OCTOBER 2018
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OSERIAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY A Place Of Peace
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LENOVO SOUTH AFRICA Driving Intelligent Transformation CAFE YOUNES A Well-Crafted Cup
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I
t’s October again, and in time for
From one uplifting company to another,
Halloween, Endeavour’s Amazing World
we also spoke with
team have sniffed out a few more of the
Younes, a family-owned and run cafe chain
planet’s most mysterious sites. In Japan,
that is successfully taking on corporate
they took a look at the Island of Hashima,
competition through a genuine love for
otherwise known as Gunkanjima (Battleship
coffee and attention to detail. However,
Island). This abandoned, sea-bound city was
this month hasn’t all been peaceful
built in the 1930s to house workers for a
products; we’ve also spoken with several
coal mine off of Japan’s coast. However,
high flyers, including Air India, defence
human rights violations and finally a
aeronautics company Denel, and Rolls
rush to exit has left the concrete mini-
Royce’s Singaporean go-to repairers of
metropolis an eerily empty, supposedly
their Trent aircraft engines, SAESL. Talking
haunted industrial time capsule. Speaking
of fantastic vehicles, we touched base with
of supposedly haunted locations, in Mexico,
British sports car fanatics M-Sport.
our team looked into the unsettling Isla
We cover these and many more in our
de las Munecas – the Island of Dolls. This island truly earns its name and is not for the easily unnerved: the pictures alone are a bombardment on the imagination, and
has been perplexing scientists for years with its supposedly disappearing waterfall. features, we spoke with Oserian in Kenya – a flower farm that is not only leading the
living or dead is purely coincidental. Whilst
Kenyan floriculture industry, but originated
every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of
it! Taking its name from the Maasai for “A
no legal responsibility will be accepted by the
place of peace”, Oserian is making incredible
publishers for loss arising from use of information
strides in not only the quality of its flowers,
published. All rights reserved. No part of this
but the ecological efficiency of its farming,
publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrievable system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of
ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
the Devil’s Kettle in Minnesota, USA, which
On a far brighter note, in our business
the information contained within this magazine,
Happy Halloween!
morbid origin story. Lasting, we looked at
writers and/or in advertisements included in this the publisher. Any resemblance to real persons,
October issue. We hope you enjoy, and
that’s before one even hears the island’s
of view expressed in articles by attributing magazine do not necessarily represent those of
Lebanon’s Café
its green practices, and its support of both its staff and the wider area.
the publisher.
Copyright © Littlegate Publishing Ltd 2018
Endeavour Magazine | 3
CONTENTS
54 ACCRA CITY HOTEL FEATURES
26 OSERIAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY 4 | Endeavour Magazine
14 Mewah Group Global Brands, Local Favourites 26 Oserian Development Company A Place Of Peace 34 CERN Discoveries From The Large Hadron Collider 40 SAESL Maintaining Excellence 48 Lenovo Driving Intelligent Transformation 50 Accra City Hotel Creating A Haven 52 Cafe Younes A Well-Crafted Cup 58 NCC Education Enabling The Future 64 Misi Setia Oil & Gas The Making Of Malaysia 70 M-Sport Racing Ahead 78 Denel Aeronautics Defenders Of The Realm 84 Sharjah International Airport The Sky’s The Limit 90 Air India Up, Up And Away 96 Eni North Africa Going With The Flow 104 Stefanutti Stocks Botswana Building South Africa 110 Assmang A Triple-Threat 116 DESALCOTT Crystal Clear 122 BAPCO Bahrain’s Oil Bastions
74 M-SPORT ARTICLES 7 6 7 8 10 11
Business Headlines Africa Middle East Asia Europe Middle East
13 12 46 102
Amazing World Hashima: Ghost Island The Devil’s Kettle The Isla de las Munecas
77 76
Automotives Skoda Superb 280 Sportline
56 CAFE YOUNES Endeavour Magazine | 5
BUSINESS HEADLINES AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA MINING TO GET FREE STAKE UNDER NEW CHARTER South Africa has unveiled a new
Public Order and Security Act, which is
Talks between President Muhammadu
used by the security agencies to prohibit
Buhari’s government and unions broke
anti-government protests and arrest pro-
down, and the strike aims to raise pressure
opposition activists.
on the government to produce a minimum
regulatory charter for its mining industry.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who
This charter was seen as a crucial step to
took over from 93-year-old Robert Mugabe
wage proposal. Unions want the monthly minimum
attracting further investment to a sector laid
in 2017 after the intervention of the military,
wage raised to around 50,000 naira ($164)
low by depressed prices, soaring costs and
has called for U.S. sanctions to be lifted
from 18,000 naira.
murky policy.
against him, officials from the ZANU-PF
Buhari had vowed to review the wage
The charter part of an affirmative action
ruling party, top military figures and some
due to a fuel price hike and currency
drive to reverse black people’s exclusion
government-owned firms, imposed during
devaluation in the last two years aimed at
from
Mugabe’s rule for violations of human rights
countering the effects of a plunge in global
and democracy.
oil prices.
the
mainstream
economy under
apartheid, and specifically targets the mining industry, which accounts for about 8% of
“The Zimbabweans are being very
He plans to stand for a second term at
the country’s gross domestic product now,
positive what they are going to be doing,
an election next February and his economic
but laid the foundations for Africa’s most
including that they have a legal process on
record will come under scrutiny, given
industrialised economy.
how to enact measures,” Nagy said in an
previous pledges to raise living standards,
interview on the sidelines of U.N. meetings.
tackle corruption and improve security.
Presented by Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, the third version of the charter
He
said
political
requires miners to provide their local
encourage
communities and employees with a free 10%
action on those two (laws) would send a
stake. This is a policy that some companies
signal ... to investors,” Nagy said, adding:
may struggle to meet, but which unions say
“Zimbabwe could go very, very quickly
Cameroonian rail operator Camrail and
is needed to secure social peace.
to a middle income status with positive
eleven other defendants were found guilty
foreign
reforms
would
investment.
“Taking
CAMEROONIAN RAIL FIRM CAMRAIL CONVICTED OVER 2016 DEATHS
“Regulatory and policy uncertainty is
leadership and positive steps, both on
of involuntary manslaughter in connection
removed. We have a duty now to mobilise
opening the political space and also opening
with a train derailment that killed 79 people
investment into mining,” Mantsahe, former
up economic fairness.”
and wounded over 600 in October 2016.
trade unionist and senior member of the
The packed train operated by Camrail, a
ruling African National Congress (ANC), told
unit of French industrial group Bollore, came
a media briefing.
off the tracks in the town of Eseka en route
The charter raises the level of black
from the capital Yaounde to the central
ownership from 26% to 30%, while providing
African country’s port city of Douala .
breakdowns on how the stakes should
Eseka district judge Marcel Ndigui Ndigui
be divided, with 20% for black business
ruled that Camrail and 11 of the 14 individual
interests and 5% each for communities
defendants were guilty of “dangerous
and employees.
activities and involuntary manslaughter”.
U.S. PRESSURES ZIMBABWE OVER MEDIA LAWS
Vandenbon was among those convicted. He
Camrail’s former chief executive Didier was sentenced to six months in prison, while
The USA is pressing Zimbabwe to change laws restricting media freedom and anti-government protests. The
laws
include
Access
others received prison terms of between three and five months. Three defendants were found not guilty. The trial comes after a government
to
Nigeria’s main unions launched an
inquiry last year that found that Camrail
Information and Protection of Privacy
indefinite nationwide strike in a dispute over
was mainly to blame for the derailment as
Act, which restrict media freedoms and
the minimum wage but a spokesman for the
the train was going at more than twice the
bars foreign correspondents from working
state oil firm said there was no evidence its
speed limit, was overloaded and its brakes
in Zimbabwe full time. The other is the
operations were affected.
were defective.
6 | Endeavour Magazine
the
NIGERIAN UNIONS LAUNCH GENERAL STRIKE
MIDDLE EAST IRAN SAYS TRUMP INTERFERENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST RAISES OIL PRICES U.S.
President
Trump
should
told Al Jazeera that raising the $185m
stimulating the economy, as well as the
required to keep operating until the end of
country’s overall development,” said CEO
2018 is a “very uphill struggle”.
Saad Sherida al-Kaabi in a statement.
stop
“The size of the cut was very, very
The new project will produce about 32
interfering in the Middle East if he wants the
significant from the US and therefore we are
million tonnes a year of LNG, 4,000 tonnes
price of oil to stop rising, Iranian Oil Minister
certainly not out of the woods by any stretch
a day of ethane, 260,000 barrels a day of
Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying
of the imagination,” said Krahenbuhl.
condensate, and 11,000 tonnes a day of
in September.
The agency was established in 1949 to
LPG, in addition to about 20 tonnes per day
“Mr Trump is trying to seriously reduce
provide relief and assistance to the 700,000
exports of Iran’s oil and also ensure the price
Palestinians who were expelled or fled from
This will increase Qatar’s total production
of oil does not go up, but these two cannot
their homeland a year earlier, as well as
capacity from 4.8 million to 6.2 million
happen together,” Zanganeh said, according
their descendants. It currently supports five
barrels of oil equivalent per day.
to the Iranian Students’ News Agency.
million people in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the
Trump, not the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is behind the recent rise in prices, Zanganeh said.
West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. A total of 677 schools and 143 health facilities, along with tens of thousands
of pure helium, Qatar Petroleum said.
SAUDI AND UAE CALL FOR REGIME CHANGE IN IRAN
“Trump blames OPEC for what he has
of jobs are at risk as the agency battles
Representatives from Gulf countries
created and caused: the rise of the price of
to survive its worst ever financial crisis,
shared a platform with Mossad director at
oil and disturbance in the market.”
with only enough money to operate until
summit against 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
OPEC members do not have the capacity
mid-October.
The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, the
to increase production, Zanganeh said.
ambassador of the United Arab Emirates
In a speech at the United Nations, Trump
to Washington, and the director of Israel’s
reiterated calls on OPEC to pump more oil
Mossad spy agency have joined ranks in
and stop raising prices. He also accused
pushing for regime change in Iran.
Iran of sowing chaos and promised further
Speaking alongside US National Security
sanctions on the country. The United States
Adviser John Bolton and US Secretary of
will apply sanctions to halt oil exports from
State Mike Pompeo, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign
Iran, the third-largest producer in OPEC,
Minister Adel al-Jubeir called for the
starting on Nov. 4. The pending loss of
overthrow of the Iranian government, saying
Iranian supply has been a major factor in the
the Islamic Republic was unlikely to change
recent surge in crude prices.
on its own volition.
PALESTINIAN REFUGEE AGENCY HUNTS QATAR TO INCREASE GAS PRODUCTION FUNDS FOLLOWING US CUT DURING GCC RIFT
Adviser John Bolton and US Secretary of
Speaking alongside US National Security State Mike Pompeo, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir called for the
Arab and EU states are expected to
Qatar Petroleum says it plans to add a
overthrow of the Iranian government, saying
increase donations to UNRWA, as following
fourth LNG production line in its North Field,
the Islamic Republic was unlikely to change
the US’s cuts to funding, $185m required to
which it shares with Iran. Qatar Petroleum
on its own volition.
keep agency running until end of 2018.
said it is boosting its natural gas production
Saudi and Emirati officials welcomed
The UN Palestinian refugee agency
by adding a fourth liquefied natural gas
Washington’s decision to abandon the 2015
has welcomed the “huge solidarity” shown
(LNG) production line to raise capacity from
Iran deal - known as the Joint Comprehensive
by several countries as the humanitarian
the North Field to 110 million tonnes a year.
Plan of Action (JCPOA) - under which Iran
organisation seeks to rapidly plug the hole
The world’s top supplier of LNG said
agreed to curb its nuclear programme in
left by the US, which pulled its financial
that output from the field, which is shared
support in August.
with Iran, will now rise from 77 million
UNRWA many
has
received
contributors,
but
funds the
from
agency’s
Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl
tonnes a year. “The
production
exchange for sanctions relief, it reported. But
Yousef
al-Otaiba,
the
UAE’s
ambassador to the US, said external pressure increase will
also
contribute to Qatar’s economic growth and
was needed and would be key in changing Iran’s course. Endeavour Magazine | 7
ASIA USA PRESIDENT’S FRIENDSHIP WITH CHINA’S XI JINPING COULD BE OVER United States President Donald Trump
(MESTECC) however did not discuss the
themselves, making it solely the realm of
regional haze issue.
men. The court said the law deprived women
Singapore Minister Masagos Zulkifli and Ms Yeo Bee Yin, Malaysia’s Energy, Science, Environment
and
Climate
of dignity and individual choice, and treated them as the property of men.
admitted his friendship with his Chinese
Technology,
counterpart Xi Jinping could be over as
Change Minister, said they did not discuss
It also said that adultery, while valid
he accused Beijing of undermining his
the Asean transboundary haze agreement,
The court upheld the legality of the
prospects in upcoming elections.
despite a regional meeting set for early
crime in 1954, arguing that in adultery, “it is
With tensions growing sharply between
October in Myanmar. Ms Yeo said that she is
commonly accepted that it is the man who is
the two sides on a range of issues, Mr
“expecting one-step improvement” at a time
the seducer, and not the women.”
Trump said China wanted him to suffer an
during each round of haze meetings.
grounds for divorce, was a private matter.
A petitioner had challenged the law earlier
electoral setback as payback for his hard line
this year, describing it as discriminatory.
over trade. After accusing the government
FALLING OUT BETWEEN SWEDEN AND CHINA
in Beijing of damaging his chances at the vital midterm polls in November, he said that relations with Mr Xi might have taken a permanent turn for the worse.
In an unexpected diplomatic falling out,
Mr Trump has spoken of his friendship
tensions have been growing over the past
with Mr Xi many times since coming to
weeks in relations between Sweden and
office, praising the Chinese leader for his
China. Tension started to build in September
role in helping bring pressure on North
when Chinese tourists were removed from
Korea over its nuclear programme.
a hotel by Swedish police, a move which
But asked at a press conference in New
was heavily condemned by the Chinese
York how Mr Xi could remain his friend given
government.
the rise in tensions, Mr Trump indicated that
A Chinese man and his parents had
he preferred to be respected than liked.
allegedly arrived at the hotel at midnight
Washington this week enacted new
- hours before they were due to check in.
tariffs against China covering another
They asked to stay in the lobby but were
US$200 billion (S$273 billion) of its imports,
refused,
shrugging off threats of counter measures from Beijing.
SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA AGENCIES DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Singapore and Malaysia’s government agencies
engaged
in
discussions
over
emissions, water quality in the Johor Strait,
ADULTERY NO LONGER A CRIME IN INDIA FOLLOWING TOP COURT RULING
and
eventually
were
forcibly
removed by police. Then, a satirical Swedish television show joked about Chinese people eating dogs and defecating in public.
India’s top court ruled on September 27
Beijing accused the show of using
that adultery is no longer a crime, declaring
“vulgar language”, adding that it was “full of
a colonial-era law that punished the
discrimination, prejudice and provocation”
offence with jail time unconstitutional and
against China. The Swedish broadcaster, on
discriminatory against women.
the other hand, said it would be “apparent” law
to a Swedish speaker that the show was
emergency responses for chemical spills
prescribed that any man who slept with
“comedy”. As the video spread, the Chinese
and environmental training programmes
a married woman without her husband’s
embassy in Sweden demanded an apology
on Sept 27, led by ministers from the two
permission had committed adultery, a crime
from the government, saying that the police
neighbouring countries.
carrying a five-year prison term.
actions had “violated the basic human rights
The 31st Malaysia-Singapore Annual Exchange
of Visits
(MSAEV)
The
more
than
century-old
“Thinking of adultery from a point of
of the Chinese citizens”.
between
view of criminality is a retrograde step,”
However, a manager from the hotel told
Singapore’s Ministry of Environment and
unanimously declared the five-judge bench
Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that the
Water Resources (MEWR) and Malaysia’s
of the Supreme Court.
family had booked their rooms on the wrong
Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment
and
8 | Endeavour Magazine
Climate
Change
Women could not file a complaint under the archaic law nor be held liable for adultery
day, and when they were told that, “refused to leave”.
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EUROPE JO COX TO RECEIVE SQUARE NAMED AFTER HER IN BRUSSELS
But Mr Tria, a university professor not affiliated with either party, is understood to want to set spending at about 1.6% of debt
A small square in the heart of Brussels
above GDP - even lower than the 3% limit
has been named in memory of murdered
imposed by the European Union.
British MP Jo Cox. Right-wing
extremist
Italy’s leaders, on the other hand, want Mair
to increase that by a percentage point or
attacked Mrs Cox, 41, in her constituency in
Thomas
two so they can fund their populist pledges
West Yorkshire in the run-up to the 2016
surrounding basic income, tax cuts and
EU referendum.
pensions.
Family, friends and politicians gathered
“We, in a decisive manner, with this
for a ceremony in the square.
budget law, will have abolished poverty,”
UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn
Luigi Di Maio, deputy prime minister and
attended the ceremony and paid tribute to
leader of the Five Star party, said of his plans.
the former Labour MP for Batley and Spen.
But if the plans result in the economy
Naming the square after her was a
minister losing his job, or the EU spending
“wonderful gesture” by a city whose “spirit,
limits being broken, it could have a knock-on
music and internationalism” Jo Cox had
effect on markets in Italy and in Europe.
loved, he said.
IMMIGRATION: ITALY AND TUNISIA PLEDGE MORE COOPERATION
NETHERLANDS POLICE ARRESTS FOIL TERRORIST ATTACK
The Italian Interior Minister met his
Police in the Netherlands have arrested
counterpart in Tunisia to discuss the issue of
seven men over an alleged plot to carry
immigration and security.
out what they describe as a major terrorist
During the discussions, the Tunisian
attack involving guns and explosives.
Interior Minister, stressed that “more than
Police say the men were trying to source
500 people accused of human smuggling
AK47s, hand grenades and bomb materials
have been arrested this year”.
to carry out their attack. The men were aged between 21 and 34. Three had been arrested previously for trying to travel abroad to join foreign militants.
The
ITALY BUDGET UNDER PRESSURE OVER PLAN TO ‘ABOLISH POVERTY’
Tunisian
President
says
“the
friendship and close collaboration between Italy and Tunisia are a great resource” Matteo Salvini says the visit shows a deep friendship between the two countries.
Prosecutors say the man at the centre
A vow by Italy’s populist leaders to “end
“We’ve agreed on a more effective fight
of the group is a 34-year-old of Iraqi origin,
poverty” is in jeopardy because of a clash
against human trafficking. For departures;
who was convicted in 2017 for trying to
with the economy minister.
for the limit; and the number of deaths
travel to fight for the Islamic State group. They say they were tipped off about the plot in April 2018 by intelligence services,
Technocrat Giovanni Tria wants to stick
and repatriations. Having a limited and
to lower spending to avoid adding to Italy’s
qualified controlled immigration will be
debt of €2.3tn (£2tn),
an added value for our country and for
who said the main suspect wanted to target
But his political colleagues, who ran on
“a large event in the Netherlands where
a promise of a guaranteed minimum income
there would be a lot of victims”.
for the poor, as well as tax cuts, want to free
The seven men were arrested in the
up money.
those migrants from Tunisia as well as from other countries “ The Tunisian
President
says
in
a
statement, “challenges that threaten the
central city of Arnhem and southern
Its ambitious spending plans have
stability of Mediterranean countries and
municipality of Weert by anti-terrorism teams
already put the government in conflict with
which hinder their development efforts.
from the country’s Special Interventions
European powers, who, like Mr Tria, want
require a closer coordination and closer
Service (DSI).
Italy to stick to lower spending.
cooperation to overcome them”.
10 | Endeavour Magazine
MIDDLE EAST TRUMP REJECTS MEETING WITH TRUDEAU
However, there are still threats to the policy. Next year will be the first time that Americans will not have to pay the penalty
TRUMP TO IMPOSE TARIFFS ON $200B IN CHINESE GOODS
President Trump said that he rejected
for being uninsured since the Obamacare
President Donald Trump is planning to
a meeting request from Canadian Prime
insurance exchanges opened in 2014.
impose a fresh round of tariffs targeting
Minister Justin Trudeau due to a bitter
Congress eliminated the individual mandate
about $200 billion in Chinese goods.
renegotiation of the North American Free
penalty as part of last year’s tax overhaul.
Trade Agreement, also known as NAFTA.
According to the Wall Street Journal,
Also, the Trump administration is making
the tariffs are expected to be set at around
During a news conference amid the
it easier for people to buy alternative policies
10%, according to people familiar with the
United Nations General Assembly in New
that will likely be less expensive, but won’t
matter, a lower level than the possibility
York, Trump also said, “(Trudeau’s) tariffs
provide the same benefits, particularly for
of 25% tariffs previously floated by the
are too high and he doesn’t seem to want
those with pre-existing conditions.
administration.
to move.”
All these changes are expected to siphon
The move aims to increase pressure
However, Cameron Ahmad, a spokesman
younger and healthier enrollees out of the
on Beijing ahead of planned high-level
for Trudeau, rejected the assertion that a
exchanges, experts say. That could prompt
discussions and is intended to provide the
meeting was ever requested, saying: “No
insurers to raise rates for the older and sicker
US leverage in talks over China’s alleged
meeting was requested and we do not have
folks who remain in Obamacare policies.
practice of demanding American companies
any comment beyond that.”
turn over technology in order to do business
The President also suggested there is
in the country, the Journal reported. But any
deep mistrust in Chrystia Freeland, the lead
imposition of new tariffs has the potential to
Canadian trade negotiator, and her team.
further escalate trade tensions between the
Trump has repeatedly threatened to
US and China.
cut Canada out of a trade agreement if the
The President had been pressing his
country does not agree with his terms.
administration to move ahead with the
Earlier in September, Trump tweeted
tariffs; Trump met with top aides earlier in
that there is “no political necessity to keep
the week and instructed them to proceed
Canada in the new NAFTA deal.”
with the plan.
“If we don’t make a fair deal for the U.S.
The next round of US tariffs on
after decades of abuse, Canada will be out,”
Chinese goods is likely to make thousands
Trump tweeted. He also urged Congress
of products, including dishwashers, Fitbit
not to “interfere” with negotiations “or I will
fitness trackers and food seasonings, more
simply terminate NAFTA entirely & we will be far better off.”
OBAMACARE LOOKING STRONG FOR 2019
Obamacare is also facing new threats
expensive for American consumers.
from the nation’s judicial system. The US
The Trump administration has already
Senate is wrapping up Supreme Court
imposed 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of
confirmation
Brett
Chinese goods. Trump has said the tariffs are
Kavanaugh, who Obamacare supporters fear
hearings
for Judge
necessary to punish Beijing for what he says
would vote to overturn the health reform
are its unfair trade practices and intellectual
Projects for Obamacare in 2019 include
law. Additionally, a US District Court judge
property theft.
more insurers, limited price hikes and even
in Texas heard arguments in a case that
China, which has accused the United
some premium decreases.
seeks to bring down the Affordable Care Act
States of trade bullying, has matched the
by having major portions or the entire law
tariffs dollar for dollar. Beijing has pledged
declared unconstitutional.
to hit back again with tariffs on another $60
American Republicans have attempted to criticize and even dismantle the health reform law, but despite this, it appears to
So far, however, many insurers are
be growing stronger. This is a contrast to
keeping price increases in check. Several
a year ago, when insurers were fleeing the
have even said they would have raised
marketplace or hiking rates to combat all
rates even less - or decreased them - if
the GOP-fueled uncertainty surrounding the
Congress hadn’t eliminated the individual
Affordable Care Act.
mandate penalty.
billion of US exports, including meat, coffee, furniture and auto parts.
Endeavour Magazine | 11
AMAZING WORLD BY JAMES LAPPING
HASHIMA: GHOST ISLAND
15
miles off the South Coast of
entirely of concrete buildings, and was
20th Century: the concrete building were
Japan, just a short boat ride from
therefore referred to by locals as “the island
revolutionary, as not only did they protect
the city of Nagasaki, Battleship
with no green”. However, due to the passing
people the people living there from the harsh
Island floats eerily and alone, surrounded
of the time, and the shocking events that
conditions out at sea, but they also boasted
by the ocean. Now left in ruins, this island
happened in the time that Hashima was
a higher standard of living than the rest of
holds the remains of Hashima, a man-made
populated, it is now best known by another
the country. Even for today’s standards,
structure of just 16 acres that was built at
name: Ghost Island.
the residents in Hashima were very well
the beginning of the Japanese Industrial Revolution in 1887.
The Island of Hashima was once a
off. The island boasted a kindergarten,
thriving metropolis, housing employees
school, temple, town hall, post office and
Various aliases are associated with the
of a coal mine (once owned by Mitsubishi)
community centre. For leisure, they enjoyed
island; the sea walls create a silhouette that
that was situated directly under the island
a club house, cinema, swimming pool,
is similar to a battleship, hence the name.
structure. Citizens of Japan were extremely
rooftop gardens, shops, a pachinko parlour
It is also renowned for being constructed
keen to live there at the beginning of the
(a form of Japanese slot machine gambling),
12 | Endeavour Magazine
workers were made to live in cramped and unhygienic areas; many slept in closets. Approximately
500-800
people
of the school now stands alone. Amongst the abandoned apartment
were
blocks, TV sets still sit in the corner of
relocated to the island for forced labour, and
living rooms, unfinished bottles of sake are
due to the poor conditions, being poorly fed,
stacked on shelves, and washing up still left
and working shifts of up to 12 hours a day
in kitchen sinks reminds us of how quickly
in the coal mine that was 200m below the
people left the island. It is as if they were
surface of island, many tried to escape, and
desperate to get away.
any trying. Local records declare that 123 of
In 2009, after been untouched for 35
the Korean workers and 15 of the Chinese
years, the island was reopened, and tourists
workers died due to the hardships that were
are now able to take tours of a small section
inflicted on them in their time on the island.
of the remains; it was even given UNESCO
It is believed that many more died but went
World Heritage recognition in 2015. Many
unrecorded.
locals and foreign neighbours alike are not
In the early 1970’s, the mine’s life span
keen on this - Korean nationals disputed
was close to expiry, as coal was depleting.
this recognition, due to the horrors and
Additionally, petroleum was becoming the
human rights violations that occurred there,
main source of energy in Japan. Due to this,
and voices from China, South and North
in 1974, the mine shut. There was no longer
Korea agreed. There are even those who
a purpose for the workers on the island to
believe that the island is haunted by the
live there, and jobs back on the mainland
workers that unlawfully died in the depths of
and even a brothel! At the end of the 1950’s,
weren’t plentiful, so everyone had to rush
the mine.
Hashima Island was one of the most densely
back to Nagasaki to secure an income and
However tragic, Hashima Island certainly
populated areas on the planet, with more
a home for themselves and their families.
possesses a unique and strange story. The
than 5000 inhabitants living in the 16 acres.
Within the space of a week, nobody was left.
coal mine below the surface once reaped the
To put this into context, that’s 50 times smaller than Central Park in New York.
What remains is a creepy sight. Concrete
land of resources, but despite being known
blocks were left in ruins, but the hardy
as the “island with no green”, Hashima is now
Unfortunately, not everybody was so
material means enough still stands to give
taking back what it lost, and is beginning to
lucky on the Island. During the 1930’s and
you a true sense of what it must have been
be reclaimed by nature. Whether or not it is
1940’s, in the period surrounding World
like to live on the island. 44 years later, relics
truly haunted, whilst the physical reminders
War II, forced labourers from Korea and
of past lives are still scattered throughout
of the island may completely disappear,
China were sent to Hashima and ordered
the buildings: an intact mosaic remains on
the memories of the inhumane treatment
to work the coal mine. Unlike the Japanese
the wall of the school, and a slide once
of forced workers will forever remain on
citizens’ spacious apartments, the Korean
frequented by the children in the playground
‘Ghost Island’. Endeavour Magazine | 13
MEWAH GROUP WWW.MEWAHGROUP.COM // 0065 6829 5200
GLOBAL BRANDS, LOCAL FAVOURITES When preparing the perfect meal, every ingredient counts. Whether cooking at home or working in a restaurant, love and attention to detail shines through and elevates any dish. If we look for this care everywhere else, then we surely look for it in our store-bought meals as well. WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
MEWAH GROUP
When producing signature dishes for their customers,
a consumables company is looking for that same perfection in every step and ingredient; that’s why Mewah’s products are an industry go-to.
T
he Mewah Group is an agribusiness company that focuses primarily on the processing of agricultural products into gastronomy essentials such as butters, margarines and oils.
Key ingredients in any meal preparation, these products affect not only the health of a finished meal, but also their flavour, shelf life and overall quality. No matter how good a recipe, if the wrong oil or spread is used, the intended experience will never make its way from the pan to the plate of the consumer; Mewah take this role seriously, and work closely with every client to find the perfect solution for their product. We spoke with Yew Wai Phang, Mewah’s VP in Consumer Pack Business. He explained that roughly 80% of Mewah’s products are sold business to business (b2b), and that their Premium Quality status means that their reputation precedes them. “People recognise us by the solutions we can give to them. I’m giving them a solution, and I’m giving them a solution that is tailor made to them and their requirements.” Founded in the 1950s, Mewah has a vast portfolio of existing products to meet their customers’ needs. However, short of simply offering this range up and leaving the client to evaluate their options alone, the company holds close consultations to establish exactly what each company aims to produce, and what requirements they have to reach their goal. Phang spoke us through the process. “The market is getting more sophisticated, in the sense that, it’s not just basic oil that people are buying – they’re buying processed
16 | Endeavour Magazine
SMC has been a leader in the automated material handling industry, specifically
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SMC specializes in designing and building AS/RS that can be installed in an
existing facility or designed into a new facility. Systems can go up to 40 meters high as rack supported buildings and some can be installed in buildings as low as 15 meters high. Typically, 40 percent more pallets can be gained with an AS/RS over a conventional warehouse in the same space.�
SMC takes pride in its excellent reputation over the years for providing a
consistently high standard of uninterrupted after-sales support, maintenance and spare parts delivery to all our clients globally.
SMC’s equipment and systems are user-friendly and very easy to troubleshoot and maintain. Thus, SMC has an unbeatable reputation in the industry with a long list of repeat customers. We are proud to count The Mewah Group as one such customer.
PET plant, India
Washing machine plant, Turkey
Finnish pulp & paper mill, China
SMC
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Contact us: support@smc-memo.sg www.smck.com
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CROWN CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF MATERIAL HANDLING EXCELLENCE IN SOUTHEAST / NORTH ASIA Crown Equipment Corporation, one of the world’s largest material handling companies, is celebrating 40 years as a leading provider in the Asian market. With the region rapidly rising to become a manufacturing and logistics powerhouse, Crown is helping its customers manage market demands and meet industry challenges through its flexible product range and innovative, customised solutions. Pallet management is one of the major issues for emerging distribution companies and small to mediumsized enterprises lacking the knowledge to deal with the challenge. Within Asia, the two most popular pallet sizes are the square 1,100mm x 1,100mm pallet and the 1,200mm x 1,000mm pallet. The U.S., Europe, and Australia, however, use different International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved pallet sizes, and these diverse pallet types can create challenging problems if not handled correctly. Crown’s global approach to research, design, engineering and manufacturing means that it produces a range of lift trucks that offer the best fit to the pallets relevant to the warehouse facilities in multiple regions globally. While the company builds a range of lift trucks to cover all aspects of material handling work, from the dock to the top space of a high bay rack, Crown also customises its standard designs to help solve specific problems, such as modifying the width and position of the legs so that it would work effectively according to the required pallet size. With a focus on providing end-to-end material handling solutions, Crown can also identify other areas of the warehouse that can add efficiency when dealing with a range of pallet sizes. Crown consultation includes a detailed review of customers’ operations to help decide the most appropriate material handling equipment and provide inputs to improve productivity, such as enhancing warehouse design and safety culture. “When you work with Crown, you are working with people in possession of great product knowledge and a thorough understanding of warehouse supply chain
requirements. Knowledge is a major factor that separates Crown from the competition in the Asia Pacific region and the ability to provide customers with an end to end total material handling solution partnership,” said Steven Hill, the Managing Director of Crown Equipment for Southeast Asia. Crown set up operations in Southeast Asia in 1978 with the Southeast Asia regional headquarters now located in Singapore. The Asia Pacific region is serviced through an extensive retail branch network, which includes locations across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China. Crown has recently launched in a number of new locations with branches in the growth hubs of Johor, Malaysia; Rayong, Thailand; Clark, the Philippines; Incheon, South Korea; and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. For more information, please go to www.crown.com. Crown is one of the world’s largest material handling companies with a reputation for awardwinning product design, advanced engineering and technology, and superior after-sale service. Crown’s business philosophy utilizes vertically integrated processes to design, manufacture and distribute forward-thinking, innovative solutions that improve customers’ productivity and operating efficiency. Crown produces a broad range of forklifts as well as automation and fleet management technologies. The company’s global headquarters is located in New Bremen, Ohio, USA, with regional headquarters in Munich, Germany; Sydney, Australia; Suzhou, China and Singapore. Its employees number more than 15,000 worldwide. Crown operates a service and distribution network that exceeds 500 retail locations in over 80 countries. To learn more about Crown’s ideas for helping customers advance the productivity of their operations, visit crown.com.
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MEWAH GROUP meals. People are not just buying a bottle of oil at the supermarket
demand also comes increased supply from competing companies,
so they can fry their own food at home – they want so-called
and with growing affluence come rising expectations. Amongst
‘convenience food’. So, we are working with these customers to
these expectations are, of course, health standards, which Mewah
use the right type of oils, so that they can cook the meal and, when
must, like all other consumables companies, constantly keep up
it is microwaved later on, it will still have the same flavour profile as
with their product list. “One of the hot topics right now is trans fats.
if it had been freshly fried.”
The consumer does not want, or has a low tolerance for, trans fats.
“So, for example, a customer might say that they need their
The other hot topic is hydrogenation.” Mewah’s job is to provide
best-seller casserole to be microwavable. We will propose a
companies with products that match these requirements without
product, and then we may need to go backwards and forwards over
sacrificing on quality or taste. Their awareness of these standards
time. Taste is one factor that we look at, and another aspect is the
must also go beyond their own borders and laws: “Our products are
shelf life. For example, they may tell us that they want the shelf life
sold around the world, from South America to Eastern Europe to
for their product to be three months or six months etc., and so once
China and Australia, and so on.”
the initial taste has been approved, we will perform a full shelf-life
However, whilst this b2b process accounts for 80% of their
test.” These tests require waiting for the full shelf life of the product
operations, it isn’t Mewah’s only business. 20% of their products
and testing its quality again, to make sure that its quality has been
are sold business to consumer (b2c) on the retail market, including
maintained. Mewah participates in this back-and-forth until their
cooking oils, margarines and spreads, condensed milk, and so on.
customer is satisfied, and it is this attention to detail that makes
Whilst this is an area that they would like to expand, b2b seems
them a reliable partner in any production process – especially in an
set to remain their focus: “B2b is our bread and butter. Our scale
increasingly competitive market.
of production is big, and we are in demand from our customers;
As the population has risen and grown more affluent, demand
they come back to us and say that they like that we’re doing, and
for food products has naturally risen. However, with increased
know that they can use our solutions to produce a finer product.
Food and Beverage Solutions JBT develops and delivers innovative food, beverage and dairy systems to multi-national and regional food processors. From single machines to complete processing lines, we enhance product value and safety. JBT equipment captures the quality, nutrition and taste of your product at the lowest cost per unit produced.
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e: infoasia-jbtfoodtech@jbtc.com
Australia : phone : +61 7 3896 6100 Philippines : phone : +63 2 830 2085 China : phone : +86 21 3339 1588
20 | Endeavour Magazine
We’re with you, right down the line.TM
Singapore : phone : +65 6542 9255 India : phone : +91 77 2202 9071/72 Thailand : phone : +66 2 257 4000
Japan : phone : +81 3 3660 5550 Vietnam : phone : +84 8 54 161 838 Malaysia : phone : +60 3 2166 7898
Whether it be construction, consultation, plantation or rental of machinery, Orient Arotek Engineering & Trading Sdn Bhd have all your needs covered.
The group continues to move forwards through adaptation and creativity, offering an array of services along the journey. Director of Orient Arotek, Dato’ Dr. Joseph Lee has been at the helm since the company’s humble beginnings in 2002, and recently won the outstanding category in the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Award 2018. The Group’s new slogan, “Never give up & fight to the end”, shows their company spirit as they continue onto their 16th year in business. Orient Arotek Engineering & Trading Sdn Bhd is part of the OAE Builder Group of companies which also consist of the following subsidiaries: • Cat Flooring Specialists Sdn Bhd • DNR Machinery Sdn Bhd • Dynamic Nature Engineering & Hardware Sdn Bhd • Dynamic Nature Agro Sdn Bhd • Dynamic Nature Metal Sdn Bhd • Dynamic Nature Plantation Sdn Bhd • SBN Sport Resources Sdn Bhd The OAE Group’s core businesses are steel structures, piping, vessels, storage tanks and civil works. However, OAE is full of variety, as they also provide the rental of construction machinery and equipment, as well as the collection of scrap metal. PU & Silicon PU Flooring Works add more feathers to the Group’s quiver, whilst also supplying and selling a wide array of building materials, hardware items, tools and steels products.
Tel: 03 – 4024 1182, Fax: 03 – 40243193 http://oae.com.my/
Recent and ongoing projects have included the demolition and re-build of factories in Shah Alam and the fabrications of mild steel storage tanks in Pulau Indah, Klang. In addition, the Group operates in the development and management of palm oil plantations and the selling of quality palm oil seed. This division currently manages the palm oil plantations in Bintulu, Sarawak. The OAE Group received a certificate of registration to the ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management System (QMS) in 2012 and, recently, the company successfully completed the transition onto the new ISO 9001:2015 Standard. This award attests to the company’s efforts in developing internal procedures and improving customer services, in addition to the development of the quality objectives and policies in a manner conducive to higher value for partners and all related parties. Orient Arotek Engineering & Trading Sdn Bhd are currently well positioned in the marketplace and are in a period of great expansion, aimed at broadening and intensifying their position in carefully selected investment areas throughout their journey. They continue to move forwards to create value and become a leading group of companies in Malaysia.
MALAYSIA INVESTMENT HOLDING COMPANY WITH A BROAD RANGE OF INTERESTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION, CONSULTATION, PLANTATION, RENTAL OF MACHINERIES SECTORS.
Orient Arotek Engineering & Trading Sdn Bhd 8-5-1, 5th Floor, Diamond Square Commercial Centre, Jalan Semarak Api 3, Off Jalan Gombak, 53000 Kuala Lumpur.
The company is well positioned in the market place and is in a period of expansion aimed at broadening and intensifying positions in carefully selected investment areas.
The Group continues to move forward to create value and make a difference and become a leading group of companies in Malaysia.
With a well-defined direction in place, the Group’s mission serves as the framework for the group’s roadmap.
Tel: 03 – 4024 1182, Fax: 03 – 40243193 http://oae.com.my/
MEWAH GROUP Additionally, b2c is a slower business to grow: it’s a little trickier, in
enough, I felt that a quicker decision-making process would be
that you need to do more marketing, brand positioning and brand
more beneficial, especially out here in Asia. If you take too long,
awareness. We are developing it, but the gestation period will be
you may miss the window of opportunity, and competitors move
much longer - especially globally.”
quickly. The owners of Mewah are here on the ground, they see the
The process may take longer, but across the board, Mewah are dedicated to growth. To this end, a new factory is under
competitors moving, and if there’s any need, they say, “Ok, this is where we want to go – go.” Bang. There we are.”
construction in North China. “We believe that this will be one of
Previous to joining Mewah, Phang had been in the oils and fats
our major focuses in the coming years, as we grow this part of
industry for 20 years. The company knew him by reputation before
the market. We are growing our footprint in China. It’s a massive
they spoke, and they were quick to find a mutual understanding
market out there, so we are definitely moving in that direction, and
over what Mewah needed as a company, and how Phang could
want to be on the ground. We started construction in April last
provide it.
year, and we should be starting it up in the later part of next year.”
Given his passion for growth and his support of Mewah’s style
This expansion is just one manifestation of a deeper company
of operations, we asked Phang what his advice was for business
attitude, and what drew Phang to the company two years ago.
partners: “I tell those who work with me, ‘The company wants
“What appealed to me about Mewah was that they have a passion
to grow. You bring in the ideas, you bring in the customers.’ Just
to grow. Decision making happens quickly, in the sense that the
bring it, you know? We’ll have a discussion, and if it seems worth
owners are here, and I work with them directly. When I worked
doing, we’ll try it. It might just be a small step, but we’ll give it a
at my previous company, decision making would take longer; you
try, and if it’s successful, we’ll grow it out more.” Allowing staff the
had to approach different stakeholders and different project teams,
same sense of involvement in the company’s progress that Phang
to get all of them on board. There was nothing wrong with that
values himself has been successful in igniting motivation in the
– it’s just a different style – but after being in the business long
workplace. With this fire under them, the launch of the company’s
www.desmetballestra.com 24 | Endeavour Magazine
new factory will be the first step of many innovations and leaps
time when they choose to do this. These works have included
forward to come.
support of blood drives and local orphanages, and perhaps most
As well as this belief in empowering their own people, Mewah
notably, disaster relief efforts.
also believe in empowering their community. As the company
With this sort of drive in their staff, both for their community
states, “In every place that we operate, Mewah partners with the
and for the company itself, fostered by a culture of support from
local communities to support their particular needs. We contribute
Mewah that breeds a loyal enthusiasm from their employees in
regularly to local charities, and our people organise and participate
turn, it is no wonder that the company is growing. As he continues
in social events to support and bring joy to the less fortunate in our
in his new position, with fast decision-making enabling rapid
local areas. Our goal is to enrich the lives of the people around the
change, it will be exciting to see where Mewah takes itself in the
touchpoints that we have established.”
years to come.
Mewah’s outreach initiatives include a range of fund-raising activities to support charitable organizations that look after children in their areas. As they explain, “We believe that every child deserves a chance at a life filled with love, laughter, friends and family. Every year, a number of fund-raising activities will be held internally and externally to distribute funds, groceries and stationeries to children via charitable organisation. Our efforts are not only directed at alleviating the disablement of the less fortune children but also at giving those children a hope for the future.” As well as raising funds, many of Mewah’s staff actively volunteer with local organisations, and the company supports their
Endeavour Magazine | 25
OSERIAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY WWW.OSERIAN.COM // 00254 50 203 0210
A PLACE OF PEACE Many of us buy them, but where do they come from? Bouquets at a wedding, a gift for a date or relative, decoration for the house - we fill our lives with flowers for a multitude of reasons, but their source might surprise you. We spoke with Mary Kinyua, Director of Human Resources and Administration, Oserian Development Company, Kenya’s first and leading flower farm. WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
OSERIAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Before 1982, the Kenyan government did not recognise
the flower export market as a trade. Even now, the idea of flower farms may seem highly niche, and yet buying flowers is, in many countries, common practice. Not in Africa, however, and especially not in Kenya, as Mary explained: “In Africa, and particularly in Kenya, we do not have the culture of buying or using flowers. Maybe you would need them for a wedding, but people don’t care too much about their value or quality. Once it’s been used, it’s useless. However, the European market will buy a flower for sentimental value.”
T
his cultural difference meant that it was only in recent decades
talk to other flower companies, they will make reference to us as
that Kenyans started using their space and sunlight to explore
market leaders, both in how we run our business, how we manage
this crop. The industry was pioneered by Hans Zwager, a Dutch
our people, and also in the quality that we generate.” These are
World War II Marine turned entrepreneur. Purchasing a ranch and
fantastic claims, but how has the company managed to hold its
land near Kenya’s Lake Naivasha in the 1950s, Zwager operated
position for so long in a growing market? They have taken their
a vegetable farm until a colleague of his suggested that they turn
reputation beyond simply being “first”, pouring efforts into not just
their attention to flowers instead. The transition wasn’t as simple as
quantity, but quality, sustainability, innovation, and ethics. Not
planting the crops, however; first, Zwager needed to convince the
content with simply striving for the best products on the market,
Kenyan government that the industry was viable and that an export
Oserian also aims to be the best to work with - both as a customer
market for flowers existed. His efforts not only opened the way
and as an employee.
for Oserian, but for many other farmers to follow: “Our founder
“We’ve kept a particular brand reputation in the market. Anyone
actively lobbied the development of the industry,” explained Mary,
who interacts with us knows that we’re an ethical business and that
“Giving the government particular confidences and guarantees to
we like to do particular things in a particular way. We are also, in my
convince them to allow us to begin the trade. Of course, 30 plus
opinion, the most innovative farm in the world.”
years later, there are now almost 150 flower farms in Kenya alone.”
This may sound like a staggering and unlikely claim, but in
Flower export is now amongst the highest export markets for
hearing the breakdown of Oserian’s innovations across the board,
Kenya, and a regulatory board - Kenya Flower Council - oversees the
it’s hard not to be impressed. In every area, they seem to have
trade. Between 20-30% of the flowers grown are consumed locally,
not only innovated in terms of efficiency, but also in terms of
whilst the rest are shipped abroad - and it all started with Oserian.
sustainability. “We’ve not simply gone green; we’re trying to be
Kenya Flower Council is a voluntary membership organization.
the most environmentally friendly organisation in the industry.” To
It is not a regulatory board. The council certifies grower members
take a look at a few of Oserian’s innovations, 50% of their flowers
on voluntary Code of Practice developed by the organization and
are heated, using their own, sustainable sources of geothermal
is a self-regulation- more information on the role of the council is
energy. Tapping into geothermal energy has enabled the farm to
available on their website
not only reduce reliance on the national grid but also produce
Whilst they launched the market, Oserian now have numerous
flowers that can only thrive through the process. The farm runs
competitors, and whether they opened that door for them or
the world’s largest geothermal heated greenhouses. The heating
not, it is still the case that now they must work to stay ahead. It
is hugely beneficial as it removes humidity and associated pests
seems that they have succeeded; their reputation remains high
and diseases. We therefore use less pesticides leading to a cleaner
both throughout the industry and their local communities: “If you
environment, healthier plants and safer workers.
28 | Endeavour Magazine
OSERIAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY They use electric vehicles around their land, also powered by this same geothermal energy, and as a part of their goal to be carbon neutral by 2020, have dispensed with their lawnmowers in favour of using sheep.
practically zero carbon footprint: that is something that we would really like to push.” As well as their exemplary commitment to the environment and sustainable practices, Oserian go far beyond the call of duty when
They were also amongst the first farms in the country to start
it comes to the support of their staff and the local community. As
using hydroponics, before the method became popular. This
we see article after article, many companies around the world are
method not only protects the soil from the damages of over-
investing back into their area with life-changing results, but the
farming, but also allows for more efficient water management than
amount that Oserian provides for their staff and their families
soil farming, with 30-40% of the water used able to be recycled.
is truly noteworthy. The company operates seven schools,
Today, 70% of Oserian’s crops are grown on hydroponics.” We have
ranging from early childhood development centres to secondary
also invested in integrated pest management. We grow two million
schools, providing education opportunities for 1,600 children.
beneficial insects a week on our farms, so we use far less chemicals
They also own and maintain a vast housing estate that provides
that other farms.”
free electricity and water to its 11,000 residents. On top of this,
Hydroponics is a soilless growing technology. In high-tech
Oserian staff, their spouses and children all receive free treatment
farming, growers opt for it to manage soil-borne diseases, minimize
from a medical centre that includes a maternity wing and dentistry.
water use as well as fertilizers since there is no leaching. Growing
Finally, they also run a crèche, that cares for an average of 100
nutrients are localized as the plant only takes what it requires
children of Oserian employees, thus allowing parents - especially
through drip irrigation.
new parents - to work without issue. This crèche is situated right
Using all of these innovations, plus investigating into greener
beside the medical centre, allowing Oserian to give the children
shipping strategies, Oserian are steaming towards their carbon-
check-ups and ensure that they are properly cared for. “We also
neutral 2020 goal. “To sell zero-carbon-related roses is one of our
make sure that these children have zero malnutrition issues, and
dreams. Once our rose arrives with the customer, it would still have
we feed them ourselves. This crèche has been running for over
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KENAGRO SUPPLIERS LTD P.O.BOX 12775-00400 Nairobi, Kenya.Tel: +254 725 538 297/+254 770 805 211 Email:sales@kenagrosuppliers.co.ke | Web:www.kenagrosuppliers.co.ke
30 | Endeavour Magazine
20 years, and it has actually been credited by WHO as a model of excellence as well as UNICEF and the Ministry of Health (Kenya) as a breastfeeding at work model. . So, if anyone wants to start a crèche, they should look at ours.” New mothers are allowed at
WE ARE PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH OSERIAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
least two hours off work to breastfeed their babies, an hour before lunch and another before official time off in the afternoon to pick the infants. These resources are provided for Oserian employees, but of course, this means a significant number of the Kenyan locals, as well as their families, and this has a knock-on effect on the wider area. On top of this, Oserian are involved in outreach initiatives with the local communities, and in particular, the neighbouring Maasai community. As Mary tells us, the Maasai people have long held a place of emotional significance for the Kenyan company; “Oserian” is even a Maasai word, meaning “place of peace”. “We give to the communities, we try to actually enable them. For example, we give beads to local Maasai women, who use them to create bracelets that then go into the local market. We also use the bracelets to wrap our bouquets. We also try to provide local agriculture with foods that will genetically produce a better yield.” The extra earnings from the bracelets is given to the Maasai women who use the funds to educate their daughters.
P.O. Box 70591-00400 NAIROBI Tel: 020 2403149
Jogoo Plaza 2nd flr. Jogoo Road Pin No. P0513378490
Endeavour Magazine | 31
OSERIAN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY Oserian started a community sheep project to support
“The flower industry is a fashion industry, but of course, there
improvement of nutrition and livelihoods. The farm developed the
are constants, such as the reds and whites. It is a market of trends,
‘Doma’, a hybrid sheep crossbred between the local and Dorper
but also of tradition.” Whilst trends don’t move at the speeds of
resulting into a higher breed that has 25% more meat. The herders
the clothing or technology industry, say, their peaks and troughs
therefore earn more from their animals.
are something that Oserian watch closely, as well as constantly
Through the Tissue Culture Lab, Stokman Rozen, the farms
evaluating ways in which they can increase their efficiency and
propagation unit, it was realized that the same agriculture
bring themselves closer to their low-impact, chemical-light, carbon-
technologies that produce clean flower planting materials can be
neutral goals. As their latest step towards this, the company has
applied to developing superior seeds and seedlings to support
entered into a partnership with Madumbi, a South African biological
food security. So far, the lab is producing potato seed, TC banana
company and Swiss firm Andermatt, to create Madumbi East Africa,
seedlings, and sweet potatoes among others.
who work to assist sustainable agriculture, with the aim to further
Of course, through all of these good works, we cannot
reduce their use of chemicals.
forget that Oserian began and ends with one thing: the flower.
“This is my fourth year with Oserian,” Mary tells us
Their dedication to quality has continued to set them apart
enthusiastically, “And I love working here. Our managing director is
- quality created through their farming innovations, and also
extremely passionate about working with people to achieve results,
through careful planning and monitoring, with factors as detailed
but I think for me, the most important thing about this company is
as petal density and its resulting ability to be shipped being
its ethics and its heart.” This heart is clear; it is amazing to discover
taken into consideration before varieties are even chosen to
a company that not only pioneered an export in their country,
be planted.
but continues to lead that industry with innovation and integrity,
As for the varieties themselves, the company constantly keeps
for the good of their customers, their employees, and the planet.
its eye on what is in demand, and weighs this up against what will
Apply all of that to acres of stunning floricultural crops, and Oserian
grow and ship effectively and profitably.
provides plenty to smile about.
SNOWSTORM+
32 | Endeavour Magazine
CERN WWW.HOME.CERN // 0041 22 76 761 11
NEW DISCOVERIES FROM THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER You may remember with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was switched on. Many were afraid that its ignition would trigger the destruction of our universe; this may sound farfetched now, but it shows the sheer level of ground-breaking energy that even Joe Public new the LHC could produce. We all survived, of course, and today, the LHC is still making discoveries worthy of this awe. WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER & JACK SLATER
CERN
Whilst we may remember when we were on the day in
2013 when the world held its breath for implosion, the media attention geared towards CERN still left many of us laypeople with little real understanding of who this organisation behind the Collider are.
C
ERN created the Large Hadron Collider in order to prove the
a resolution authorizing UNESCO to “assist and encourage the
existence of the Higgs Boson particle, the particle that particle
formation of regional research laboratories in order to increase
that was responsible for giving all objects in the universe
international scientific collaboration…”
mass via the boson field. At the time, this particle was purely a
A year later in Paris, December 1951, at an intergovernmental
theoretical idea. However, CERN’s origins go back far before this
meeting of UNESCO, the first resolution concerning the
2013 experiment.
establishment of a European Council for Nuclear Research was
In many ways CERN originated from the pursuit of truth against
adopted. Once done, it took two months before 11 countries
all odds. By the end of the Second World War, on the 9th December
signed an agreement establishing the provisional council and the
1949, European science was no longer world-class and, following
acronym CERN was born.
the example of international organisations, a handful of visionary
Today, CERN’s Large Hadron Collider is the world’s largest
scientists imagined creating a European atomic physics laboratory
and most powerful particle collider, representing the largest and
with the aim of understanding nuclear physics and how it could
most complex experimental facility ever built, and the largest
benefit mankind. Amongst these pioneers were such people as
single machine in the world. The 27-kilometer machine includes
Raoul Dautry, Pierre Auger and Lew Kowarski in France, Edoardo
the injectors that create the all-important beams. Constructed at
Amaldi in Italy and Niels Bohr in Denmark.
CERN between 1998 and 2008 in collaboration with over 10,000
It was their belief that such a laboratory would not only unite
scientists and engineers from over 100 countries, as well as
European scientists, but also allow them to share the increasing
hundreds of universities and laboratories, the LHC lies in a tunnel
costs of nuclear physics facilities in a period still reeling from the
27-kilometers (17 mi) in circumference, as deep as 175 metres (574
economic impact of World War II.
ft) beneath the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, Switzerland.
In the scientific community, the idea was well received from
Its first research run took place from 30th March 2010 to 13th
global locations. French physicist Louis De Broglie applied his first
February 2013 at an initial energy of 3.5 teraelectronvolts (TeV) per
official proposal for the creation the laboratory at the European
beam (7 TeV total), almost four times more than the previous world
Cultural Conference, which opened in Lausanne on 9th December
record for a collider rising to 4 TeV per beam (8 TeV total). It contains
1949. A further push for the idea came at the fifth UNESCO General
seven detectors, each designed for certain kinds of research. The
Conference, which was held in Florence in June 1950, where the
proton-proton collision is the primary operation method, but the
renowned American physicist and Nobel laureate Isidor Rabi tabled
LHC has also collided protons with lead nuclei.
36 | Endeavour Magazine
CERN Another record breaker was the LHC’s computing grid: data
The new particles are baryons, the same classification as the
from collisions was anticipated to be produced at an unprecedented
protons that the LHC collides. All baryons are made up of three
rate of tens of petabytes per year, a major challenge at the time,
quarks – however, the new particles are made up of different
to be analysed by a grid-based computer network infrastructure
quarks to the protons that were collided to create them. As the
connecting 140 computing centres in 35 countries. By 2012, the
CERN report explains, “Whereas protons contain two up quarks
Worldwide LHC Computing Grid was the world’s largest distributed
and one down quark, the new particles, dubbed Σb(6097)+ and
computing grid, comprising over 170 computing facilities in a
Σb(6097)-, are bottom baryons composed of one bottom quark and
worldwide network across 36 countries
two up quarks (buu) or one bottom quark and two down quarks
The LHC’s aim is to allow physicists to test the theories of
(bdd) respectively. Four relatives of these particles, known as Σb+,
particle physics, high-energy physics. The Collider achieved its
Σb-, Σb*+ and Σb*-, were first observed at a Fermilab experiment,
purpose of proving the existence of the Higgs-Boson particle,
but this is the first time that their two higher-mass counterparts,
although at the time, CERN were making use of 1% of the
Σb(6097)+ and Σb(6097)-, have been detected.”
LHC’s total strength. Now, the LHC’s ability to find and prove
This may be a little dense to read, but the upshot of it is that
the existence of particles may have stumbled across three new
these discoveries have raised interesting questions about what
discoveries in one. As reported by CERN on September 27th, the
happens to quarks during this process, and the answers could
Collider has found evidence of two never-before-seen particles,
have wider repercussions for science operating at a particle level.
as well as hints of another new particle. These particles were all
The strong force between quarks is one of the fundamental forces
detected within high-energy proton collisions inside the Collider.
of nature that make up our universe: in other words, the LHC is
As yet, little is known about these new particles, but further
continuing to make sci-fi-esque strides forwards, both proving that
studies planned by CERN should shed light on their properties,
these is so much we still don’t know about the universe, and yet
as well as, CERN hope, greater insight into the force that binds
at the same time, providing a unique ability for us to begin finding
quarks together.
the answers.
38 | Endeavour Magazine
High voltage accelerator assembly for ion-source ø 560 x L 450 mm
s em l b Pro ted! wan
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Endeavour Magazine | 39
SAESL WWW.SAESL.COM.SG // 0065 6415 7502
MAINTAINING EXCELLENCE Rolls-Royce Plc may be famous for its four-wheeled beauties, but these iconic vehicles are just a part of the wide spectrum of operations for the world-famous engineering company. WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
SAESL
Despite the classic designs and sense of history that the
name invokes, robotics, marine vehicles, defence and even modular nuclear reactors are all part of the portfolio for these innovators. High on that list is also work in aerospace, including both defence works and work in the private sector. Amongst their ventures in the latter, there is SAESL.
S
ingapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (SAESL) is a
efficient large aero engines. The design uses a three-spool system
joint venture company between Rolls-Royce and Singapore
rather than two, making the XWB a more complex engine than
Airlines Engineering Company. The venture was created
most, but despite this, it is also one of the lightest, and features
in 1999 and began operations in 2001, and has since become a
a shorter, firmer core that suffers less damage than those of its
market leader for both engine overhaul and component repairs.
predecessors.
Working closely with Rolls-Royce, the company is able to
Given the XWB’s popularity and fast-earned prestige, it is
support the needs of all Trent engines – that is, the Rolls-Royce
notable that SAESL can not only service the latest Trent, but, as
Trent, the company’s ranging collection of high-bypass turbofan
the only MRO that can support all of Trent’s products, it has been
engines. The Trent series currently consists of the 500, 700, 800,
selected as the newest model’s main MRO facility. So, what exactly
900, 1000 and the Trent XWB, all of which can be repaired and
do SAESL’s services cover, and how do they manage to respond to
serviced by SAESL. All Trent models are a development of the
the demands of this role?
RB211, with thrust ratings of between 53,000 and 97,000 lbf.
SAESL currently employs over 1000 people, all of whom hold
First launched in 1990 with only the Trent 700, which can
technical expertise and are, naturally, specifically trained in Trent
power all versions of the Airbus A330, this range now includes the
engine knowledge. Their main operations break down into two
only engine that can power the increased range Airbus A340-500
departments: Engine Overhaul and Component Repair. SAESL’s
and A340-600 (Trent 500), as well as models that can power the
Engine Overhaul business boasts best in class turnaround times,
Boeing 777-200, -200ER and -300 (Trent 800), the Boeing 787
thanks to their flexible strip and build processes, and has the
Dreamline (Trent 1000), and the first engine to power the double-
capacity to repair and overhaul over 300 engines per year. Its
decker Airbus A380 (Trent 900).
main services include: engine disassembly, LLP exchange, parts &
The latest addition to the six-model range is the Trent XWB,
accessory repair, documentation, modifications, engine assembly,
which serves as the sole-source engine for the Airbus A350. This
engine testing, engineering support and web-based status
newest model is also the fastest selling in the Trent series, and with
reporting. The department is also equipped with a state-of-the-
good reason: custom-designed for the A350, it develops 75,000lb
art Engine Test Facility, which is capable of testing engines up to
to 97,000lb of thrust and is regarded as one of the world’s most
140inch diameter and 150k pounds of thrust. This provides SAESL
42 | Endeavour Magazine
SAESL with the capability to carry out full engine tests on all current Trent
they have produced a quality finished product once their work
types, as well as being able to respond to the likely requirements of
is complete. This includes material testing, to ensure that the
any future engine designs.
integrity and consistency of component materials is as it should be,
According to SAESL, the company constantly invests in
as well as extremely thorough measurement and inspection. X-rays,
innovation and technology to remain at the front of the MRO
ultrasonic testing and magnetic particle inspections are some of
industry. This includes the ability to stay ahead of their clients’
the many methods employed to test engines and components
needs and, through their partnership with Rolls-Royce, anticipate
as thoroughly as possible without affecting the machine itself
any requirements from future Trent models.
- methods that are described as “non-destructive testing”. The
Meanwhile, the SAESL component repair department supports
repair process then involves many parts: chemical processing and
both in-house and global component repair demand. Through
cleaning, for example, removes field service debris and the results
component repair alone, they have the capability to repair over
of hot corrosion. This process is carried out by fully automated
80% of the engines’ parts, including five accredited Centres of
gantries with a variety of capabilities, including waterjets, acidic
Excellence for Fan Blades, Compressor Blades, Nozzle Guide Vanes,
and alkaline cleaning, and robotic abrasive blasting. These high-
Compressor Stator Vanes and Front Combustion Liners. To further
intensity units scour off any unwanted debris quickly, efficiently,
improve their capabilities, in 2016, the company entered into an
and with some serious power.
amalgamation with International Engine Component Overhaul
Once this is complete, coating can be removed if needed, and
Pte Ltd (IECO), a world class component repair company based in
on the flipside of this, SAESL can add a new coating layer. HPT &
Singapore.
IPT blades are coated to protect the aerodynamics of the blades
As with full engine overhauls, the component repair process
from hot corrosion and oxidation, and this process is critical for
naturally requires thorough testing, to make sure that SAESL
enhancing and prolonging the operational life of the engine. SAESL
are certain of the source of the problem, and to guarantee that
can offer a range of coating options, including thermal barrier
44 | Endeavour Magazine
coating, abradable coating and diff coating, as well as offering other processes including platinum plating and atmospheric plasma spray. As well as cleaning, coating and protecting the blades, SAESL of course need to be able to repair this extremely delicate and essential component. They achieve this with thermal processing: a refurbishment process of recovering the blade to an ‘as new’ condition. Their capabilities in this area include atmospheric furnace processing and vacuum furnace processing. On top of these specialist procedures, SAESL are of course also able to carry out countless types of general repairs, from heavyduty welding to careful vibro-polishing. Across the board, SAESL’s main priority is, of course, quality. When maintaining engines that not only navigate the risks of air travel, but also represent a company name as well-reputed as Rolls-Royce, SAESL cannot deliver anything less than the very best. In every way, they have worked to make sure that they cover their customers’ sprawling range of needs with not only speed, but also precision, to create a
SAESL uses PROGRESSIVE SURFACE® waterjet
cleaning, automated blade peening, grit blasting, and robotic shot peen systems to perform engine overhaul and component repair. SAESL has purchased nearly a dozen Progressive machines since 2001.
SAESL continues to choose Progressive because of its proven track record, process-specific system engineering, world-class machinery, and lifetime support.
final product that is ready to soar.
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progressivesurface.com +1.616.957.0871
sales@progressivesurface.com Endeavour Magazine | 45
AMAZING WORLD BY DAVID KIMBERLEY
THE DEVIL’S KETTLE
N
othing spurs the imagination quite so much as an unsolved geological mystery, and there are plenty of these
to be found in all corners of the world. One such phenomenon is located in Judge C.R. Magney State Park in Minnesota, USA, where the Brule River flows towards Lake Superior. Follow the river on its meandering way and you will find a split, forming a pair of waterfalls. The eastern cascade flows into a pool before continuing on its way to the lake. The western waterfall, however, plummets into a wide hole in the rock, disappearing from view. This has come to be known as the Devil’s Kettle. You may be thinking that this does not sound much like a mystery, but what if nobody knew where the water actually
not present amongst the rock formations of
attempt to track the course of the water and
went? There have been a number of possible
Minnesota; a third idea is that it disappears
see where they emerge. From logs to ping
answers offered: some have speculated that
into a fault line, but such a geological feature
pong balls, everything thrown in disappears
it empties into an underground river, hidden
would have to be extremely large to allow
into the void below and never reappears.
away in the depths, that then flows to Lake
that amount of water through it, and again
Superior, but no evidence of such a body
there is no evidence supporting this.
Never ones to let a mystery lie, scientists recently began to study the Devil’s Kettle
of water has ever been found; some have
Where scientific reasoning and testing
again and, whilst there are no definitive
suggested that the water goes into a volcanic
has failed, people have gone back to basics,
results as yet, they have theorised that the
tube, but these only exist in basalt, which is
throwing items into the Devil’s Kettle in an
water falling into the pit must be rejoining the
46 | Endeavour Magazine
Brule River somewhere further downstream. Hydrologists
have
claimed
that
measuring the water volume both above and
behind this, they claim, is that the Devil’s
tracking devices have vanished without a
Kettle completely churns up everything that
trace.
enters its vortex.
So, with a mind-blowing volume of water
below the falls has shown them to be nearly
This may sound possible, but the lack of
falling into it every minute of every day,
identical, leading to the hypothesis that the
concrete evidence and the fact no pieces
the question of what happens inside the
water is still finding its way down via another
of the items have ever materialized leaves
Devil’s Kettle continues to both intrigue the
route. So far, this has not been proven, as
many still skeptical. If anything, it intensifies
inquisitive and frustrate the scientific. If its
items and even dyes sent down into the
the supernatural element of the story when
secrets were never to be revealed, would
depths have not resurfaced. The reasoning
you consider that robust items fitted with
that really be such a bad thing? Endeavour Magazine | 47
D R I V I N G I N T E L L I G E N T T R A N S F O R M AT I O N Lenovo South Africa represent an IT giant in a challenging but always interesting market. We spoke with Thibault Dousson, General Manager, about the complexities of his team’s operations, both in terms of their part of the world, and the ever-evolving demands of the fast-paced IT sector...
Globally, Lenovo is a $45 billion global technology leader, supplying computer devices and solutions to over 160 countries worldwide with a team 54,000 strong. Founded in 1984 by Liu Chuanzhi in a Beijing guard shack, Lenovo grew to become China's leading PC company. The company went on to purchase IBM's Personal Computing Division, and has gone on to reach number 226 on the Fortune Global 500 list. We spoke with Thibault Dousson, General Manager of Lenovo Southern Africa, to find out how this large-scale company tackles this complex and extremely changeable market. “The use of technology in modern life is evolving at an ever-increasing pace, and South Africa is catching up,” Thibault tells us. “Late last year, Google’s 2017 Connected Consumer Study revealed that 60 percent of South Africans now use a smartphone. In 2014, this number was just 47 percent.” Lenovo South Africa’s business splits into two main categories: personal computing group and datacenter group. Their Datacenter Group offer solutions that don’t require any legacy hardware or software, being a very open platform offering. Which makes it a compelling offer in terms of flexibility and cost. In the personal computing side of the company, Lenovo supply devices across three main sectors: consumer, SMB and enterprise, and the public sector. Most notably, this includes the supply of notebooks, desktop computers and tablets, but naturally also includes all of the accessories that one could need to compliment these purchases.
“A big chunk of our business in South Africa is our Enterprise business. That’s really our top 100, top 150 customers in the country,” explains Thibault. “There, we’re focusing on high-end notebooks, four or five years’ warranty, global flexibility in terms of docking stations and security software, etc. It is a very exciting and buoyant market here. Because of the IBM legacy, we had lots of big customers – big banks, big public sector customers, education – it’s quite an exciting part of our business.” Whilst Enterprise represents some of Lenovo’s biggest customers, the consumer market accounts for about 20-30% of their revenue. They sell their products to large retailers, covering a range of laptops and notebooks, including their popular brand, Yoga. “We’ve been pushing that brand to the market for quite some time now. Lots of colors, powerful configuration, high end graphics cards and a multi modal device (360 degrees hinges); we do put a lot of emphasis on the look and feel of the brand. Yoga is just one of Lenovo’s many laptop brands, not to mention their array of other personal computing devices. However, laptops are currently the area to watch: “Not so long ago, the only place you could connect to the internet was a desktop or laptop, so the laptop market was doing really well, and then smartphones arrived. All of a sudden, everything switched. Then the tablet changed the market up again. Recently, the notebook has been the best area of growth, in terms of product.”
One of Yoga laptops’ features are their 360-degree hinge for added comfort and ease. Comfort, as Thibault explained, is one of the three areas in which Lenovo focuses its innovation when developed new products. “Through research and speaking with countless customers, we learned three things people value most when it comes to the technology they use: time, comfort, and connection. These are the elements that will drive personalised computing for Lenovo and our customers. Technology for technology’s sake should never be the goal. With time, comfort, and connection as the guiding principles and metrics in mind, we’re better placed to solve problems and create enhanced experiences.” Innovating with these principles in mind involves finding new ways to streamline tasks and accessibility, create smoother sharing experiences between personal and communal computing, and adopting devices’ physical design to better match how technology is currently used. “In China, the social media platform WeChat has huge numbers of users, and this led to the adoption of large smartphone screens ahead of the West. At Lenovo, we’re looking ahead at bendable and foldable form factors to help people to do more of the things they want in new and more comfortable ways.” Of course, when it comes to staying ahead of consumer IT products, there is an area that you cannot afford to overlook: “We’ve got a niche market in gaming. The gaming market is completely booming. It’s been booming quite a bit now for quite sometime in Europe, but in South Africa it’s just starting. It’s quite nice – we’re always a year or two behind the trends, so you can look at Europe you know what’s going to happen in your future, almost. Gaming is basically our main focus at the moment.” With products falling in and out of favour so quickly, the issue of stocking becomes a precarious one, with a high risk of wastage. Avoiding this requires constant planning and a detailed awareness of the demand. “At the end of the day, we’re working with all the graphics card companies etc, and they tell us when they’re going to launch a new product. However, you’ve got to be careful how you bring your product to market, and you’ve got to be on top of your technology mapping. You can’t bring in too much volume in one go, so the refresh of your stock has to be done very carefully. It’s an exhilarating part of the market.” In comparison, for all that Enterprise is an exciting frontier in terms of technology, and for all that it represents some of Lenovo’s biggest customers, the market in South Africa is currently slow. “The public sector and enterprise sector aren’t doing much at the moment. There are elections next year, people are waiting to see which way it’s going to go. The rand is very volatile right now, so everyone is a little cautious.” Herein lies the great challenge of operating in South Africa: as well as IT being changeable by virtue of its fast-moving product development, the market that Thibault is selling to is also subject to constant flux. “The market in South Africa has done extremely well in the last six months, with double-digit growth from a unit point of view. However, the rand being one of the most volatile currencies in the world makes it for a very bumpy ride. When the rand is stable the market is buoyant; when the currency starts to swing, the fun starts and usually the business runs for cover.” Lenovo covers the entire SADC region, with good growth showing in particular in RSA, Mauritius, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Of these countries, the one to stand out the most to Thibault is Mauritius. “There’s some really good business coming out of Mauritius. The economy is stable, the politics are very stable too, so it’s quite a nice little gem. It’s not big, is the only problem, but it’s doing very well, and it’s a very steady type of business.” The markets in the other countries Thibault mentioned are less stable, with growth occurring at times, and sales drying up at others. “It’s quite tricky to work in South Africa. You can never really bet on the long term. Zimbabwe was our biggest by far country about two years ago, and now they barely do anything.”
Between Lenovo South Africa’s countries of operation and the nature of IT, it’s a juggling act, but Thibault speaks about the challenges with bubbling enthusiasm. “IT has always been an exciting industry. There’s always new technology that comes up and changes everything. Now, there’s virtual reality, there’s AI – you never really know where it’s going next." Lenovo already offers an array of both augmented reality and virtual reality products, and they are working industriously to develop more. Even more excitingly, to keep their technology as streamlined and intuitive as possible, they are working on the evolution of their AI: “The explosion of data we have seen in the last five years was unimaginable 20 years ago. 90% of current data was created in the past two years, and 1.7 MB of data is created per second per person. We only use a small amount of this data. In the future, AI will continue to profoundly change industries and people’s lifestyles. To further advance the development of AI, we need to focus on four areas: algorithm, business application, computing power and data. Only a few companies have these four factors – and Lenovo is one of them.” Thibault began his love affair with IT in the early 2000s, and he fell for it instantly. “HP was massive in the town in France where I was living. I tried to get in, because IT at the time was an exciting market, and I got hooked. I worked at HP for 14 years; after a few years I joined the team in South Africa, where I had various positions with a lot of different experience, from product management to Enterprises sales, channel and retail. I became the country GM for the PC group in 2010 and for both PC and Print in 2012. Eventually, I left HP in 2016 to join Lenovo as the General Manager for the Southern Africa region.” As well as his love for the industry, it is clear from speaking with Thibault that he has a passion for his company. Whilst he only heads a small team in South Africa, compared to the vast scale of Lenovo’s global network, he speaks about them with as much pride as he does the industry itself: “We have approximately 50 people working for Lenovo South Africa, coming from very different backgrounds and experiences. I can honestly say that we have one of the best teams in the market. There is a mix of young and more experienced employees. The passion is there at every corner. We love what we do and I think the customer sees it. We have a very clear strategy when it comes to our sales direction. We are a 100% channel-driven organization, so if you keep with us, there is no risk or surprises that we will take the opportunity directly. I can tell you as well that we have the best products in the market, but I might be a little bit biased!” When management can speak about their company and their team with this much passion, people are clearly doing something right! South Africa is a challenging area to do business in, and especially in an industry as fast moving as IT products, but since Thibault arrived, he hasn’t been able to get enough. Where will his enthusiasm for the field take his team? Endeavour Magazine looks forward to finding out.
ACCRA CITY HOTEL
ACCRA CITY HOTEL
CREATING A HAVEN
WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
Located at the heart of tropical Ghana, in the capital
city of the same name, the Accra City Hotel (ACH) offers a gorgeous 4-star hub for anyone looking to enjoy the very best of the Ghanaian experience. WWW.ACCRACITYHOTEL.COM // 233 (0) 30 263 3863
nly 1KM from Accra’s business district and 3.6 KM from its
O
“What you find in Ghana is peace, space and tranquillity. It is a
entertainment centre, the hotel is ideal for works trips and
different type of tourism to experience this Ghanaian way of life.
holidays alike. The hotel is also a 15-minute drive from the
People want to find a feeling of simplicity that gives them time
Kotoka International Airport, and provides a free shuttle to deliver
and space to enjoy life; we give them the possibility to join in the
guests stress-free, making it as convenient and easy to visit as it
Ghanaian way of life.”
is comfortable.
Another draw that keeps guests coming back to the ACH is
The hotel really does offer everything a guest could want;
the Fihankra restaurant. This restaurant serves a delicious range
with a swimming pool and tennis courts, a top-quality all-day
of both local and continental cuisine, offering both buffet and a la
dining restaurant and the comfortable, relaxing Lounge Bar, the
carte menus. With a certified chef as the hotel’s General Manager,
hotel makes sure to look after its guests. Rooms even come with
you can guarantee that the standard is delicious – in fact, the
a complimentary mini bar. We spoke with Roman Krabel, General
Fihankra Restaurant, first and only winner in Ghana of the World
Manager of the Accra City Hotel, who was passionate to tell us
Luxury Restaurant Awards 2018.
what it is that makes this hotel stand out:
“I am very proud that our food is something that our guests
“We provide something different. It is not only the central
come back for! There is such a strong team in the kitchen; our chefs
location in the heart of Accra, or the national art pieces surrounding
are very inventive and always looking to impress. Executive Chef
our guests, or the carefully selected dishes and cocktails we serve,
Lucky is designing our new menu and he is so creative, with an
but also our special culture and service approach to the guests.
imagination that seems to have no limit! He also has a great eye for
We were voted Best 4-star Hotel in Accra by the Ghana Tourism
colour and presentation.”
Authority in 2016, we are a World Luxury Hotel Award Winner
The ACH offers 196 rooms for guests, as well as featuring
in 2017 and Best Business Hotel in Ghana 2018 by Global Haute
conference and meeting rooms that are fully equipped with modern
Grandeur Hotel Awards 2018.”
audio-visual systems, and able to accommodate up to 250 guests.
ACH is a privately owned and run company. This means that
Whether you are planning a business trip or a relaxing get-away,
it is able to take a more personal approach to its guests and its
ACH has everything you could need on offer, and Krabel is keen to
services than large, corporate-run hotel chains. It also allows
share the best of Ghana with his guests. As he was proud to tell us,
their leadership to make faster decisions, meaning they can truly
“Since our rebranding from Novotel to Accra City Hotel in January
keep up with their guests’ needs. Another defining quality for
2016, the hotel has been showered with awards, praising the
ACH is a genuine love of Ghana – a love that they are passionate
expert and innovative nature of the hotel’s team and the unrivalled
about sharing.
hospitality and service that it offers. Accra City Hotel redefines the
“Our guests come from all over the world to stay at our hotel.
gold standard of hotels in Ghana. It takes hospitality to a level not
They stay not only because of our fine guestrooms, but also because
seen before, offering an extraordinary service in the heart of one of
we send them out into Ghana, all over the country. You can go to
the world’s most exotic cities.”
the North of Ghana for fantastic trekking, you can go to the South for beautiful beaches, and Accra is fantastic; you have everything in Accra - it’s really a hub.”
CAFE YOUNES - SINCE 1935 WWW.CAFEYOUNES.COM // 00961 1 74 16 54
A WELL-CRAFTED CUP After more than 83 years in the business, the Younes’ know a thing or two about specialty coffee. We spoke with Faysal Younes about his family’s legacy and its evolving reach across the GCC. WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
CAFE YOUNES
Whether you enjoy the aesthetic or not, it cannot be
denied that a culture has evolved around coffee. True appreciation of the coffee beverage has become an entire experience, with importance placed on ideas of tradition, specialist knowledge, careful crafting of the drink, and an atmosphere that is at once both sophisticated and relaxed.
C
afé Younes have embraced this aesthetic and this culture; the largest home-grown Specialty Coffee shop in Lebanon, the 83year old family-owned business is now on its third generation
of owners, and the Younes family are keeping the sense of tradition
Okeili&co is the leading Family Business Advisory Firm in
strong. We spoke with Faysal Younes, Managing Partner of Café
the region. We have served more than thirty (30) business families around the GCC and the Middle East. We have tremendously contributed to the GCC Family Business Intellectual Capital during the last 15 years.
Younes, who along with his brothers makes up the latest generation
Our services touch all aspects of the family business ecosystem, identifying the areas where better processes, shareholder and family education, communication and alignment will lead to better business performance and a stronger family. We manage to achieve that only through bespoken efforts on ownership, family and corporate governance as well as proactive succession planning.
development. The company is based out of Beirut in Lebanon,
Preserving The Family Business Legacy For more information, write us at engage@okeili.com or call us at +9613160900 54 | Endeavour Magazine
in this family legacy. Founded in 1935, what began as a small coffee shop has now flourished into nine locations, with a further three currently in where it has been sourcing, buying and roasting premium Arabica coffee beans for over 83 years. All this time, the Younes family have cared for and fostered the company from its small beginnings to the expanding brand it is today, and this responsibility is held in high regard: “My ambition had always been to join Café Younes,” shares Faysal. “When I graduated from the university in the late ‘90s, Café Younes was a small business with only one site in Beirut. My eldest brother Amin was managing it, and we had both decided that I should find a job to gain some corporate experience. This is when I joined Starbucks Coffee (Alshaya) as a Store Manager in 1999, with the objective of opening the first store in Lebanon. Starbucks just had one store in the GCC and in the MENA region at that time.”
Faysal has spent 19 years gaining regional experience in the
service, the décor and design of the café itself, and, of course, there
corporate world – 13 years with Starbucks Coffee, where he
is the quality of the coffee. For those who don’t know, Arabica beans
climbed the ranks to become Regional Operations Manager for the
are favoured by baristas and coffee purists for the superior depth
GCC, two years as President of Food and Beverages for the vast
of flavour, and Café Younes sources varieties of these beans from
MENA retailer Azadea Group, and three years with Eathos, a leading
over 17 countries around the world to find the perfect flavours to
regional restaurant operating platform, as CEO. Throughout all of
prepare, both as single roasts and in creating their own blends.
this, his long-term goal didn’t change, and Faysal finally joined the
“The consumer knowledge and the appreciation for good
family business in June 2017. Today, the Specialty Coffee industry
quality coffee is constantly improving, leading to a higher demand
is growing at an incredible rate; whilst the fashion is going strong in
for freshly roasted coffees,” explains Faysal, citing this as the cause
many countries, the GCC/MENA region is one of its fastest growing
for the Specialty coffee shops’ rising popularity. Consumers want
markets. For Younes, this rise means the ongoing opportunity for
the reassurance of a quality beverage, with real love and care put
expansion: “All of our locations today are trading out of Lebanon.
into each cup. Café Younes provide this through their on-site micro-
And our new store pipeline is solid there. However, plans are
roasting facilities, which allow customers to witness their coffee
underway to take the brand internationally, starting with the GCC
being roasted. This coffee is then served with carefully prepared
market.” The first locations planned for the Café’s expansion are
food made with high-quality ingredients; it is details like these
Dubai, where Faysal is based, and Saudi Arabia. “We believe that
that gives the Café Younes brand the sense of craft and heartfelt
the company has all the merits needed to succeed outside of
authenticity that it sought after by coffee-lovers today. In Beirut,
its home country, and we remain opportunistic in looking at the
the popularity of this careful approach is fast out-stripping more
European market as well.”
corporate approaches:
There are several areas that need to be perfected in order to
“Beirut has managed to appeal to many major international
create a successful coffee shop experience: there’s the customer
coffee chains such as Starbucks, although only a few managed to
CAFE YOUNES sustain their businesses through the expense of home-grown and
started his career as a part-time barista and has now been with
independent coffee shops.”
the business for more than 11 years. We also offer access to key
The greatest challenges facing the Café is the volatility of
benefits and the opportunity to work flexible hours. Above all, Café
coffee prices, but the Younes family have fostered strong bonds
Younes has built a solid workplace culture over the years, which
with suppliers over the years that allow them to consistently
was key in sustaining our growth.”
source beans of appropriate quality. They also work closely with
“Throughout my years of corporate experience, I have found
other suppliers and third parties who have allowed them to build
that what truly distinguishes great leaders from good ones is not
their quality brand: “A clear example is our architect, Jad Ghostine,
IQ or technical skills, but EQ (Emotional Intelligence). Skills such
who is a huge fan of Café Younes. Jad who is behind the design of
as motivation, self-awareness, empathy, social-skills, among others
the last five outlets and is the champion of our new design model
are key components to enable any team to maximise their own
prototype. He considers himself as one of the Café Younes’ family
performance.”
members.”
Working closely with employees is a clear mark of the ‘family
The family-centric feeling of Café Younes’ leadership and their
business’ nature of how Café Younes operates – an important
relationship with their partners does not stop there, but filters
attitude that it is focused on keeping alive no matter what size
down to extend to each of their employees. The company currently
it grows to. “Today, we live in an era of unprecedented change
employs 80 people, with that number set to rise as their new
brought about by huge leaps in technology and globalization. As
locations open. The way they look after their staff is demonstrated
such, keeping the entrepreneurial spirit and hunger alive was key
by their low turnover, with an average managerial tenure rate of six
in sustaining Café Younes growth over many decades. As a family,
or seven years.
we enjoy unique strengths, which have yielded solid results and
“We offer career development opportunities. A clear example
helped deliver consistent growth across three generations. Our
is the current Operations Manager - Pascal Mantoufeh, who had
sound governance framework, our culture of clear and transparent
56 | Endeavour Magazine
communication, and our ability to act quickly and decisively are all examples of our unique ‘family business’ differentiators.” Where careful understanding of an industry and genuine passion collide, great things are possible, and Café Younes is flourishing where corporate coffee brands in Lebanon have fallen by the wayside. “We are simply obsessed with coffee,” enthuse Faysal, “Every step of the way.” This passion communicates to the customer, and to their coffee cup. As long as Younes’ heart stays in the right place, who’s to say how far this home-grown business can go? The 100-year brand legacy is now only a matter of time…
WORK WE DID WITH CAFEÉ YOUNES A journey with two people, two companies and a passion for serving the best coffee was what lead us to a partnership that we’re proud of. After 11 years, 10 coffee shops and thousands of happy clients; Café Younes is a showcase brand. From fresh coffee roast to your cup every detail given from layout design to execution nothing was overseen in their operation, we congratulate them on their accomplishments and wish them many more successes.
Endeavour Magazine | 57
NCC EDUCATION WWW.NCCEDU.COM // 0027 21 913 8928
ENABLING THE FUTURE With a rich history spanning across 50 years, NCC Education has gone through several changes and significant growth over the years. Behind their success is an entrepreneurial spirit that has driven them to journey into new territories. Today, they are a leading awarding body and provider of British education in Computing and Business with a global presence in more than 50 countries. WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
NCC EDUCATION
NCC Education are a British organisation dedicated to taking
their high standard of education overseas. In particular, they wish to provide learners with no-barriers access to British qualifications, which can assist in accessing jobs and university placements both in Western countries and globally. Rather than needing to re-locate to the UK, through NCC, students can study for these qualifications affordably, without leaving their home country.
A
ccording to Allan Norton, General Manager of NCC Education,
relationships with our partner centres and support them at every
the organisation is a place where “excellence is pursued as
stage of their development and expansion. In addition, we will strive
we work with our extensive network of study centres and
to expand our social services to fulfil our social responsibilities in
university partners worldwide, to provide all learners with access to
the global communities that we operate.”
great British education. Our differentiating factor lies in our unique
NCC Education was established in 1966 by the British
academic model, which provides learners with the flexibility to
Government. “NCC” derives from their original name, the
study towards a degree at their own pace and receive a certificate
National Computing Centre. They are looking to move beyond
for their achievement at each stage, in addition to recognition with
computing, but this area has remained their greatest focus and
the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual)
area of expertise, and is of great appeal to many students looking
in the UK.”
to develop qualifications that could appeal to high-level global
Today, NCC Education is an internationally recognised UK awarding organisation in Computing and Business, with a strong global presence, offering qualifications supported by comprehensive teaching and learning materials, in more than 50 countries.
employment positions. For example, Akibul Haque, a student from Bangladesh, had this to say: “I have recently completed my level 5 diploma course and started final year in BIT (Business Information Technology) from
“At the core of our business,” explains Norton, “We remain
Daffodil Institute of IT, Bangladesh. The first and foremost thing I
committed to offering quality, internationally recognised degree
like about this course is that it doesn’t matter if you have studied
pathways. We continue to seek new and improved ways to expand
science, arts or commerce - you can always enrol yourself in any
and refresh the academic journey, as we further enhance our
of the NCC Education qualification pathways. I wanted to study
pathway offerings through product development. This commitment
Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Information Technology
is borne from our core values of being innovative, excellent,
(IT) or any other computer-related subjects. However, I completed
transparent and collaborative.
my secondary level of study in business. As such, I was not eligible
“We also seek to extend the range of university articulations and progression routes available for all our learners, enabling them
to take any science-related subjects. But, NCC Education has provided me with the opportunity to fulfil my dream.
to build a career of their choice through our partnerships with
“My future ambition is currently to achieve the highest level
universities in the UK and overseas, including Australia, Canada
of degree in IT. Currently I am studying BIT. After completing my
and the United States of America.
education, I would like to work for a large international company. I
“Our strategy is built on the belief that collaborative growth is the key to success. To this end, we will continue to forge strong 60 | Endeavour Magazine
am confident that I will be able to do something creative based on my field of work.”
NCC EDUCATION As well as allowing students to access these degrees affordably, NCC Education makes sure to gear learning towards practical employment and field-appropriate skills. As Haque continued;
qualifications, which enable students to develop the further study and career of their choice. NCC Education states that its aim is to become a global leader
“Another important point that I like about this course is that
in the assessment and certification of recognised quality British
it is not theory based. You are not only learning through studying,
qualifications and teaching programmes, and to be the first-
but also by doing them practically. This will help me significantly in
choice examinations board for IT and Business. However, that
real world jobs. I think the course curriculum of BIT is 100% job-
is only half the picture: they also aim to improve the lives and
oriented; what I have learned till now will always be helpful for me.”
prospects of their students. Finally, their partnerships also help
To provide these opportunities, NCC Education partner with
the schools and facilities that they work with themselves, giving
teaching facilities around the world – such as the Daffodil Institute
them a notable advantage against their competitors, to both their
of IT attended by Haque. Every month, they add new partners
and their students’ betterment. As Sanieev Kumar of IPMC Kumasi
to their expanding network, allowing this support and influence
expressed:
to reach ever further and provide opportunities to even more
“There are many education centres in our area, all trying to
international scholars. As Norton says, “We are also committed to
attract the same students, but with NCC Education, we attract more
providing every Accredited Partner Centre with the support they
students than our competitors. This is because NCC Education
require, making their and their students journey a seamless and
qualifications are internationally recognised, teach the knowledge
enjoyable one.” For students who want to complete their degree
that students want to learn and develop the skills that employers
overseas at a university campus, they also have recognition with
want applicants to have.”
over 70 universities in the UK and overseas including Canada, USA and Australia. These links provide direct entry to progression routes and subject disciplines from NCC’s foundation and diploma
62 | Endeavour Magazine
In collaboration with NCC EDUCATION and partner universities, IPMC have been supporting Ghanaian young minds with quality education in Information Technology and Business for over two decades with an affordable pathway to obtain international degree. The certification is recognized by Global nodal institutions and National Accreditation Board, Ghana.
Endeavour Magazine | 63
MISI SETIA OIL & GAS WWW.MSOG.COM.MY // 0060 3 9058 9000
THE MAKING OF MALAYSIA With a desire to become the preferred service provider in the oil and gas industry WZS Misi Setia Sdn Bhd is aiming high and operating to standards that are even higher, as a representative of the company explained in an interview. WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON
MISI SETIA OIL & GAS
Founded back in 2002, Misi Setia Oil & Gas (MSOG)
might not have been in the industry as long as some competitors, but it has made incredible strides already, but spearheading specific interest areas.
W
ith its headquarters in Sri Petaling and further facilities in Selangor, Terengganu, Pahang and Sarawak, MSOG is perfectly positioned to extend its reach throughout
Malaysia and the professional relationships with premier industry clients are certainly not a hindrance either, “Over the years, MSOG has gone from strength to strength in the industry, working with clients such as are Petronas, Shell, ExxonMobil, Murphy Oil Corp, Gas Malaysia Berhad, Malaysia LNG, Ranhill Powertron, Sabah Energy, Hyundai Engineering, Samsung Engineering, Flour Daniel and Petrofac Engineering to name a few. Our team of competent, united and dedicated employees has and will always provide innovative and professional services to meet our Client’s needs and satisfaction.” In a bid to organically grow, MSOG was taken on as a whollyowned subsidiary of WZ Satu Berhad and gained access to a larger pool of accessible funds for development and diversification of the product portfolio and the company has not looked back since, particularly with its new name of WZS Misi Setia Sdn Bhd whilst maintaining the industry well known ‘MSOG’. While there is most definitely scope for MSOG to take on global domination, the company is more focused on rising to the very top in Malaysia, before branching out and dipping its toe into international waters. With this in mind, facilities have been specifically located in order to confirm the marked presence of the operation, throughout Malaysia, with a focus on Kuala Lumpur,
66 | Endeavour Magazine
MISI SETIA OIL & GAS Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Sarawak. International development is
community, to benefit so much more than just profit margins. This
on the cards, but the management team has a refreshingly grounded
is the very definition of corporate social responsibility.
attitude to tackling fiscal instability within the industry first,
Focused on business areas including pipe spools fabrication,
“The oil and gas sector has rebounded from what it used
pipeline relocations, transmission distribution systems, oil and gas
to be few years back with expectation that it will continue to
trading and so much more, WMSSB makes no bones about the fact
improvise and stabilise, however, with this hope and current
that the projects taken on don’t exactly set them apart from the
ongoing improvement, the expectations of the growth rate on
rest of the industry, but something does,
opportunities frequency from low to medium is on moderate pace
“We have the experts combined with some of the best facilities
within the industry. 2018 remained as a challenging transition
in the industry, with our fully automated pipe spool fabrication yard
for the industry, as the pace is still a bit sluggish in terms of
in Gebeng Kuantan and with our yard/service centre in Tanjung
contract values awarded and renewal. Nevertheless, with all of
Kidurong Bintulu, we are always committed to our tasks, prioritising
the expectations on the industry, we are very positive about
quality and safety to align with our mission statement; “To Provide
the growth, strengthening of the increasing domestic demand
Innovative & Professional Services To Meet Clients Needs And
and development.”
Satisfaction Through A Competent, United And Dedicated Team”.
Naturally, growth and development can only occur when an exemplar reputation for results, value and reliability is already in
We have also been among the most regular award-winning organisations when it comes to safety.”
place and MSOG does not struggle in that department. Operating in
Combining clear passions for both safety and responsible
accordance with core values that strive for sustainability, efficiency,
operating procedures, it makes perfect sense that the contingent
effectiveness, competency, care and responsibility, it will come
of staff are viewed as far more than just commodities,
as no surprise that the team has fast become recognised for the
“Dedicated and good staff are the best asset that a company
diligence that accompanies any and all projects. Most impressive
could have and we have over 270 staff nationwide. We often
is the way that these core values are extended out into the local
conduct assessments and evaluations on the needs of our staff
68 | Endeavour Magazine
whether for training or benefits, in accordance with the current
located in the heart of the industrial activities area in the east coast
situation and needs.”
region of Malaysia.”
This links directly to the leadership mandate of always
Building on a phenomenally successful few years could be
encouraging open communication with staff of every level, which is
a daunting task for lesser operations, but MSOG relishes the
thought to build trust and resilience for when industry challenges
opportunity. Always wanting to take a step closer to being THE oil
arise and the team needs to come together as a homogenous unit.
and gas solutions provider in Malaysia, each and every new contract
Looking ahead to the future, there are lots of reasons to be
is an opportunity to amp up an already enviable reputation. Not
optimistic, not least the number of contracts won over the last
disregarding the option of moving into the international arena at
few years,
all, the team is definitely still focused on keeping things efficient,
“We won numerous contracts from multiple clients over the
effective and local,
past three years, involving various business areas including some
“We are optimistic and also looking into possible ventures
packages for Jimah 2x1000Mw Coal Fired Power Plant located
into onshore and downstream long-term service contracts such
in Negeri Sembilan. Some of the most recent contracts were
as maintenance, plant turnaround and plant/facility improvement
obtained from Petronas Gas Berhad and a contract from Hyundai
programmes to generate sustainable jobs, maximise available
Engineering & Construction Limited for Melaka Refining Company
facilities and resources within the WZS group. Barring unforeseen
EURO 5 upgrade. There were also a few more from some other
circumstances, the Group expects and anticipates that the oil and
major owners and privateers including contracts for the Johor
gas segment will continue generating stable income for the Group.”
Petronas RAPID Project from Petrofac on the Pipe Spools Prefab for
That’s all great news for MSOG, good news for the oil and
RAPID Package 4 and Piping Field Erection & Mechanical Erection
gas industry and security for Malaysia. It doesn’t get much better
for RAPID Package 4 . For most of these contracts, we utilised our
than that.
fabrication yard in Kuantan, Pahang, as it’s a fully automated pipe spool fabrication yard with state-of-the-art technology and it’s
Lot A5, Kawasan Perindustrian Cacar Mukim Kuala Paka 23100 Paka, Dungun Terengganu, Malaysia
Tel: +609 - 8286886 Fax: +609 - 828 6880 E-mail: admin@tmmsb.com.my Web: www.tmmsb.com.my
Engineering services and construction work in the oil and gas, petrochemical sectors, with an enviable track record, underpinned with a reputation for innovation and quality
Hot Tapping & Welding
EPCC & PCC Projects
Building & Structural
Pipeline & Rehabilitation
Piping, Mechanical, Civil Endeavour Magazine | 69
M-SPORT WWW.M-SPORT.CO.UK // 0044 1900 828 888
RACING AHEAD In a world that seemingly becomes more sanitized and pedestrian with each passing year, it is reassuring to remember that mud and guts motor racing is there to offer a form of thrilling adrenaline-fueled entertainment that feels as though it is becoming ever harder to find. WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI
M-SPORT
British motorsport has long had a seat at the top table in
virtually all competitions, across all branches of the sport. This success comes from a genuine passion, and is also partly thanks to the skill and verse of companies like M-Sport. Endeavour Magazine revisited this thrilling company for another turn around the track.
A
sk a group of young people what they want to be when they grow up, and it would be a safe bet that racing car driver would make the cut. You do not need to understand the subtle
nuances of rallying or touring cars or F1 to be a fan of motor racing – only that it is exciting to hear the throaty roar of engines and watch mud spray as finely tuned, high-performance vehicles driven with skill and superhuman nerve blast past at break-neck speeds. It’s a sexy, highly competitive industry, flush with money and testosterone, particularly at elite level - the spiritual home of the biggest names in motorsport, and some of the most technologically advanced cars our species has created thus far. This undoubtedly us one of the reasons why M-Sport is so fascinating. The company, which is the brainchild of Managing Director Malcom Wilson, himself an ex-British Rally Championship winner with world-class racing credentials, is a thriving motorsport business which operates across three branches of motorsport: sallying, rallycross and GT3 racing. “As a family-run business, there is a unique atmosphere amongst our employees that is very rare in the motorsport sector,” explained Malcom. “All staff are fully trained, and we are actively involved in helping our employees to reach their full potential. Our mechanics have even been nominated for international awards. “In addition to this, our base at Dovenby Hall is particularly unique – a stately home set in 115 acres of lush parkland, which sits on the edge of the Lake District National Park. Combining the
72 | Endeavour Magazine
M-SPORT old with the new, the Hall itself has been fully restored, with a
which have competed in tournaments and championships around
state-of-the-art workshop constructed at the rear.
the world over nearly a quarter century. As part of this, the Ladder
To give some idea of the company’s caliber, consider this: of
of Opportunity scheme has been developed in order to allow
all the teams who compete in the FIA World Rally Championship.
talented aspiring competitors to rise up through the motor racing
M-Sport are often the only team entering privately, with no direct
ranks and graduate from gross root rallying all the way up to the
backing from one of the automotive heavyweights, Hyundai,
very highest level in the FIA World Rally Championship. Participants
Citroen or Toyota.
who enroll on the scheme begin their career with the Ford Fiesta
That said, M-Sport doesn’t go it alone all together. The bond that the company has forged with Ford over the past two
R1, before graduating to the R2, R5, and then final.ly the World Rally Championship.
decades, during which time the company operated Ford’s World
The commitment of both parties to this grass roots initiative
Rally Championship programme, isn’t one which is easily broken.
remains strong, as was evidenced last year by the collaborative
A strong relationship exists between the companies still, and this
development of a new Rallycross car by both companies, the Ford
has been an integral part of the company’s success in recent years.
Focus RS Granted. “Prior to this, we had the Ford Fiesta RX, which
“We’ve still got very strong links with Ford – we couldn’t do
competed in America, but the Ford Focus RS Granted was designed
what we do without them – but since they withdrew marketing
from a completely clean sheet of paper, and made FIA World
support in 2012, we’ve basically gone it alone. It’s been tough, but
Rallycross history in the hands of Andreas Bakkerud and Ken Block
we’re still here! We now operate within a technical partnership
for being the first car to ever win all of its preliminary heats, as well
with Ford, and last year, we worked together to develop a fantastic
as its Semi Final and Final over the course of a single weekend.
car to suit 2017’s new regulations.”
In addition to M-Sport’s longstanding competitiveness at elite
Together, Ford and M-Sport have worked in close partnership
level in rallying and rallycross, the commencement of a technical
on the design and development of more than 1,000 cars, all of
partnership with prestige automotive manufacturer Bentley
74 | Endeavour Magazine
Motors in 2013 represented another exciting venture that has since yielded positive results. This relationship, which has seen M-Sport design and develop the Continental GT3 and act as Bentley’s key technical partner in the Blancpain series, has already borne fruit for both parties. Despite having no prior experience of racing, Bentley were impressed by M-Sport’s business model and excellence, having already heard of the company’s formidable reputation through the motorsport grapevine. Their trust was well placed, and the Continental GT3 secured a number of victories around the world. So, what next? Between new facilities at Dovenby Hall, including a £19 million Evaluation Centre, and ongoing design and development for the next generation of winning race cars, there is plenty to look forward to from M-Sport.
Endeavour Magazine | 75
AUTOMOTIVES SKODA SUPERB 280 SPORTLINE
2.0 petrol TSI 280PS 4X4 DSG OTR £34,845.00
T
he 280 is Skoda’s fastest model, but you couldn’t tell from looking at it. It doesn’t try to impress with wide wheel arches,
carbon fibre, huge spoiler or even leery paint jobs; it is nicely understated. I have tested a colourful assortment of hot hatches over the years and it has been great fun; however, the ones that look like Hot Wheels toys embarrass me when they burble and fart at traffic lights. As a 50-year-old man, I am happier to drive the subtle 280. With this Skoda, it is fair to use the term ‘sleeper’, which describes a normal-looking car that has super performance. That isn’t to say it’s not attractive - when our Meteor Grey Superb 280 arrived at our offices, my first thought was “That’s a pretty car.” However, it’s approachable family or city look is perfect for those who want a fast car without screaming “LOOK AT ME!” When you drive the Superb, you can
second. I know this is penny pinching, but
securely to the ground with a four-wheel
easily forget how fast it is. It can pootle
how impressive is that?! A family car with
drive system that makes the total vehicle
around in city traffic all day quite happily,
a 0-62 in just over 5 seconds! With a roar
incredibly practical all round.
and even on the open road, you don’t notice
from the exhaust, the speedo jumps up at
A sportier drive can be had by opting
its ability for speed, as it’s just so smooth.
an alarming rate. The car handles bends well,
for Skoda’s Dynamic Chassis control, which
It’s only when you bury the accelerator
and whilst its competitors opt for a super-
is standard on L & K models and a £750
into the carpet that you are reminded that
stiff suspension set up, the softer option
option on the rest of the range. This gives
this is a very, very fast car. The Superb 280
makes for a more usable and enjoyable
you ability to switch between Normal,
does 0-62mph in just 5.8 seconds and has
ride. Powerful breaks counter this fantastic
Comfort and Sport modes; I had this option
a limited top end of 155mph. I did my own
acceleration, able to safely and surely slow
on our car, but felt that the standard set-up
0-62 test and it shaved off at least half a
everything down, and the car is planted
for road use was perfect even when driving
76 | Endeavour Magazine
in the boot and an built-in ice-scraper.
long motorway journeys and sedate general
There are even multiple hooks in the boot
driving. Your fuel bill will be higher with the
- a simple addition that keeps your shopping
Superb than choosing Skoda’s diesel sister.
bags upright.
Incidentally, the performance of this 2.0 litre
All of the 280 models have 18-inch
148 bhp diesel is very impressive. The diesel
alloys, xenon headlights, Sat Nav and leather
may even be a better buy, as it delivers
seats, but our Sportline has ungraded
good performance and has cheaper running
19-inch Vega wheels and Alcantra sports
costs. However, it must be said that having
seats. The Meteor Grey colour was not
such amazing performance on tap with the
everyone’s choice; some said it looked like
280 is priceless. It also has very good CO2
an undercoat, whereas other fell in love with
emissions of only 160g/km, which means
the battleship look. However, the interior is
your road tax bill is only £185.00 a year.
inarguably brilliant, using quality materials
I like to finish my reviews by considering
that you would expect to see in much more
whether I would actually buy the car with my
expensive cars. The cabin is a lovely place
own hard-earned. It’s fair to say that I have
to be; all of the controls are obvious, easy
a soft spot for her, and I still smile at the
and logical to use, and that also goes for the
memory of that instant power and roar she
infotainment system, which is brilliantly easy.
had, even after driving several cars since. In
All too often, modern cars overcomplicate
short, I would absolutely buy this car, as it is
fast, so personally I wouldn’t bother with this
this. I also loved that the heating/air con and
nothing short of amazing value for money,
as an extra.
fan were big turning dials - easy and simple!
and I would happily sacrifice the better
I had this car for a week and enjoyed
The Superb must be one of the best
MPG of its diesel sister in exchange for that
it immensely. The excitement of the
designed family cars on the market in terms
performance never wore thin. However, the
of space; the interior is vast. We had five
experience was memorable for much more
adults in this car on a 400-mile round trip in
than just this. The 280 is also wonderfully
one day, and it was luxuriously comfortable.
made: quality materials have been used
The leg room in the back is huge, as is the
throughout, and the design includes many
boot space.
thoughtful touches such as umbrellas
I averaged 38 MPG over a week of driving
hidden in the front doors, a magnetic touch
the 280, which included mad bursts of speed,
instant-grin pedal under my right foot.
Endeavour Magazine | 77
DENEL AERONAUTICS WWW.DENEL.CO.ZA // 27 12 671 2700
DEFENDERS OF THE REALM The defence industry is a vast business with significant global importance, but, as Denel SOC Ltd is determined to prove, that doesn’t have to mean that the personal touch goes out of the window. WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON
DENEL AERONAUTICS
Denel SOC Ltd (Denel) lists itself as being “state-owned
yet commercially-driven”, and the fruits of its labours are clear to see. Aside from a reputation for being one of the best defence operations out there, it offers South Africa significant peace of mind, not to mention economic stability and a plethora of employment opportunities. As we said, defence doesn’t have to be impersonal.
T
o sum up Denel is difficult, but the team has managed it by
70 years to when some of Denel’s first manufacturing plants were
succinctly stating that the company is a “global supplier of
established.”
world-class defence products and solutions, operating in
defence, security, aerospace and related technology solutions.”
The desire to provide a one-stop security solution is key and directly led to not only the fluid matrix of divisions, but also a
To an untrained eye, they could be talking about an SME,
seriously enviable reputation within the competitive defence
but once you start to delve a little deeper into Denel, it quickly
industry. We’ll come to the international dealings in a moment, but
becomes clear that this is a huge operation with more diverse
first, the domestic arm of Denel deserves some attention.
interests and specialisms than you could ever reasonably expect.
Having been incorporated as a private company in the early
For example, vehicle systems, aeronautics, dynamics, OTR, land
1990s, Denel benefits from having just one shareholder - the
systems, Mechem and PMP are all separate arms of Denel, each
South African Government. With a Board of Directors in place to
one specialising in something totally unique and yet symbiotically
govern the management team, everything runs smoothly, for the
connected to everything else. After all, what use are automatic
benefit of the government and the region as a whole and that goes
weapons, if you have no ammunition? That’s where the land systems
a long way towards understanding the domestic side of commercial
and PMP divisions work collaboratively, as a prime example.
operations. Denel explained a little more,
So, what’s the reason for such a broad range of defence systems and strategies? Denel explained:
“Denel is an important defence contractor in its domestic market and a key supplier to the South African National Defence
“Denel provides turn-key solutions of defence equipment to
Force (SANDF), both as original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
its clients by designing, developing, integrating and supporting
and for the overhaul, maintenance, repair, refurbishment and
artillery, munitions, missiles, aerostructures, aircraft maintenance,
upgrade of equipment in the SANDF’s arsenal.”
unmanned aerial vehicle systems and optical payloads, based on
As we’ve already mentioned, however, things don’t end at
high-end technology. Our defence capabilities date back more than
the South African border, as Denel has sought to extend its reach
80 | Endeavour Magazine
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DENEL AERONAUTICS into the global defence arena, resulting in impressive growth and
linked divisions can be housed together, for the mutual benefit of
undeniable success,
each area of interest, without muddying the waters, but the most
“Over the years Denel has built a reputation as a reliable
impressive campus has to be that of the Denel Technical Academy,
supplier to its many international clients. It supplies systems and
Understanding that the future of the defence industry will
consumables to end users as well as sub-systems and components
be in the hands of those who are learning now, Denel has set
to its industrial client base. Denel also has a number of equity
about ensuring that the brightest and best will be maintaining it,
partnerships, joint ventures and cooperation agreements with
with comprehensive training programmes. Open to both private
renowned international players in the defence industry.”
students and individuals sponsored by an employer, practical and theoretical training elements are given equal priority:
While the defence industry might make some people a little
“With more than 40 years of experience the Denel Technical
uncomfortable, in terms of the products and solutions being
Academy has a well-established track record in Apprentice Training.
supplied, it is essential. Those companies seeking to be major
The Academy is an aviation and engineering apprenticeship-training
players for the right reasons, such as Denel, add a level of personal
institute offering various technical trades. DTA is internationally
and corporate responsibility that really shakes up everything you
recognised with a large footprint on the African continent. Courses
think you know about commercial operations that manufacture
are approved and accredited by the South African Civil Aviation
weapons and ammunition, and design cyber security systems.
Authority (SACAA), the Transport Education and Training Authority
Embracing core values of performance, integrity, innovation,
(TETA) and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services
caring and accountability, Denel aims to put the human touch into
Training Authority (merSETA) to offer training in accordance with
everything it does, and brings a distinctly commonsense element to
the Competency-Based Modular Training system.”
its physical representation, having split its separate divisions over
The end result is a qualified work force that is ready to keep the
a number of campuses. The reason for this is so that intrinsically
South African defence industry buoyant and the general population
82 | Endeavour Magazine
safe, not to mention a staffing body that perfectly represents the code of ethics that really underpins everything Denel does, “As a corporate entity, Denel draws the attention of many stakeholders, which makes it paramount that the conduct of all those that act on Denel’s behalf as Directors, officers, employees and suppliers to be beyond reproach. Such conduct must be able to measure up to Denel’s values of performance, integrity, innovation, caring and accountability and be able to stand to scrutiny. Denel recognises that it is responsible for instilling the culture of good ethics in its employees and has a role to play to inculcate such a culture in the environment in which it operates, but it depends on the commitment of all those that do business with it or have an interest in good corporate citizenship for this to succeed.” With a company such as Denel looking after defence strategies and initiatives, South Africa is in safe hands and we look forward to revisiting this innovative operation in the future, to see how things have developed.
Endeavour Magazine | 83
SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WWW.SHARJAHAIRPORT.AE // 00971 6 5581111
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Focused on making safe air travel accessible to all, Sharjah Airport is a flagship aviation base in the UAE that aims to become the most renowned airport in the region and it’s definitely on the right path. WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON
SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
It can be all too simple to overlook the commercial
complexities of not only building, but also maintaining, improving and running an airport and while the management team at Sharjah manages to make it look easy, the truth is a little different.
L
et’s start at the beginning and take a look at the heritage of the airport. Originally built in the 1970s, it was officially opened in 1977, having replaced an RAF base. While there were already
airports in place in the UAE, Sharjah would prove to be the first to be utilised by Imperial Airways. It would even go on to play host to hundreds of American troops in the 1990s. Skip ahead to the present day and it’s plain to see that the airport has gone from strength to strength, while also increasing exponentially in size. In fact, it now caters for so much cargo per annum that it is considered to be the third largest hub in the UAE, but passenger airlines have flocked to join the ranks as well. With 11 airlines flying into Sharjah, including Air Arabia who calls it its home base, the runways are busy, but so are the old cargo terminals. Every building is put to good use at Sharjah, which is why Air Arabia has gone one step further and located its headquarters directly in the Freight Center of the airport. There’s no doubting that Sharjah Airport is perfectly equipped to deal with both commercial and customer needs, but in order to stay at the top of its game, a more specific management approach has been taken: “Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) is dedicated to providing the highest level of service and safety possible at Sharjah Airport.
86 | Endeavour Magazine
Endeavour Magazine | 87
SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT We strive to provide exceptional customer satisfaction through
a rate of knots, meaning that efficient procedures, friendly staff and
the combination of continuous improvement programmes and an
easy interactions are just as key as they are for domestic travellers.
efficient, innovative Integrated Management System (IMS).” With safety being a top priority, it should come as no surprise that a number of ISO certifications have been attained: “As part of
In a bid to improve the site, Sharjah Airport has maintained the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that has been in effect since before it was even a bricks-and-mortar operation:
its ongoing commitment to safety and quality, Sharjah Airport meets
“Sharjah made aviation history in 1932, when the first flight
the standards of ISO certifications in quality management systems
landed at the Al Mahatta runway. Since then, Sharjah Airport,
and environmental management systems. Its ISO certificates can be
through a series of path breaking initiatives, has become a world-
viewed on the website. We are proud that we are constantly striving
class modern international airport. Sharjah Airport has an open
to achieve growth and provide better services to our customers.
sky policy, which allows airline traffic from all over the world easy
We have worked hard to achieve the standards of a number of ISO
access to the airport. The airport has the newest Code F compliant,
certifications, to ensure we’re improving the effectiveness and
longest runway (4060 meters) in the region, with Cat II capabilities.
efficiency of our operations.”
This enables all aircraft, up to the A380, to land and take off with full
The idea of improving an airport for the enjoyment of flyers
load capacity during all weather conditions. The airport offers the
might sound a little odd; after all, most people are there for the
most competitive landing and handling rates in the region making it
perfunctory checking in and baggage issues prior to jumping on a
popular with both large and small operators.”
plane and taking off, but that’s exactly why Sharjah is so different.
As we’ve already highlighted, the cargo side of things is also vital.
No longer does the airport simply need to be a stepping-stone, as it
“Furthermore, SIA has also emerged as an important air cargo hub
can be a much-anticipated part of the travel process. Let’s also not
for many of the world’s major carriers. Strategically located, Sharjah
overlook the fact that commercial cargo flows through the facility at
has a unique location, which is just 10 km away from Sharjah city
88 | Endeavour Magazine
centre and about 20 minutes drive from nearby Emirates and also within easy reach of the Northern Emirates.”
From domestic to business travellers and commercial freight transporters too, absolutely everybody is welcome at Sharjah
The years of hard work and conscientious effort have clearly paid
Airport and treated with equal importance. The client experience
off, as the exemplar customer relations endeavours implemented
always has been and always will be the primary driving force in terms
at Sharjah Airport have led to honest and open communications
of implementing change or improving existing offerings and that’s
between management and consumers. This is referred to as the
why there can be no doubt that it will “become the most renowned
airport and customers ‘working together’,
airport in the region”, as per the vision of the management team.
“Apart from its efficient process, Sharjah Airport takes pride in
The sky really is the limit in terms of what can be accomplished
offering its passengers a variety of top-class and affordable facilities,
and given that it can navigate the big blue with ease…there’s
for the comfort and convenience of its travellers. To continue to
absolutely nothing stopping Sharjah Airport from soaring long into
improve and involve, we collaborate with passengers to obtain
the future.
insights and suggestion to further improve the airport’s service and facilities. Their feedback and suggestions are very important to us.” As an extension of this communication, there are incentives in place for consumers that choose to participate in surveys or questionnaires. Air Arabia, in conjunction with the Customer Relationship Enhancement programme, offers rewards and even free flights to those people that make the most helpful suggestions. That’s certainly not standard practice, but goes a long way to proving just how valuable the opinions of Sharjah Airport customers are.
Fuelling the Aviation Industry Celebrating Three Decades of Partnership SASCO & Sharjah International Airport
Aviation Fuels. Aviation Fuelling Services. Sharjah Aviation Services Company LLC PO Box 97 Sharjah, UAE Tel. + 971 6 5581134 Fax. + 971 6 5581324
Endeavour Magazine | 89
AIR INDIA WWW.AIRINDIA.IN // 0091 11 24667473
UP, UP AND AWAY An airline rich in history and lineage, Air India has been helping people ‘get away from it all’ for over 80 years. Endeavour Magazine took a closer look at this passenger-driven operation to see just how they keep flying so high, despite industry turbulence. WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON
AIR INDIA
Not only is Air India the flag carrier airline of India, it
is also one of the biggest set-ups as well and is responsible for transporting colossal numbers of passengers to over 80 domestic and international destinations every week, but it doesn’t simply go through the motions, it seeks to make every flight an experience that customers will never forget.
O
wned wholly by the Government of India, the airline has been
to stand for quality and enjoyable travel and is a real feather in the
given strict covenants as to the levels of success that are
cap of the airline,
expected, as well as standards of care that must be adhered
“The logo of the new airline is a red coloured flying swan with
to at all times and it doesn’t disappoint. This must be, in part, due
the ‘Konark Chakra’ in orange, placed inside it. The flying swan has
to the impressive heritage of the brand, which dates all the way
been morphed from Air India’s characteristic logo, ‘The Centaur’,
back to 1946
whereas the ‘Konark Chakra’ is reminiscent of Indian’s logo. The
Operating as Tata Airlines for a short while, post WWII saw a
new logo features prominently on the tail of the aircraft. While the
dramatic change, when the organisation became a public limited
aircraft is ivory in colour, the base retains the red streak of Air India.
company and with that came a total rebranding, leading to the
Running parallel to each other are the orange and red speed lines
creation of Air India. It was a savvy business move, given that regular
from front door to the rear door, subtly signifying the individual
commercial flights were, once again, free to be scheduled and with
identities merged into one.”
a keen eye for a fantastic business opportunity, the Government of
There is no doubting that the vibrant livery itself has contributed
India claimed a majority stake in the company in 1953. The rest, as
to a stunning, professional fleet of high quality aircraft that people
they say, is history.
want to travel on, but there is an extra string to the branding bow
Today, an 11-strong board of directors, which is delighted
that also helps to set the airline apart from its competitors, even
to be celebrating 70 years at the forefront of the competitive
more than the standards of passenger care that run through every
passenger transportation industry, manages Air India and does so
line of operation and that’s The Maharajah, a quirky little cartoon
with a firm, yet approachable hand. Let’s not forget that remaining
character.
family-friendly and ‘fun’, is key to any airline that wants to continue
“We call him a Maharajah, for want of a better description, but
welcoming passengers of all ages and with that in mind, the
his blood isn’t blue. He may look like royalty, but he isn’t royal.
corporate branding starts to make a lot of sense.
These are the words of Bobby Kooka, the man who conceived the
The impressive fleet that Air India boasts has been expertly
Maharajah. He is now a familiar, lovable figure that first made his
decked out in the signature red and orange livery that has come
appearance in Air India way back in 1946, when Bobby Kooka, as
92 | Endeavour Magazine
IN 192 COUNRTIES AND NEVER LOST IN TRANSLATION
THERE’S MORE BEHIND THE STAR
AIR INDIA Air India’s Commercial Director, and Umesh Rao, an artist with
an experienced team of managers, Air India has consistently strived
J.Walter Thompson Ltd., Mumbai, together created him.”
to hire only the best and most dedicated individuals that seek
The impact that this internationally recognisable figurehead has had, is unquestionable and impressive,
to promote and support the organisation. Any hugely successful company is only ever as strong as the vision that underpins it and
“What began as an attempt at a design for an inflight memo pad
the people that can make that vision a reality and while some
grew to take Air India’s sales and promotional messages to millions
people might see airlines as simply a functional cog in the holiday
of travellers across the world. Today, this naughty diminutive
machine, Air India seeks to be a memorable and enjoyable part of
Maharajah of Air India has become a world figure. He can be a lover
the whole process, not to mention a luxurious one, leading to their
boy in Paris, a sumo wrestler in Tokyo, a pavement artist, a Red
slogan, ‘Your palace in the sky’.
Indian, a monk and he can effortlessly flirt with the beauties of the
Looking to offer all passengers the ‘royal’ treatment, Air India
world. And most importantly, he can get away with it all, simply
has constantly sought to improve and develop its operation by
because he is the Maharajah! He has completed 56 years and
focussing on in-flight entertainment, frequent flyer programmes
become the most recognisable mascot the world over. His antics,
and premium lounges, not to mention only acquiring the best and
his expressions and his puns have allowed Air India to promote its
safest aircraft, for total peace of mind. Boasting a fleet of over 100
services with a unique panache and an unmatched sense of subtle
premium jets and with more in the pipeline, one thing is for sure;
humour. In fact, he has won numerous national and international
the solid future of Air India is not simply ‘pie in the sky’ thinking, it’s
awards for Air India for humour and originality in publicity.”
a certainty.
Naturally, a national airline the size of Air India cannot simply rely on cute cartoon characters alone to continue its success and development and that is where the staffing body of over 20,000 professionals come in. From ground staff through to cabin crew and
94 | Endeavour Magazine
ENI NORTH AFRICA WWW.ENI.COM // 00218 21 3335010
GOING WITH THE FLOW A huge name in the global oil and gas industry, Eni is a company making serious waves both as a whole and locally, in terms of different divisions such as the African branch. WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON
ENI NORTH AFRICA
Before we get to the specifics of the African branch of
Eni, it would be prudent to get a feel for the company as a whole, to lend some context to what is happing on the continent. Let’s start with a look at the guiding principles of the operation, in its own words.
“W
e are an energy company. We are working to
and not simply for the benefit of Eni’s bottom line, as Claudio
build a future where everyone can access energy
Descalzi revealed:
resources efficiently and sustainably. Our work
“Energy and diversification are the key elements for Africa’s
is based on passion and innovation, on our unique strengths
long-term development. Lack of access to energy in Africa
and skills, on the quality of our people and in recognising that
entrenches poverty and encourages migration, depriving countries
diversity across all aspects of our operations and organisation
of some of their best people. The private sector can make a huge
is something to be cherished. We believe in the value of long-
contribution to the use of resources for local development through
term partnerships with the countries and communities where
investment, skills and technology.”
we operate.”
We challenge you to recall the last time you heard of an energy
Wow. Given that Eni is an Italian company, it was only natural
company seeking to develop its offerings, purely for the good of
that there would be some artistry involved, but who knew that
the community, but that’s exactly what the ENI ‘Africa for Africa’
oil and gas could sound so poetic? Well, with a presence in 71
model is all about:
countries and a staffing contingent of 33,000-strong, there’s a little
“We want to develop Africa’s resources for the benefit of
room for lyricism, but let’s find out what makes the African branch
the continent and have invested in domestic capital to promote
of Eni so special.
local development from the very start. The key to this is access to
Eni likes to add a little humour to things and describes how the
energy, which leads to development and stability, allowing Africa
“six-legged dog first left its paw prints in the Egyptian desert in
to fully harness its growth potential. Almost two-thirds of Sub-
1954.” The, of course, refers to the charming multi-limbed logo of
Saharan Africa’s population lives without electricity and in unsafe
Eni and while it made its first tentative steps into Egypt a long time
environmental conditions. We were the first energy company to
ago, today, the African arm of Eni accounts for more than half of the
produce gas not only for export, but also local consumption.”
total crude oil and natural gas collected by the entire company. Yes,
Far from simply seeking to strip Africa of the resources that
all 71 countries. This staggering fact alone has ensured that Eni is
make it so promising, Eni wants to locate them and distribute them
now the primary producer in Africa.
fairly, for the good of everybody and we don’t know about you,
While impressive production rates are great, Eni is not about to
but that sounds refreshing to us. Moreover, there is an inherent
sit back and wait for new opportunities or simple good fortune to
commitment to improving the future as well, as part of the same
step in, which is why a growth initiative is being put into practice
initiative:
98 | Endeavour Magazine
ENI NORTH AFRICA “We want to replace 50 per cent of the traditional biomass used
“By Local Content we mean the added value that Eni brings
in the continent – wood and coal – with renewable energy and
to the socio-economic context of the host country through the
gas. We’re creating a low-carbon future based on an economically,
participation of local people and businesses in Eni’s industrial
socially and environmentally sustainable model.”
activities, the transfer of skills and knowledge and the reinforcement
Oil and gas production are, in terms of the logistics, fairly
of communities’ skills assets.”
standard, but the way local communities benefit from the activities
In short, Eni is looking to give back to Africa and its people. Yes,
and the relationships garnered between producers and residents is
the continent has been generous in terms of oil and gas produced,
what sets certain companies apart. In terms of Eni, this is definitely
all of which has lifted Eni into a prominent position within the
the case, as it has carefully developed and maintained a relationship
energy sector, but the relationship is entirely reciprocal. As Eni
with Africa, over the last 60 years and includes certain surprising
continues to grow and succeed, so too do the local people that are
elements such as art exhibits. This really ties into Claudio’s vision:
given jobs, who then feed into the economy. It’s a truly cyclical and
“We need to create a North-South corridor between Europe and Africa – a channel not only for energy, but also partnership, social development and stability.”
supportive relationship and that seems to be the secret to Eni’s success, given that this model is replicated on every continent! As Eni implies, energy is life and everyone has the right to a
Eni, in this global vision, will act as the conduit for more than
safe, happy and comfortable existence. While the oil and gas keep
just oil and gas, bringing about opportunities and development
flowing in Africa, so too will the socio-economic growth and the
initiatives as well. The company already recognises that by
potential for great change. That’s the kind of debt that’s hard to
having a presence in countries that are less industrial than most,
repay, but all Eni is asking for is to keep working together. Now that
it can provide amazing routes into a more progressive future. Eni
really is the future of big business.
discusses the theory of ‘Local Content’ for development:
100 | Endeavour Magazine
Oil / Gas LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS OCTG MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING SERVICES
Experienced Reliable Committed Partner
www.medservenergy.com
AMAZING WORLD BY WILL GIRLING
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THE ISLA DE LAS MUNECAS
ith October having arrived, fans of
W
But, if you travel to Mexico City and
severely deteriorated from years of outdoor
the horror genre will only have one
head south to the channels of Xochimilco,
exposure, the dolls, once as innocent-looking
thing on their minds: the 31st of the
you’ll find a small chinampa (floating garden)
as the playthings they are, have taken on a
month, Halloween. For most of us, it’s a fun
where, for some, the nightmares never end.
much more sinister appearance in their grim,
time where we can safely indulge ourselves
This is the Isla de las Muñecas: the Island
new residency. Described by some visitors
in the darker side of life and the human
of Dolls.
as a “wonderland” of dirty and scary dolls,
imagination. For others who aren’t so keen,
Tucked into every crevice and bush,
people’s imaginations tend to run wild as
they can at least console themselves that All
hung from every branch and roped onto
they catch brief glimpses of movement in
Hallows’ Eve is just for one night, and the
every tree are dolls of various sizes, shapes
the corners of their eyes; listening carefully,
witches and ghosts will have disappeared by
and conditions. Mostly missing all the
they say you can almost hear faint whispers
November’s first morning.
limbs they were manufactured with and
coming from the plastic hordes…
102 | Endeavour Magazine
he continued to hang dolls he found in the canals of Cuemanco, no matter their state or condition, for the next 50 years. Santana hoped that these would also help to satisfy the girl’s wandering soul. But, as his collection grew, Santana’s paranormal experiences did not go away. When he died in 2001, legend has it that his body was found floating in the same place where the young girl was found all those years previous. Visitors to the island have made sure that Santana’s work is still carried on in his absence, with tourists welcome to add their own dolls to hang there. By and large, the locals have taken well to the dark legend of the island, with many insisting that it is, in fact, ‘blessed’ rather than cursed. Despite this, there are some boatmen who will refuse to take you there because of the superstitions, and the island can only be reached by the trajneras that frequent the canals. Cursed, blessed, or merely a fun legend? You’ll have to decide for yourself! (You can really test your sceptic credentials by taking part in a special nighttime tour, for those brave enough to try it). A quirky, spooky and surreal place with a story straight from I’m sure the first question you’d like to
to experience frequent and inexplicable
a work of Poe, the Isla de las Muñecas
ask is “Where did they all come from?”, and
phenomena on the island. He came to the
is truly a great tourist spot for fans of the
you can rest assured that they didn’t all
conclusion that the island was being haunted
macabre travelling in Mexico. If you’re there
walk there by themselves. In the 1950’s, the
by the spirits of the drowned girl; finding a
during Halloween, the atmosphere is sure
island was originally under the ownership of
doll that he assumed was her possession, he
to be perfect for hearing the barely audible
a man named Don Julian Santana, a farmer
hung it from a tree as a mark of respect.
whispers of the dolls. If you don’t find
who grew vegetables on the chinampa.
Strolling around the island, he would
anything out of the ordinary, stick around
There exists a legend that a young girl was
hear whispers and wild wailing in the
in the Mexico for two more days until the
caught in the thick lilies that lay under the
night, not to mention mysterious footsteps
2nd of November: the Dias de los Muertos
surface of the island’s waters, drowning as a
around his hut, hidden in the nearby
(Day of the Dead); you’re sure to get your
result. Santana, a superstitious man, began
woods of Xochimilco. Incensed with fear,
thrill’s-worth. Endeavour Magazine | 103
STEFANUTTI STOCKS BOTSWANA WWW.STEFANUTTISTOCKS.COM/BOTSWANA // 00267 397 4773
BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA Construction is a heaving market in South Africa, with many companies operating on local and national levels to vie for work. Stefanutti Stocks is one of the country’s largest multidisciplinary construction groups; we took a look at what they have to offer in this highly competitive sector. WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
STEFANUTTI STOCKS BOTSWANA
Stefanutti Stocks employees a massive 12 000 employees,
offering a slate of expertise that allows them to rise to any construction challenges that comes their way. Not simply stopping at residential and corporate builds, they instead have developed the capacity to deliver a range of infrastructure projects to their clients across diverse sectors, including building work, bulk earthworks & geotechnical, energy generation, industrial plants, oil & gas, mining & mining infrastructure, transport infrastructure (road, rail, marine and air), and water, sanitation & pipelines.
s the company says themselves, “Our offering extends
A
Moving on to bulk earthworks, Stefanutti Stocks have also been
across a wide scope of supply, including the construction of
responsible for these for many clients across sub-Saharan Africa, for
fixed infrastructure, municipal services, mining & industrial
nearly 30 years. The group’s capabilities include bulk earthworks,
facilities and all structures and buildings essential for the continued
blasting and excavations for construction projects, ranging from
development of the economies in which we operate.”
roads, mine infrastructure, highways, bridges, railways, causeways,
The company as a whole has a Grade 9 rating from the South
trenches, dams and other water infrastructure, as well as residential,
African Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), which
industrial and commercial buildings. The group’s impressive fleet of
grants it unlimited tender capability. Given its broad range of
construction equipment includes mobile crushing and screening
expertise, it is able to tackle every area of these tenders, with
plants and mobile asphalt plants, as well as surface road miller and
different divisions and subsidiaries focusing on their varied areas
recyclers.
of expertise. These multidisciplinary abilities make Stefanutti an attractive candidate for clients who want to remove the risks of
The company also offers the design and construction of various
miscommunication that arise from several teams working on a
types of piles, lateral supports, rock anchoring, void fill/compaction
project, thus giving Stefanutti a decisive edge.
grounding and specialist grouting. The geotechnical division has
Stefanutti’s building sector dates back to the early 1950s.
the experience and expertise to design and construct deep-level
Their experience in this field ranges from greenfield developments
foundations and lateral support solutions in the most challenging
to inner city refurbishments, covering all types of build from
geological environments and has been involved in a number of high-
commercial, high-rise, industrial and service buildings, hotels and
profile contracts that have pushed and tested this ability.
shopping centres, affordable and mass housing and residential developments, and specialist fit-outs. Over the decades, they have
As a key part of infrastructure, Stefanutti’s offerings wouldn’t
been responsible for the construction of many landmark buildings
be complete without proficiency in energy generation projects.
across sub-Saharan Africa. “Our preferred methodology of working
These builds require high standards of engineering, as one can’t
is in close partnership with our clients,” Stefanutti explain, “Meaning
afford mistakes.
that we are able to develop innovative solutions that address their requirements.” 106 | Endeavour Magazine
The company works across the full spectrum of the electricity and power supply chain from the construction of power stations,
STEFANUTTI STOCKS BOTSWANA cooling towers and chimneys to coal handling and blending
partner of choice to this industry.” These skills have also been applied
plants, ash disposal dams, infrastructure earthworks and road
to broader water and sanitation work throughout the country, with
infrastructure construction all the way through to mechanical,
projects varying from local to regional and even national size. As
electrical and instrumentation work for power stations. This
well as pipelines and water treatment or sewerage treatment plants,
included the construction of the Kusile and Medupi power stations.
these projects have also included the construction of reservoirs and
They have even completed work on wind, solar and hydropower
work towards environmental or structural rehabilitation.
builds.
Lastly, their final area of expertise is in transport infrastructure.
In the other direction, Stefanutti Stocks have a history of
Even here, they have everything covered, able to work on road,
involvement with the oil & gas industry, which again requires
rail, air and marine facilities. From airports to bridges, ports to
high levels of engineering in order to be both effective and, most
rail stations, there is little that Stefanutti can’t do. Between their
importantly, safe. They have constructed factories, high volume
divisions, they have South Africa’s needs thoroughly covered, and
storage facilities, processing plants, smelters, furnaces, mills,
their large team are even operating in neighbouring countries
facilities for the automobile industry and even petrochemical plants.
across Africa. It’s no surprise that they are a top choice for clients
During these builds, they have developed and earned a reputation
who want a guarantee of a job well done; it seems that no matter the
for safety that has made them a go-to for this sector, where errors
scale or the complexity of the job, this team has it in hand. It’s hard
cannot be made.
to predict where they can go from here in terms of growth, already
The same is true in the mining industry, where Stefanutti have
sitting pretty, but one thing seems likely – they aren’t going to be
worked on piping and water treatment plants for many mines
facing difficulties any time soon. We look forward to returning to
throughout the country. As the company states, “Stefanutti Stocks’
Stefanutti and seeing where they have taken their conquest of the
capability to offer comprehensive cradle-to-grave construction
sectors from here.
solutions to the mining sector has resulted in its reputation as a
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Est. 1989 Proudly 100% Citizen P. O. Box 402965, Gaborone, Botswana, Tel: (+267) 393 6773, Fax: (+267) 393 6774, Cell: (+267) 72622266, plumbot@info.bw 108 | Endeavour Magazine
LEADING SUPPLIER OF CEMENT Plot 22034, Takatokwane Way, Tel: +267 390 1553 / +267 367 3100 Gaborone West Industrial Fax: +267 390 5700 PO Box 2424, Gaborone https://ppc.co.za/botswana
Endeavour Magazine | 109
ASSMANG WWW.ASSMANG.CO.ZA // 0027 11 770 6800
A TRIPLE-THREAT In 1934, Bob Hersov and Slip Menell established Anglovaal (Anglo Transvaal Consolidated Investment Company Limited). A year later, Anglovaal and its partner enterprise, African Mining and Trust, registered a new company to mine manganese deposits: they named this company the Associated Manganese Mines of South Africa Limited, AMMOSAL, now known as Assmang Proprietary Limited. WRITTEN BY DAEMON SANDS & JASPER MILVAIN
ASSMANG
Today, Assmang is run by African Rainbow Minerals and
Assore Ltd. in a 50/50 joint venture. With several impressive mines in their portfolio, they cover the triple-threat of iron ore, manganese and chrome.
T
he company started out working with manganese, with the
due to market dynamics, the smelters have been converted to the
acquisition of their first site all the way back in 1940. The
production of ferromanganese.
company acquired a manganese ore outcrop on a small hillock
Lastly, alongside these globally noteworthy sites, is the
known as Black Rock, in the Northern Cape province of South
Khumani Mine, Assmang’s main source of iron ore. Phase 1
Africa. Once the land was theirs to explore, several large properties
of this site was designed to produce 10 million tons of export
underlain by ore were subsequently found and acquired. Today,
quality iron ore each year; upon the completely on the Phase
Black Rock is considered to be the largest and richest manganese
2 expansion, this rose to 16 million. This expansion included
deposit in the world! Manganese ore from Assmang’s mines in
developments of the mining platform on one property, the
this area is either sent to Assmang-owned smelters or, more
purchase of crushers, material handling systems, stockpiles,
commonly, is exported through Port Elizabeth to the Japanese and
stackers and reclaimers, a local railway siding, an additional rapid
German markets.
load-out station, a paste disposal facility, haul roads and other
As for chrome, Assmang own the Dwarsrivier Mine, situated
supporting facilities.
in the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex. This site comprises
The iron ore deposits in this mine are contained within a
persistent layers of mafic and ultramafic rocks, containing the
sequence of early Proterozoic sediment of the Transvaal Supergroup,
world’s largest known resources of platinum group metals,
deposited between 2 500 and 2 200 million years ago. In general,
chromium and vanadium. These days, chromite production from
two ore types are present: laminated hematite ore, forming part of
Dwarsrivier Mine is sourced from underground: chromite used
the Manganore iron formation, and conglomerate ore, belonging to
to be obtained from the site’s open-cast mining areas at a rate of
the Doornfontein Conglomerate Member, appearing at the base of
approximately 0.9 million tons per year, but these reserves were
the Gamagara Formation.
exhausted in 2005. The more expensive venture of underground
Due to the larger stratiform bodies and prominent hanging wall
mining commenced the same year, at a rate of 1.2 million tons
outcrops at the Khumani mine, the erosion there is less than some
per year. Today, the underground design capacity is 120,000 tons
of its counterparts. The down-dip portions are well preserved and
per month. The site is specifically geared to deliver high quality
developed while in the outcrop the deposits are thin and isolated.
metallurgical grade chromite to the Machadodorp Works, but
A prominent north-south strike of the ore is visible. Hematite is
lately the focus has shifted to the export market. In addition, the
the predominant ore mineral, but limonite and specularite also
plant has been designed to produce chemical grade products, but
occur. The latter of these has been a valued material in the area for
112 | Endeavour Magazine
ASSMANG thousands of years, as early inhabitants of the area would mix the
bursaries and train their people up, allowing them to rise and
specularite with fat to create a glittering form of makeup.
succeed as far as they are able to go. The industry standard on
Assmang’s portfolio of sites is impressive: however, it is not only
spend per employee training is about 4%, but Assmang maintains
resources that make up a mining company, but its employees. Staff
8%. This extra commitment on training alone, never mind the
are the foundation of business, and historically, the focus a company
addition of their construction and supplementing of housing,
places on their people is proportionate to their success. However,
demonstrates their appreciation of their workforce, and their true
in the past, mining in South Africa has experienced its challenges in
understanding of the fact that a mine is more than the ore it holds.
talent shortages. To counter this, companies have invested heavily
All in all, Assmang bears little resemblance to the fledgling
in the recruitment and training of the new generations of miners,
company that started work on the Northern Cape’s manganese
and they have also poured resources into incentives to attract and
fields in 1935. Today, they benefit from the modern mining
keep a loyal and talented workforce.
infrastructure and technologies. Their “we do it better” philosophy
One of Assmang’s most notable incentives is their housing.
has helped to ensure low operating costs and high employee buy-
The company states that they are on a personal endeavour to
in. With flexibility, developed over decades of hardship in difficult
ensure that every employee has their own house: to achieve this,
operating conditions, they are entering a new phase in their
they build their own houses in the towns nearest to their mines,
challenging but distinguished history with confidence, even in the
and instead of simply allowing staff to reside in these whilst they
face of tough global market conditions and challenges.
work for Assmang, they subsidise their employees’ purchase of the homes; this not only gives them somewhere to love that is near their place of work, but also gets them onto the property ladder. They also look after their staff’s future through their focus on internal promotions. Taking people from school level, they offer
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114 | Endeavour Magazine
DESALCOTT WWW.DESALCOTT.COM // 001 868 636 3725
CRYSTAL CLEAR Any island can be surrounded by the sea, but that doesn’t mean it has water. DESALCOTT, Trinidad and Tobago, is the largest declination producer in the Southern Hemisphere, operating on a never-ending cycle twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This endless work produces between 15-20% of water for Trinidad and Tobago during the dry season. WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER & ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
DESALCOTT
Back in 2011, the Desalination Company of Trinidad and
Tobago (DESALCOTT) celebrated its 100 billionth gallon of desalinized water. It has been seven, almost eight years since, and they have spent each year adding to this impressive milestone in leaps and bounds. Originally created for the sole purpose of selling desalinated sea water to WASA (The Water and Sewerage Authority), DESALCOTT is now wholly responsible for designing, building, financing and operating Trinidad’s $200 million desalination plant.
T
he plant was a joint venture enterprise between Trinidadian company Hafeez Karamath Engineering Services Limited and General Electric, and also received financing from HKESL and
Ionics Inc ($20 million), and in 2000, the project received support from the Republic Bank Limited through the Republic Finance and Merchant Bank (Fincor). More long-term financing was established in 2003, until in 2012, HKESL bought all of the shares outright and become the plant’s sole owner. This now makes DESALCOTT a wholly Trinidadian owned and run operation. This sale was able to transpire thanks to First Citizens Bank Limited, who provided essential financing to facilitate the acquisition of General Electric’s shares. WASA and DESALCOTT have enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship, where WASA has asked a lot of DESALCOTT and they have proved themselves not only worthy but singularly capable of meeting these rigorous demands. In 1999, WASA signed a contract with DESALCOTT to purchase over a hundred thousand cubic meters of water per day (24 MIGD) for a period of twenty years. Point Lisas Industrial Estate tenants were the primary market for the water that the company produced, and whatever surplus remained was used by WASA to supplement their own supply to residence in South Trinidad. Later, in 2012, the same year that DESALCOTT changed ownership, WASA increased this contract from 24 MIGD to 40 MIGD. As shutting down their operations to conduct the expansion was out of the question, it was planned that the construction
118 | Endeavour Magazine
DESALCOTT would take place in increments over a thirteen-month period, with
You’ll no doubt have seen the effects of scaling when cleaning out
deliveries of water increasing appropriately. By the end of 2013,
a kitchen kettle!
the gradual expansions had pushed DESALCOTT’s peak capacity to 50.4 million US gallons per day.
Minimalizing membrane degradation is another aim that needs to be addressed. Seawater contains silt and various other entrained
The process behind desalination is fascinating and occurs
solids; a cocktail of ferric chloride is used as a coagulant and a
through a three-stage system. The first stage is the intake of raw
catatonic polymer is used as coagulant acid, and together these
seawater from the Gulf of Paria, which is screened and then pumped
chemicals remove the solids from the seawater. As well as removing
for one and a half kilometers via 42-inch diameter pipelines. During
these solids, it is also essential to remove the microorganisms within
the expansion in 2012, three addition pipes were added to the
the water. Sodium hypochlorite are used to minimize/prevent
original two, to facilitate an increased intake of the raw material.
bio-fouling of the reverse osmosis membranes in the seawater,
Once macro impurities, such as ocean debris, dirt and organic
and then sulphuric acid is utilized as an anti-scalant to eliminate
material, have been removed, the water is then transported to the
carbonate and sulphate scaling. The final product is passed through
facility and passed through a pre-treatment stage. Continuous
post-treatment, where a solution of sodium hypochlorite is used
and reliable pre-treatment of raw seawater involves a total system
to provide residual chlorine to ensure that the drinking water is
approach to increase the efficiency of the reverse osmosis system.
free of any biological activity that could cause illness, and finally, a
One of the goals of this stage is to minimize the occurrence impact
lime solution of calcium carbonate is used to give the water a near
of processes such as fouling and scaling: fouling is what happens
neutrality of between 7 and 8.5 pH.
when water becomes contaminated through the entrapment of
It is a complicated process, and one that must be done carefully
particulates in the liquid through the deposition of bacterial and
and correctly in order to protect the health of those relying on it.
other biological residues, and scaling is what happens when watch
The company employs over a hundred full-time staff, and places
that contains too much calcium, magnesium or other salts is heated.
a high value on the importance of hiring locally, but even so, the
120 | Endeavour Magazine
company occasionally brings in experts from further-afield to double check their processes and bring a fresh set of eyes to their operations. This external examination and critique are invaluable in making sure that they stay at the top of their game, and don’t miss any opportunities in innovate and improve on what they do. This
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goes for all of their processes, as well as the training of their staff. Now, thanks to this dedication to quality, the water DESALCOTT provides is actually purer than the water produced by WASA themselves. In fact, with less than 85mg of dissolved soldiers per litre, the water is better than the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards for drinking water! You can’t ask for fairer than that.
LEADING MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN INDIA
http://poonamengineering.com MitraSusanghat Co-op Society; Opp Queen Mary High School; PempriPada Road; Malad East Mumbai – 400097
Endeavour Magazine | 121
BAPCO WWW.BAPCO.NET // 00973 1770 4040
BAHRAIN’S OIL BASTIONS Oil is one of Bahrain’s main resources, and has been since the 1930s. We spoke with BAPCO (Bahrain Petroleum Company), the wholly Government-owned entity of Bahrain, about its role in this essential, defining industry for its country. WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER & ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
BAPCO
Oil was discovered in Bahrain in 1932 - the first such find
on the Arabian side of the Gulf. In many ways, this discovery went on to define Bahrain to the international community. Since the late 20th century, there have been attempts from Bahrain to diversify their economy and become less dependent on oil – for example, the country has invested heavily in banking and tourism. However, it was and is an oilrich nation.
B
APCO is engaged not only in Bahrain’s oil exploration, but
The oil process begins with the exploration and development
also oil drilling, production, refining, distribution and sales. It
departments: BAPCO carries out extensive studies on a continuous
is a major operation, owning a 250,000 barrel-a-day refinery,
basis, always making use of the latest technology, techniques and
storage facilities for more than 14 million barrels, a marketing
methods to look for new oil and gas prospects, as well as to obtain
terminal and a marine terminal for its petroleum products.
more accurate data on its existing reserves.
With a catalogue of customers for both their crude oil and
Once exploration and development, a lengthy process in itself,
refined products, throughout the Middle East, India, the Far East,
is complete, BAPCO of course tackles drilling and production.
South East Asia and Africa, about 95% of BAPCO’s refined products
To maintain production at optimum levels, advanced drilling
are exported beyond their borders. In this regard, BAPCO’s main
techniques are applied to new and existing wells. Due to the
push is to collaborate and engage in all aspects of the petroleum
increased demand coming from Bahrain’s growing industrial base,
and related industries, with the aim of maximising its contribution
BAPCO has also expanded its gas facilities to increase the natural
to the national economy.
gas production capacity.
Handling such a vital resource for the country, BAPCO has
The Bahrain Refinery, which is one of the largest in the Middle
pledged itself to be the pinnacle example of a business by creating
East and the oldest in the GCC, refines over 250,000 barrels of
value for their shareholders, customers and employees whilst
crude oil every day. About one-sixth of this crude originates from
constantly striving for excellence - a key watchwords of the
Bahrain Field, and the remainder is pumped from Saudi Arabia
organisation.
in pipelines extending 27 kilometres over land and a further 27
Today the oil industry is one of the most competitive sectors
kilometres under the sea before reaching the northwest of Bahrain.
in the world, and it does not forgive errors. To promote excellence,
BAPCO exports crude oil to world markets and sells the refined
BAPCO has taken the stance of separating the focusses of the
petroleum products both locally and internationally. It also supplies
company into different segments, to offer a strong hands-on
and sells aviation fuel at the Bahrain International Airport through
approach to all divisions.
its affiliate, The Bahrain Aviation Fueling Company (BAFCO),
124 | Endeavour Magazine
BAPCO in which BAPCO is a 60% shareholder. It also provides the full
Mr. Kyung-Tae Kim, Vice President of Samsung Engineering
requirements of natural gas to the power generating plants and
was quoted as saying that the Lube Base Oil Plant was one of the
other industries in the country.
largest of its type in the world, and that the opening of the Lube
The organisation also works on training and development, both
Base Oil Plant provided a fresh impetus to business investments
within their own walls and further afield, for the wider support
in the Kingdom of Bahrain, setting a new benchmark for the use
of the industry. The company is delivering an ambitious human
of technology in the oil and gas industry. It also boosted local
resource development programme to ensure that the skills of its
employment, hiring 3000 new workers for the development phase.
workforce match the technological and business demands of
The production capacity of the Lube Base Oil Plant is 400,000
the ever-evolving sector, and it also supports over 150 students
tonnes a year of Very High Viscosity Index (VHVI), Group III
in higher education across Bahrain and abroad. The training and
Lubricant Base Oils, which are products that are in increasing
development department ensures that Bahrain’s present and
demand in Europe and North America, as they are needed to meet
future oil and gas workers are at the level required to support the
the requirements of the next generation of lubricant performance
country’s needs and its high reputation within this sector. Given
and environmental standards. The plant has therefore proven
that their reputation is so high, and oil and gas in many ways define
highly profitable, with the production of Group III lubricant base
Bahrain in the eyes of the world, BAPCO takes quality management
continuing to seem a financially attractive endeavour for the
extremely seriously.
country.
One of the many areas of operational excellence within BAPCO
An integrated oil company, BAPCO is committed to the
is the million BAPCO Lube Base Oil Plant. The $314 million
protection of the environment and to the health and safety
development received the Bahrain MEED Quality Awards for
of its employees, contractors, customers and the surrounding
Projects after it went into operation in 2012, and is an area of focus
community, believing that these are integral parts of its business
and pride for the company.
and culture. As a country, Bahrain is rich in its natural heritage; the
126 | Endeavour Magazine
archipelago is home to more than 300 species of birds, mammals and sea life, all of which BAPCO is heavily involved in protecting and relocating where necessary. Whilst oil and gas may be said to define Bahrain to the world market, BAPCO knows that it is the country’s stunning nature, natural heritage and its cultural history that truly represents what is precious and valuable about their home; whilst they work to both further the industry and add to their economy, they also know that they cannot lose sight of the importance of protecting these treasures.
Raffa Construction & Maintenance CO W.L.L P.O.Box - 5690, Building 1550, Road 736. Website: www.rafco.co Tel: +973 17731475, Fax: +973 17731791. Email: Info@rafco.co
Serving since 1975 in the construction industry and expertise in oil & gas sector Services • • • • • • • • •
Shutdowns & Maintenance services Civil/Structural & Mechanical works Blasting, painting, specialist coating & fireproofing Industrial sewer lines & buried services Modification of gas plants Structural steel fabrication & erection Industrial & petrochemical construction Commercial & industrial building construction Design, manufacture & installation of K-span
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