skills in order to meet international standards. Dr Ankrah said PGL was a strategic company which could partner with the SHC to build more houses in the country and that, “SHC has initiated a lot of projects which are ongoing and with the inputs from PGL, we are going to build more houses to serve the country’s housing needs.” Indeed, work on a 168 apartment housing project meant for officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) at Sakumono in Accra, is progressing steadily with 72 apartments so far completed and ready for occupation. The completed apartments form the first phase of a US$14mn project started six months ago. It was pre–financed by Amandi Group, an Israeli construction firm and would be occupied by junior officers of the BNI. Work on the second phase, which would be three – bedroom apartments, has commenced and would be allocated to senior staff of the BNI upon completion. It is scheduled to be completed in the next 14 months. Dr Ankrah said the SHC is strategically set to play its part in fulfilling more than 1.7mn housing requests in Ghana and that his company was building modern apartments in every region under its regeneration project. The first 72 units of the government’s affordable houses are being constructed at Baatsona and another 200 units at Adenta, expected to be ready in a few weeks for allocation. Dr Ankrah indicated that SHC’S housing project, particularly the Kaneshie (located in Accra) regeneration project which seeks to increase the total number of housing units and re–house the existing leaseholders at no extra cost, would soon be completed as the company is set to resolve issues with feuding residents amicably. Policy to support partnerships In the State of the Nation Address delivered by the President, John Dramani Mahama on 14 February this year, he announced among others that, “The government will in the next three years work with all stakeholders to ensure that the National Housing Policy document is not only finalised and approved by both Cabinet and Parliament; but also, work feverishly to ensure that relevant legislation is put in place to provide the necessary foundation as well as legal framework for implementation. “The government will this year initiate a pilot scheme to combine social housing with improved sanitation and water supply. This will particularly concentrate on the dense urban slums where the phenomenon of safe sanitation and waste disposal are very weak. “We will be working to consolidate the various strategies being implemented to bridge the huge housing deficit gap. These strategies, which are in themselves opportunities for public–private partnership arrangements, will include the construction of low cost units for lower income groups, rural and social housing for the very poor and mortgage
There is debate over whether ongoing affordable housing projects will be "affordable"
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Ghana CONSTRUCTION The Ghanaian government facilities for those who can afford. has been challenged to be “I am deeply concerned about how more realistic and initiate the challenges in the housing sector the best social innovative housing policies possible has led to exorbitant rents that do not only violate our rent law but also suffocate the average Ghanaian. I will work hard to address this challenge.” However, the chief executive officer of Consumer Protection Agency, Kofi Capito has challenged the government to be more realistic and initiate the best social innovative housing policies for the urban poor and low income earners in the country. According to him, shelter is among one of the three basic necessities of life after food and health, and implored the government to provide adequate and affordable housing for the citizenry. He said the housing deficit has given “greedy “ landlords the leeway to exploit their tenants for their selfish gains. The Consumer Protection Agency boss wondered how the middle and low level income Ghanaians can afford to buy the so called affordable housing which he says ranges between US$30,000 to US$50,000. He urged the government to build subsidy apartments which he believes most Ghanaians can afford, to solve the increasing housing deficit in the country. Social housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. It could also mean housing that is partly paid for by the government or has rent
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geared to income. According to the toolkit developed by the Social Housing Foundation, South Africa, social housing is a particular approach to affordable housing whose core intention is to provide low to moderate–income households with an affordable housing option. This system of housing also offers a unique opportunity for housing delivery and urban regeneration. Experts often questioned whether social housing remains the way forward for Ghana, with endemic poverty and low–income levels in the quest to address its housing needs. In Africa and Ghana for that matter, only a few of the working class can afford to buy homes from a private real estate developer or even acquire a mortgage loan for building their dream homes. Weighing the different schools of thought between the government and those experts who hold the view that the ongoing affordable housing project, in reality, is not going to be affordable, give a clear signal that more consultations need to be done by government by involving all stakeholders so that at the end of the day, affordability becomes the bedrock of this whole project of affordable housing units considering the fact that there is endemic poverty amongst the larger population of the country. ■ Emmanuel Yartey
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EQUIPMENT
Construction New crawler excavators for African builders Doosan’s range of crawler excavators for African markets comprises the DX225LCA, DX300LCA and DX340LCA models, offering high robustness for increased reliability and lower running costs with several important new functionalities and technical improvements, including: ● A powerful Doosan Tier 2 compliant engine ideal for use in the Middle East and Africa and offering significant fuel savings (up to 15 per cent depending on the working mode and the nature of the work site). ● Very little electronics for easy maintenance. Even if there is an electronic fault, it does not affect the performance of the machine and is easy to repair in the field. ● Top quality materials and components for long-term reliability and maximum uptime. ● A brand new ergonomically designed cab providing top-class comfort and excellent all-round visibility for the operator ● An outstanding combination of strength, stability and versatility guaranteeing the high return on investment typical of all Doosan excavators.
The operating weight of the new DX340LCA excavator varies from 34.4 to 34.9 tonne, depending on the configuration, with the maximum bucket capacity ranging from 1.49 to 2.35 m3, ideal for projects involving mass excavation work. Equipped with the standard boom and arm, the digging depth is 7533 mm, the reach is 11168 mm and the digging height is 10345 mm. Compared to the previous model, the rear counterweight on the DX340LCA excavator has been increased from 6,400 to 7,100 kg for better stability. The DX340LCA is equipped with an air-to-air intercooler 6-cylinder Doosan DE12TIS Tier 2 compliant engine with a displacement of 11 litres, developing 185 kW (247 hp) of power at 1800 rpm (SAE J1349) using a mechanical injection system. The mechanical injection system ensures the engine delivers maximum power and torque, whilst at the same time reducing emissions. Thanks to a new travel motor, the DX340LCA provides a tractive effort of 27 tonne. Bucket and arm breakout forces are 24.8 tonne and 17.9 tonne (ISO), respectively, whilst the hydraulic flow from the pumps is 2 x 274 l/min.
Quality assured technical consulting A
s part of efforts to provide technical consulting services in par with international best practices and to ensure it maintains a consistent level of highquality service, Allott (Nigeria) Ltd has, in 2013, had its quality assurance procedures audited and has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification. From its incorporation in Nigeria in 1975 as Allott & Lomax (Nigeria) Ltd a regional office of UK Consulting Engineers Allot & Lomax, Allott (Nigeria) Ltd has become independent and grown into a major technical consulting practice, that provides engineering and environmental services to both the public and private sectors in Nigeria. In more than 37 years of continuing presence in Nigeria, Allott has executed more than 350 projects, including multi-disciplinary technical consulting projects of various sizes and complexities, as well as the structural design
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and supervision of Challeram office tower in Lagos. Among the companies Allott has provided services are Dangote Group, Ibeto Industries, Lafarge Nigeria, Grimaldi, Notore Chemical Industries and the Nigerian Gas Company, as well as government ministries and several World Bank-funded projects. It has undertaken the survey and design of 400km of rural feeder roads in Kaduna in northern Nigeria and has designed and supervised the jetty and navigational channel in Onne in the Niger Delta. Allott's projects have also included the design of the 235km River Benue Navigational Channel and the Environmental Impact Assessment of the East-West Road. In order to provide clients with the best services, Allott has associated with several international consultants, a relationship that
Allott managing director Attahiru Usman and Peter Davidson of Peter Davidson Consultancy UK
had contributed to the improvement of capacity. Allott managing director Attahiru Usman, a University of Wales-educated and British Safety Council-trained environmental specialist, said he hoped to lead his team in building a strong pan-African technical consulting company that would harness the abundant skills and competence available across the continent. www.africanreview.com
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Project Management
MINING
The evolving role of the project house Specialists in different disciplines combine experience from past projects to deliver innovative approaches to project environments
T
he changing role of project houses in the African mining industry has come to the fore in a distinct manner over the past two decades. Where previously there was a scenario with mining clients appointing several independent specialist consultants and suppliers for different project components, under the current model project houses are appointed to manage major portions of a project, or the entire project from design to commissioning. Trevor Anderson, of engineering and project management services company K’Enyuka, said that the initial thrust of this trend embraced the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract arrangement in which the EPCM contractor assumes responsibility for the correct and timely completion of a project. Anderson explained, “About 20 years ago, a mining company would source and manage multiple independent suppliers, but the more contemporary drift to EPCM offers
these companies a spectrum of attractive benefits. “The client has one point of contact, while a single project manager controls project implementation. In most cases, project houses are able to tap into a broad range of in-house competencies and this translates into improved costing and time management, as well as efficient meshing of the various engineering disciplines. Wellestablished interdisciplinary communication, arising from long-term in-house relationships, also contributes to the smooth progress of a project.” Anderson continued, “Another major benefit is the sum of the expertise in a project house’s professional competencies pool. These professionals are all specialists in their particular discipline, across all commodities and their combined experience from past projects frequently leads to innovative approaches on the next project. “After all, many of these engineers began their careers in an in-house project
K'Enyuka provides full EPCM services within all minerals sectors including for coal washing plants.
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Trevor Anderson, of engineering and project management services company, K’Enyuka says the role of project houses in the African mining industry has changed
environment at some of the leading mining companies. Today, many of them have been absorbed into project houses where they work as part of a multi-disciplinary team,” he added. Anderson said the EPCM model rose to prominence in the industry from the early 1990s until the global economic crisis of 2007 impacted the African mining market. Model is evolving “I believe the African market is now demonstrating a clear move away from EPCM to Turn Key (TK) projects,” he noted. “This development has arisen out of the tighter controls being applied to clients’ budgets. With greater than ever emphasis on mitigating financial risk, the project model has had to evolve to accommodate a growing number of requests from clients, particularly in Africa, for design-and-build, as well as TK projects.” Anderson explained, “These models differ from EPCM in that EPCM takes a reimbursable contract approach - effectively African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
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MINING
Project Management
costed from month to month until project completion - and being subject to change. The other two models place more risk on the project house, with fixed costs for project execution agreed upon, provided that the scope remains the same over a known duration. “With EPCM, project houses are fundamentally selling services, but TK projects require them to be able to cover all the costs of the project until handover. Beyond South Africa’s mining industry, riskaverse clients in other regions of the continent, where the mining environment is very volatile, are increasingly choosing a TK approach to make sure they receive a good return on investment. The more marginal projects in particular are focusing on maximum net present value,” Anderson said. “This escalating demand for TK projects has required project houses to become more discerning about the projects they take on. A lot more engineering work is required up front in order to quote at the correct costing and there is also a relatively new expectation for project houses to bring outside investors to the table, so that projects can get off the ground as quickly as possible.” Significantly, K’Enyuka has developed an innovative project financing model which could assist potential clients in attracting investment as well as assist with initial project financing, especially outside South African borders. Global platform Anderson added that if the past 12 months are anything to go by, the number of new mining projects in South Africa is set to dwindle, with K’Enyuka is ideally positioned to compete against Tier 1 global project houses for both local and international projects, while still being able to service mining companies with professionally designed and executed smaller projects
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K'Enyuka provides full EPCM services within all minerals sectors
most new ventures being established in other parts of Africa via a TK approach. “Today’s project houses operate on a global platform and to compete successfully in this international business environment we need to be excellent in all our disciplines,” he elaborated. “It’s all about establishing an unblemished track record. We need to be able to come up with and deliver cost-effective and innovative solutions and fully understand all the accompanying implications.
“K’Enyuka is ideally positioned to compete against Tier 1 global project houses for both local and international projects, while still being able to service mining companies with professionally designed and executed smaller projects. Technical expertise is a primary strength, drawing from a pool of relatively young engineers with fresh and innovative concepts, underpinned by the input of more long-standing professionals who have track records on major projects around the world,” Anderson noted. While the company has traditionally focused on South African projects, it is keen to expand its African footprint and has already identified heavy minerals and copper project opportunities on the continent. Last year K’Enyuka announced a formal skills consolidation with all the linked enterprises associated with Read, Swatman & Voigt (RSV) (Pty) Ltd to create the RSV Group. All enterprises linked to RSV, including K’Enyuka, are now able to draw from one another’s capabilities, building on a common high value brand. Established in 1991, RSV is one of the foremost consulting engineering and project management companies servicing the global mining and industrial sectors. Its growth strategy includes the creation of linked enterprises through which the company offers customers the benefit of combined proven experience across the full spectrum of mining, metallurgical, mineral processing, industrial plant and infrastructure design, installation and commissioning. ■ www.africanreview.com
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Copper
MINING
Zambian mining power H
eavy-duty mining machinery is only as reliable as the engine that powers it, which is why the Cummins range of engines has gained more than 60 per cent market share in the Zambian copper mining industry since entering the market 26 years ago. Cummins, which specialises in the manufacture, sales and servicing of diesel engines and related technology, and Cummins country manager for Zambia, Jan Holtzhuizen, points out that the company currently supplies more than 150 engines to three of the largest copper mines in Zambia. “The Cummins brand of engines has consistently gained popularity in the Zambian copper mining sector since its introduction in 1986, due to the fact that the high power engines have been proven to withstand the harsh operating environment,” he noted. Holtzhuizen said that the two most popular brands of Cummins engines that are used in the open cast Zambian copper mining industry are the QSK50 and the K2000E, which power a wide range of earthmoving machinery, including wheel loaders, haul trucks, excavators and large loading shovels. “The Cummins QSK50 is a new-generation electric engine that has gained considerable ground in the international mining sector, due to the fact that these 1400 hp engines have a lower operating cost per tonne compared to similar sized mining engines,” he continues. According to Holtzhuizen, the Cummins range of advanced QSK50 engines are among the most environmentally friendly in the world, and are fully compliant with emission standards set out by the US government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Although EPA specifications are not a legal requirement in Zambia yet, it places local
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fleet owners and mining houses in the perfect position to stay one step ahead of the game by adopting the new technology at an early stage,” he explained. Meanwhile, the Cummins K2000E has proven an enduring favourite in the Zambian copper mining industry for more than 15 years. “The older diesel powered Cummins
K2000E engine boasts robust and reliable fuel systems and electronic controls, which has made it the preferred engine to power all types of earthmoving equipment in the most challenging mining applications in Zambia,” said Holtzhuizen. Cummins Zambia is based in Chingola and employs 32 staff. ■
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SOLUTIONS
Technology Program enables better TB management in Kenya The management of tuberculosis (TB) in Kenya has been vastly improved by the computer- and mobile-phone based program, TIBU. The program has been designed to allow health facilities to order TB drugs in real-time and manage patient data more effectively as well as assisting health professionals to carry out health education. “One of the challenges we have had with TB treatment is people defaulting [on treatment], but this will reduce significantly because through TIBU we will be able to track down patient treatment progress,” Joseph Sitienei, head of the division of leprosy, TB and lung disease at Kenya’s national AIDS control programme, was quoted as saying by the UN's Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). “By being able to track a patient, the health workers can send them reminders on their mobile phones when they fail to appear for drug refills.” Vincent Munada, clinical officer at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, added, “People at times default not because they want to but because they lack information, and health facilities do not
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African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
The launch of TIBU at Diani Reef Hotel in Kenya
share patient data and history. Now the government is beginning to appreciate the relevance of technology in managing diseases such as TB.”
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SOLUTIONS
South Korea to build ICT centre in Rwanda
R
wanda's Ministry of Youth and ICT and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have signed an agreement that will see KOICA construct an ICT innovation centre in Kigali, Rwanda. The centre, which will be built in Rosemary Mbabazi and Sang Chul Kim at the Kicukiro, Kigali, will form a signing ceremony major step forward for East Africa's IT sector, according to officials. The centre, which will be run by Rwanda Development Board's IT department, will take two years to build at an overall cost of US$5.6mn. The agreement was signed by Rosemary Mbabazi, Ministry of Youth and ICT permanent secretary, and KOICA representative KOICA, Sang Chul Kim. KOICA reaffirmed its support of ICT development in Rwanda and stated plans to establish more IT centres around the country to help rural youth access information. "This signed document represents another milestone for ICT in our country," said Mbabazi. "The centre will also help in job creation and give more exposure for the youth in the country. Not only will it be good for the urban youth, which is our main target, but also for the rural youth."
Deal creates secure cloud Virtualisation and cloud computing services provider, VMware, and security specialists Trend Micro have joined forces to deliver the first agentless security platform built for VMware virtualised data centres, virtual desktops and cloud deployments. The partnership will see the companies provide customers with VMware vShield Endpoint and Trend Micro Deep Security. Trend Micro security and solutions will be integrated closely with VMware products and APIs. “Through our global partnership with Trend Micro we are able to add additional peace of mind right at the VM level negating data breaches, maximising consolidation rates, operational efficiency and cost savings, as well as ensuring compliance with security best practices, internal governance and external regulations,� said Chris Norton, regional director for southern Africa at VMware.
we are able to add additional peace of mind right at the VM level negating data breaches
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SOLUTIONS
Security March Networks demonstrates ATM security solutions at SWI event
M
arch Networks, the latest acquisition of Infinova, is focusing on spreading its reach into the banking and retail Industry with its unique Searchlight application software, which is designed to improve the operational efficiency of banks and retail stores. The combined ranking stands among the top 10 largest video surveillance security players in the industry. March Networks is one of the first manufacturers to introduce networked and hybrid surveillance platforms to the market, its systems offer unparalleled reliability, scalability and manageability proven in some of the world’s largest video installations. March Networks financial solutions were ranked first in America by IMS Research in 2011 and are used by more than 450 banks and credit unions worldwide. An event, held in Mumbai, India, in April 2013, which was organised by Security Watch India (SWI), on ‘Leveraging Innovative Security Solutions for Banking and Financial Markets’, was an opportunity for March Networks to showcase the Searchlight application for ATM security solutions. March built a mock ATM booth and made mock transactions, which were recorded into a transaction server at the event. Trevor Sinden, the company’s regional sales manager for the Middle East - gave an insight into March Networks’ experience into the Banking Industry and the pain areas of the banks which can be handled by the Searchlight banking application software. Intelligent defence Banks and credit unions can double their fraud defences with powerful March Networks Searchlight applications. These intelligent software applications use targeted video and data analytics to integrate surveillance video with ATM/teller transaction information,
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African Review of Business and Technology - May 13
March demonstrated its Searchlight application for ATM security solutions at SWI's event on ‘Leveraging Innovative Security Solutions for Banking and Financial Markets’
vehicle license plate data, facial images and colours. They enable investigators to conduct centralised searches across their entire organisation – reducing investigation times and costs, strengthening case evidence and cutting fraudulent losses dramatically. Searchlight Financial Transaction Investigation (FTI) is the core application in our Searchlight portfolio, enabling investigators to use data from ATM or teller transactions (e.g. bank card number, account number, transaction amount, etc) to drive much faster searches for, and investigations into, suspicious incidents. ● Single, secure point of integration Eliminates local equipment purchase, maintenance, compatibility issues and costs. ● Data never stored remotely Increases security, scalability, and only requires software licenses to add new facilities. ● Custom data interface goes beyond printer-receipt data to increase productivity.
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Centralised server, database Eliminates location-by-location searching to save tremendous time and cost. Integrated motion graphs, thumbnails, case notes Increases investigator performance. Slash Investigation time and cost. Detects ATM skimming, cash harvesting, phantom transactions and other fraudulent incidents faster. Automated investigation processes through notification dashboards, overviews and reports. Functioning as a part of MN Browserbased Command Client for convenient video and case management.
March Networks Searchlight application focuses on improving operations, performance and return on investment. For more information on Infinova and March Networks products and solutions, visit www.infinova.com and www.marchnetworks.com. For sales inquiries, e-mail: Teamindia@infinova.com www.africanreview.com
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EQUIPMENT/ CLASSIFIED
A solar phone charging station for remote communities in sub-Saharan Africa Azuri offers an affordable solar phone charging station called Indigo Mobi. The product is designed to offer a solution to remote communities in sub-Saharan Africa where charging a mobile phone is a major challenge, with the nearest source of electricity often many kilometres away. Designed for entrepreneurs who wish to offer phone charging as a service, the system enables the entrepreneur to charge more than 100 phones per week without the high up-front costs of traditional equipment. The compact system has been designed to operate on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis similar to Azuri’s award-winning Indigo product, where the entrepreneur pays for the system as a service without the need for high up-front costs. Successful access to energy A successful pilot of Indigo Mobi in Kenya with GVEP yielded an enthusiastic response from participating entrepreneurs, providing phone charging on a local level within a village or community without the need for access to grid electricity. With about half of the units in the trial having been operated by women, Mobi opens up a range of new income opportunities for local groups and access
Indigo combines mobile phone and solar technology to deliver affordable pay-as-you-go solar power” to an ‘always on’ mobile phone increases both individuals’ accessibility and average phone usage. Mobi also provides lighting for the entrepreneur’s store, saving time collecting other fuel sources to burn for lighting and eliminating harmful indoor air pollution from burning kerosene. From urban to rural areas, mobile networks have become the predominant infrastructure in emerging markets and 575mn more people are now covered by mobile networks than have access to energy and water. Earlier this year, Azuri, secured a US$1.5mn working capital loan from Barclays Bank to accelerate the deployment of Indigo. Sean Duffy, managing director of technology, media and telecoms industry at Barclays, said, “We are fully committed to assisting the company’s growth and this campaign, which will deliver significant social and economic benefits in Africa.”
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