Engineer The
VOL.2/NO. 9 • FEB-MARCH 2017
Radial Truss makes engineering tick
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NAMIBIA’S PULSE OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
10 Otjimbingwe roadworks thrills MPP Civils
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15 Choosing the right solar inverters
TransNamib ditches China 13
Engineer of the Month Ndapewa Paulus 4
Trump’s policies could hurt our mining 16
Besides money & the Chinese, Namibia’s construction has other bigger problems 8 Software frees quantity surveyors to add yet more value. Enthusiasts are seeing improvements in software as a sign that the days of the quantity surveyor are numbered. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Engineer Feb-March 2017
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Editor Donald Matthys editor@theengineer.com.na
In this edition, we feature some of the best road and rail contractor companies and stakeholders.
The government, in conjunction with the private sector continues to make collective efforts to improve the current state in the sector. However, recognising and improving challenges that continues to persist in the sector need to be addressed with urgency.
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How Radial Truss makes engineering tick. Government’s decision to gag tenders could be a hard knock to the country’s contractors and many local contracting companies. Among them is Radial Truss Industries
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Software frees quantity surveyors to add yet more value. Enthusiasts are seeing improvements in software as a sign that the days of the quantity surveyor are numbered. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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Octagon Construction: The quest for local upliftment. With the task to construct a 42km road between Uukwiyuushona to Omuntele in the Oshikoto region, Octagon Construction urges government to put local contractors first.
Namibia is slowly becoming the transit hub for neighbouring countries and there is a need to expand and restore road and rail infrastructure in order to ensure a safe and reliable delivery of goods and passage of people around southern Africa. The Engineer Magazine wishes our stakeholders and advertisers a productive new year and we look forward to continuing business with them.
Graphic Designer Keith M. Tuwelo
Besides Money & the Chinese, Namibia’s construction has other bigger problems. Besides a lack of funds from government, and the mushrooming of Chinese contractors, Namibia’s construction is always on the constant growth however most of the firms have faced challenges.
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New African railways ride on Chinese loans, but Nam ditches China. The Namibian government has bought six modern locomotives to the tune of N$300 million for TransNamib, the national railway carrier, finally ditching a long relationship with Chinese suppliers.
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Distribution distribution@targetnam.com 081 368 2352 Marketing Etty-Doria Kilembe marketing@theengineer.com.na
The Engineer is a magazine published once a month and circulated to 10 000 senior engineering decision makers in Namibia. Subscription Rate: N$20 per copy. In each issue, The Engineer offers advertisers the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the journal. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story on pages and maximum exposure. For more information on cover bookings contact us on Tel: +264 61 254 005/081 122 6850
Production Manager Wesley Urassa
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Choosing the right solar inverter. An inverter’s job is straightforward. However with numerous models and options, choosing the right inverter for your application has become a more challenging task.
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New or Used Equipment. Africa’s construction industry continues to record exponential growth thanks to an upsurge growth of urban centers, infrastructural growth, growth in the mining and industrial sectors.
Executive Editor Confidence Musariri 081 122 6850 Admin & Accounts Marizaan Bock admin@targetnam.com General Manager: Marketing Kenneth Karamata business@municipalpillars.com Printer: Solitaire Press
CONTENTS PAGE
EDITORIAL
Welcome to our first edition of 2017. With that said, we kick off the year by taking a closer look at the country’s roads and rail infrastructure.
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7 steps to proper maintenance of diesel generators. Head to page 22 to find out how best to service and make use of your generator.
Engineer Engineer Engineer Engineer The
VOL.2/NO. 8 • DEC-JAN 2016/17
VOL.2/NO. 7 • NOVEMBER 2016
Bulk Materials Handling & Logistics go hand-in hand
NAMIBIA’S PULSE OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
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VOL.2/NO. 6 • OCTOBER 2016
Vol.2/No. 5 • September 2016
The
The
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LOGISTICS
NAMIBIA’S PULSE OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
NUST DRA grows revolutionises its ports and Namibian women harbour in Computing & experience Scaling up solar power Informatics
to meet Namibia’s NSFAF energy needsaids ABB’s upcoming electrical engineer
Pipe relining solutions making inroads into Africa
How Namibian contractors can survive Chinese competition
FNB Namibia financing commercial property purchase
2016 was tough
Northern and Kavango road rehabilitation to cost US$39mil
Drilling Windhoek
Harvesting the sun
Time to Regulate Rigging; says Precision
N$300 million & 12 large diameter boreholes:
Inside the City’s new water plan NUST hosts International computer science conference
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- Cancellation of projects - Late payments - Foreign contractors getting everything
What now 2017?
Namibia vs. Africa’s 2016 construction projects
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Lamek Kweenda remodels engineering entrepreneurship
The Engineer
Worley Parsons RSA is propelling its integrated project design tools into the next dimension of project engineering and construction management, providing tangible and pre-emptive design solutions to project delivery.
Cover opportunity Find out how City of Windhoek civil engineer Reinhard Boehmer oversees the Capital’s contract management. His troubles with contractors most specifically.
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NUST advances in industrial engineering research
Top Consulting Engineers discuss how Von Bach Dam came 3cm to a massive leak 12
The next dimension in project design Engineer of the Month
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Ester Angula; an engineering name for the future
NAMIBIA’S PULSE OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
D&M
explains Continuous Welded Rail Innovations
NAMIBIA’S PULSE OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
The Engineer | November 2016
Dec-Jan 2016/17
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Transition: Bicon Namibia Changes Guard
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Feb-March 2017
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ENGINEER OF THE MONTH
Ndapewa Paulus
Site engineers perform a technical, organisational and supervisory role on construction projects, setting out and determining the location for above and underground infrastructural installations involved in construction operations.
Paulus believes Namibia’s engineering sector has fared well, amid a few challenges. She advocates for the skills transfer from professionals and calls for training to be constant, to ensure continuity of knowledge sharing and development.
Road to Civil Engineering Growing up, Paulus wanted to make a tangible contribution to society and take part in developing Namibia, which is why she decided to become a civil engineer. “Civil engineering offered a broad base platform in that regard. It enables one to be part of major developments to our country, thus making a significant mark in society,” Paulus says.
• architects;
After graduation, she got employed by Windhoek Consulting Engineers (WCE), which she describes the firm as one of the best engineering consulting companies in Namibia.
• supervisors;
Biggest Project When completed, the Elisenheim Development will consist of 21 phases, and Paulus was the site engineer during the construction of two of the first phases running the show from start to finish.
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Paulus would apply designs and plans to mark out the site and worked as part of the site management team, in liaison with:
The Engineer
Feb-March 2017
• construction managers; • engineers; • planners; • subcontractors; • surveyors. Local Engineering Industry Shedding some light on the local engineering sector, Paulus says the industry has grown tremendously over the years especially in terms of infrastructural development from decent road infrastructure network, improvements on railway infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and clinics upgrades.
Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)-2014
“But there is not inclusive framework that caters for young engineering professionals to enable them to thrive in the profession. Namport is currently busy with the port expansion which would hopefully make us the gateway to the rest of Africa and landlocked countries. Such key projects need to have a template for locals particularly the junior engineering practitioners to be exposed to the new trends.”
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Civil engineering offered a broad base platform in that regard. It enables one to be part of major developments to our country, thus making a significant mark in society.
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Working as Civil Engineer for Windhoek Consulting Engineers, under the Transport Division which provides services in the fields of planning, design and administration of national road, trunk road and township street projects, Ndapewa Paulus is one of Namibia’s few women in engineering.
Paulus’s inspiration in the field mostly comes from her colleagues, supervisors and the director of her division, Victor Rieger.
Your typical Katutura girl born in a family of five boys, Paulus is determined to make it tick, and she sums it up aptly; “Work hard but remember to love what you do.”
The following services for civil services engineering is available: • Design of road network infrastructure for township developments • Design of internal water reticulation networks for township developments • Design of internal sewer networks for township developments, including sewer pump stations and rising mains • Bulk sewer and water networks • Reservoir design & planning • Storm water and hydrology analysis and design
About WCE Civil Engineering The firm provides services in the fields of water resource management, planning and design of canals, pump stations, pipelines, reservoirs, water treatment plants, bulk services and reticulation networks. WCE is also actively involved with the provision of internal and bulk services to townships in Namibia.
ENGINEER OF THE MONTH
“Whether on the side of design, project consulting, construction supervision, the supervision and mentorship of WCE is spot on. You get to work on interesting and complex projects that I personally think I would not get a chance to work on if I was working somewhere else,” she says.
• Project Management and Administration • Full time site supervision
Current and recently completed projects include: • Afrodite Beach, Walvis Bay (www.afrodite-beach.com) • Namib Eco Village, Walvis Bay (www.phincon.com.na) • Sungate, Windhoek (www.sungate.ws) • Rossmund Golf Club Development, Swakopmund
©Visible Communications | REG NO. CC/2014/13113
• Long Beach Extension, Walvis Bay
One of WCE projects
Happy 26 Independence Day Namibia
WEA is a northern Namibia-based th engineering company that specialises in the construction of water and sewer reticulations and structures, designing, construction, installation Our Vision and maintenance of pump stations, as To be the one-stop shop engineering company of choice through providing complete well as sewage ponds. civil engineering solutions.
Our Commitment:
Our Mission
To provide unique and innovative civil engineering solutions in Namibia and beyond.
We are committed to provide the best quality service to our customers through the best available technologies. We take pride in our highly qualified and experienced personnel.
Our goal is to exceed the expectation of every client by offering outstanding customer service, increased flexibility and greater value, thus optimizing system functionality and improving operational efficiency.
“We are the Sole Namibian Resellers of Werner Pumps and Equipment” Tel: +264 65 231 087/9 | Cell: +264 81 128 1104 | Erf No: 5540, Ongwediva Industrial Area Tel: +264 65231087/9 - Fax: +264 65231006 Dr Sam Nujoma Drive, Ongwediva | PO Box 1663, Oshakati, NAMIBIA | tangeni@wea.com.na | www.wea.com.na The Engineer Feb-March 2017
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RADIAL TRUSS
How Radial Truss makes engineering tick Government’s decision to gag tenders could be a hard knock to the country’s contractors and many local contracting companies. Among them is the company that supplied the City of Windhoek New Emergency Boreholes with electricity in a short period of two months.
T
he primary objective of the WMARS is to increase the internal long-term sustainable water supply capacity of the City by injecting water into an aquifer during times of high rainfall and abstract it under controlled conditions during times of drought. The aquifer allows for long term safekeeping of water with limits of losses to approximately 5% compared to conventional dams with losses up to 50%. The Windhoek aquifer is estimated to hold approximately 6 million m3 of water with minimal losses (+/-3%) when compared to surface dams. The current phase of the project will allow the access to underground water in times of drought, provided the aquifer has been fully/partially recharged to allow abstraction.
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Radial Truss is a BEE company who was selected by Government to supply electricity to the capital’s new emergency boreholes during Namibia’s drought.
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Radial Truss Projects Director Ambrosius Mulongeni (2nd from left) and staff
Radial Truss is a BEE company who was selected by Government to supply electricity to the capital’s drilling system during Namibia’s drought. It is important to understand that, if about 25 Million m3 is extracted, it will take about 14 years to replenish the aquifer through normal, average precipitation. The scheme is therefore developed so as to allow for the artificial recharging of the aquifer in times of abundant availability of surface water (dams in excess of a predetermined level) thereby effectively acting as a water bank. This will greatly reduce the amount of water captured, but lost through evaporation while safeguarding the capital city against droughts. The Windhoek Managed Aquifer Recharge System can also act as an enormous balancing facility which can aid to significantly reduce the size of future supply infrastructure.
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Radius Truss Projects Director Ambrosius Mulongeni below discusses new projects, innovations and the need for government to support local engineers.
TE: How tough has it been working on the City of Windhoek project? RT: The main challenge was the time frame. We were given two months to complete the work. The work comprised of erecting a 12km 33kV line in hard rock and also installation of 400m 185mm2 PILC underground cable. And in these two months it was raining.
Once the clouds gathered we couldn’t work smoothly as the risk of being struck by lightning was high. Besides, the lead time on the equipment was a nightmare. But of course, we pulled through. Today here we are proud of the results.
TE: So what else makes Radial Truss tick? RT: The main strengths of Radial Truss that we have been commended for by our clients include: •
Human Capital – It is probably the first BEE Company to have the right personnel throughout the ranks. From electrical to civil engineers complemented by qualified artisans to qualified accountants. This gives us comfort of pulling off many complicated projects with little hustle as the right people are in right positions
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Track Record – we have a massive track record backed with positive feedback by our clients. And our clientele includes NamPower, NamWater, Ministries, Erongo Red, Cenored, etc.
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Equipment – we have right equipment for the job. As engineers, we know what equipment is needed for the job. Hence, our equipment acquisition has been strategic
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Recognizable Brand – we are a brand and our works is a testimony
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Shared Vision – we all pull together. From the comrade pushing a wheelbarrow onsite to the guys setting strategies in the boardroom.
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Confidence – we know what we are doing hence confident of our products. We speak with surety as we are sure of our capability.
RADIAL TRUSS
TE: But how are the short-comings of the industry affecting you? RT: The main shortcoming is the overlooking of Namibian companies for foreign companies. We need to understand the sensitivity of our economy and do as much as we can to keep the Nam-dollar inside our borders. This country has so many good engineers yet those in the decision-making positions do not have faith in them. We have best artisans, and only need to give them opportunities. I know a couple of good engineers and artisans that left to go work in South Africa as they feel more valued that side. People talk of Namibian companies being expensive; yes, we may be a bit expensive by 1, 2 or 3% but remember that we do not have luxury of the foreign companies. We pay wages as per the labour act and regulations, we equip workers as per the labour act and regulations and we buy what is being sold in Namibia rather than importing from China. And of course, our general overheads are high as we recruit qualified accountants and support offices rather than having one person doing all sort of work.
TE: And innovation? RT: As a continent, we have a long way to go. Petty problems blind us from great view that leads to innovation. We also need to protect the little innovators we get to encourage more people to try to innovate. TE: What projects is Radial Truss banking on in 2017?
RT: The tenders are stopped now, so this is difficult. I am even scared of how am I going to notify over 300 persons that there is no more work and they must go home. TE: If all goes well, what should clients expect from Radial Truss this year? RT: Great results and painless experience in engineering solutions. We want to be that one stop trusted station for our clients.
Radial Truss Industries (Pty) Ltd have a very strong Department of Electrical Services including but not limited to the following: Substations | HVMV Overhead lines | MV Underground Reticulations | ABC Reticulations | LV Underground Reticulations Solar Plants Turnkey Solutions | Mines MCC Streetlights | Pump Stations Many more depending on client requirements
+264 61 301 336
+264 61 304 513
+264 81 30 88 3 55
PO Box 27514, Windhoek, Namibia
info@radialtruss.com.na
www.radialtruss.com.na
No.: 2 Jenner Street, Windhoek West, Windhoek, Namibia
QUANTITY SURVEYING
Enthusiasts are seeing improvements in software as a sign that the days of the quantity surveyor are numbered. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Software frees quantity surveyors to add yet more value Software has disrupted many industry sectors, from travel to insurance, and from retail to real estate. In each case, we were informed excitedly that the new technology would side-line humans. And yet estate agents, insurance brokers and even brick-and-mortar retail stores all still continue to grow. More accurately, those that have embraced the new technology have gone on to flourish. When it comes to quantity surveying we are seeing a similar dynamic unfolding. An added element is that the profession is poorly understood by other players in the public and private sectors. All too often, quantity surveyors are seen simply as providers of Bills of Quantities and drafters of tender documents. In reality, a quantity surveyor has a much broader and more valuable role to play, especially in these days of mega-projects, strict regulation and, of course, unremitting cost pressure. It is true that intelligent software can help automate and improve some of the more routine elements of the quantity surveyor’s job, such as measurement and the collation of documents. But to see the role of the software in this light only, or even to see it to some extent replacing a quantity surveyor, is to miss the point entirely.
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The Engineer
Feb-March 2017
Rather, the software should be seen as providing quantity surveyors with the space to provide the services that have, over time, come to define their real contribution to any project.
This contribution includes the ability to determine the viability of a project from the outset, or to see the project holistically, in order to assist the owner to balance the architect’s vision with the realities of meeting cost targets that will ensure that planned returns are realised. This contribution continues, not only during the actual construction phase but throughout the entire life-cycle of the building. I always think of the quantity surveyor’s role as one of creating a value proposition that extends from the design phase, through the construction phase and then ultimately throughout the life of the building management phase. Software alone would be hard pressed to provide all these vital service solutions to clients.
In addition, the quantity surveyor is able to take the basic data and calculations produced by the software as the basis for exercising his or her judgement – not, as many would have one believe, to bypass it. Software cannot take into consideration many of the long-term questions that are of increasing importance to those who fund large projects, and those who will use them.
For example, what are the benefits of spending more during the construction phase in order to reduce costs over the life of the project? How can certain needs such as air conditioning be met in a way that it is environmentally responsible without compromising operational efficiency – or commercial viability? These, and similar questions, need the expert judgement of an experienced professional to resolve, not the wired-in certainties of a piece of software. By fulfilling this role, the quantity surveyor protects the interests of the client, including those who will use the finished product, and the broader community at large.
CONSTRUCTION
Octagon Construction: The quest for local upliftment With the task to construct a 47km road between Uukwiyuushona to Omuntele in the Oshikoto region, Octagon Construction urges government to put local contractors first.
A multi-disciplinary construction and plant hire company formed in 2010 with offices in Ongwediva and Windhoek, Octagon Construction’s Director George Hainana has advised local contractors to steer their focus towards capacity building in a move to ensure that local companies are as competent as foreign companies.
“The year 2016 affected everyone in the construction industry and we were not an exception. But as they say “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. As soon as the situation became alarming, we restrategised and took a different approach to ensure that we survive through this difficult period,” begins Hainana.
With the 47km road between Uukwiyuushona to Omuntele set to be completed in June 2017, Octagon applauds Roads Authority for putting Namibia on the map by ensuring that roads are well maintained and key routes are continuously upgraded to keep up with the overall economic growth and activities.
Specializing in municipal services, earth works, road works, structural buildings and housing developments, Octagon concentrates at delivering the highest possible service and products for the benefits of its clients, with a team composed of well qualified and talented individuals that complement each other. “We know the level of service and standard that the industry appreciates and each and every day we strive to improve the service delivery and standards. We also understand that growth is inevitable if you keep improving and pushing ourselves to the limit,” thus Hainana. Octagon’s 2017 project focus includes: •
Construction of the Okavango West Regional Offices
•
Construction of Municipal Services in Otjiwarongo Extension 8 & 10
•
Upgrading of the Ondangwa Northern Tannery
George Hainana Executive Director
Octagon Project Highlights
As much as the construction industry has brought opportunities to many Namibian bona fide companies, a lot still need to be done, the company argues. Companies like Octagon, do not have an advantage over foreign companies. Insists Hainana, “We feel that regulation and policies put into place by the government to empower local companies are not being adhered to and are sometimes ignored. On the other hand, local companies need to focus more on capacity building. We need to acquire more resources that contribute to our companies’ strengths as well as train more local people to become skilled. It’s the only way to ensure that local companies are as competent as foreign companies.”
UUKWIYUUSHONA: OMUNTELE Labour Based Construction Of DR3683 Employer: Roads Authority Consulting Engineers: Element JV Engenium Year: 2017 OMAHEKE REGIONAL COUNCIL The Construction for the Proposed Omaheke Regional Government Park Employer: Omaheke Regional Council Consulting Engineer: WML Consulting Year: 2019 OTAVI: KHOABEB Construction of Roads, Sewer and Water in Otavi Khoabeb Ext.5 Employer: Otavi Town Council Consulting Engineer: Om’kumoh Consulting Engineers Year: 2015
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Feb-March 2017
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CIVIL ENGINEERING
MPP Civils Completes road works in Otjimbingwe
Despite challenges derived from fact that the town of Otjimbingwe is fairly remotely located and is accessible by a scenic yet difficult gravel road, one of Namibia’s premier construction companies made the best of the job. The project was set for duration of four months from commencement.
“The other potential risk to the project and any road/earthworks project for that matter was the availability of conforming road building materials. Thankfully though, the surrounding areas provided pockets of very good quality materials that met and exceeded the specifications consistently,” Nashidengo said.
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Earthworks projects carry very heavy water requirements. Water is quite scarce in the area and where the piped water points are available; the rate of supply is generally insufficient for the pace of earthworks construction
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Tuli Nashidengo, Road & Earthworks Contract Director at MPP Civils said that the movement of equipment and building materials to the construction site was difficult because of location of the construction site.
However, having a committed team of workers, the company made use of temporary storage facilities, which would take long to fill (usually overnight and longer) and tap these when required with high capacity pumps to fill up to 12,000 liters at a time relatively quickly. The supply of construction water can become a bottleneck that defines the production output on a project and needs careful planning, Nashidengo said.
Safety The fact that the project entailed the construction of street roads in Otjimbingwe meant that the engagement of heavy earthmoving equipment was
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The Engineer | Feb-March 2017
done very close to homes, schools and other areas with high pedestrian traffic.
The company had to implement a safety system with particular care to minimize accidents and other hazards. For this purpose, they had a dedicated safety officer to cater to this task. Nashidengo proudly noted that they completed the project without major incident.
Local Construction Sector “Our construction sector is quite diverse and dynamic. It is however facing major challenges at the current moment and requires a re-strategization from each and every entity in the industry. The volume of work is there to allow work for all local contractors as in any growing and developing economy.
The Construction Industry Federation is particularly instrumental in this. Publications like yours also do well to expose and market the industry,” Nashidengo said.
Projects for 2017
Past Projects MPP Civils is relatively young as an organization and is steadily building its portfolio. “Of note, we have recently completed the Dairy Parlor in Rundu in the Vhungu-Vhungu area and a similar one in Zambia for Zambeef as well.
MPP Civils’ ISO certified Quality Management Systems encourages sustained and continuous improvement of every aspect its processes and thus continuously improving the pace and level of delivery to its Clients. “We have a very dynamic team of Heads of Department (HoDs) who are individually and collectively driven and share in the passion to drive the organization to greater heights. All this in order to optimize project delivery and growth to serve all our present and future clients to the maximum,” Nashidengo said.
CIVIL ENGINEERING
There are a number of considerations that need to be aligned from all stakeholders to get things going well.
The company has also adopted the “Preferred Contractor” mantra as an underlying principle at its core in that they aim to be the Contractor that all clients prefer to deliver their projects to them. “Our general approach is that we hunger fort the opportunity to present our wares and capabilities to new Clients. The rest really takes its own course. MPP Civils is working on some new and ongoing appointments/projects in 2017. These ranges in size and sophistication from concrete reservoir projects (in Outapi and Walvis Bay) as well as some building (in Outapi and Katima Mulilo) and storm water projects (in Eenhana and Outapi).
We have also constructed the largest single grain storage silo installation in the Shadikongoro area in Okavango. We are currently busy with a 5000m3 liter concrete reservoir in Outapi,” he added.
Fundamental to this are the systems that have been meticulously honed and implemented before anything else to create a strong basis and culture in the organization that demands the best of each and every member of the organization,” Nashidengo concluded.
Besides Money & Chinese, Namibia’s construction has other bigger problems Besides a lack of funds from government, and the mushrooming of Chinese contractors, Namibia’s construction is always on the constant growth however most of the firms have faced challenges that have been hindering them from delivering key projects on time.
Skilled workers are needed in large numbers to fill a growing demand. The younger generation is being pushed toward college, and not vocational trades. The benefits of a career in construction are not being sold to millennials, and much of today’s existing workforce is closing in on retirement.
3. Unreliable Subcontractors Many contractors have problems finding reliable subs for their jobs. If you are in a pinch and need to find a sub, check with the materials suppliers and vendors that you work with regularly.
2. Lack of Communication
They will have the inside scoop, and may have a great recommendation for a sub. You can also ask other subcontractors that you have worked with for a recommendation, too.
For instance, if you ask any contractor of any challenge he is facing be it a small firm or big the problems are almost the same.
When things go wrong on a project, it is almost always due to a communication breakdown along the way. Technology is the answer to your communication problems.
Always check a sub’s licenses, make sure they carry general liability insurance, and list your company as additional insured on their insurance before you hire them.
Here are the answers you’ve been looking for to the biggest problems facing construction professionals today that need urgent solution.
Two-thirds of Namibians own smartphones, so there is a good chance that almost everyone on your project has one.
5. High Insurance Costs
1. Lack of Skilled Workers
Using email, text messages, and construction technology apps on a project can get information instantaneously to all people on the project in real time and reduce the slowdowns and speed bumps of a communication breakdown.
For a while now this has been the major problem that have been facing Namibia’s construction industry, despite the fact that there are many institutions ready to teach skilled the labour is not enough.
Contractor insurance is part of the cost of doing business, but that doesn’t mean you have to overpay for it. You can get lower rates on your contractor insurance by combining coverage, not letting your coverage lapse, and reviewing your policies each year for changes that may save you money.
The Engineer | Feb-March 2017
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CONSTRUCTION
Office: +264 (61) 428 201 Fax: +264 (61) 428 202 Address: 13 Strauss Street, Windhoek West, Windhoek
Tenders: tenders@mppcivils.com Accounts: accounts@mppcivils.com Hr: hr@mppcivils.com General: Namibia@mppcivils.com
Get to know us!
Value Engineering
Our Approach
MPP Civils Namibia is a leading, bona fide Namibian construction firm founded in Windhoek in 2013. With the combined project and staff experience of over 50 years in the industry across the organization, the MPP Civils Team has become known for its timeous and accurate delivery of projects to its clients.
MPP in actualizing its client’s objectives combines and applies its collective knowledge on technical specifications, conditions of contracts, actual site conditions and constraints to provide our clients with value engineered solutions to improve and enhance the value of products delivered.
Each project has distinct requirements, but in small and large ways, each is informed and transformed by and benefits from our diverse service offerings and capabilities enhanced by our world class ISO Certified Quality Management System.
Introducing The MPP Civils BRIDGE Program The MPP Civils BRIDGE program is a comprehensive internship experiences for undergraduates seeking a career in construction. The BRIDGE program is more than an in-service job – it’s a professional and educational process that prepares students for a successful transition to a challenging and rewarding career. It’s also a chance for MPP Civils to see students in action. We match the talents and interests of today’s brightest minds to the emerging needs of our business. 12
The Engineer
Feb-March 2017
The Namibian government has bought six modern locomotives to the tune of N$300 million for TransNamib, the national railway carrier, finally ditching a long relationship with Chinese suppliers. The modern and fuel efficient locomotives, which are described as the best on the market, were acquired from General Electric, an American company based in Brazil.
PROJECT FOCUS
New African railways ride on Chinese loans, as Nam goes for quality locomotives According to the acting chief executive officer of TransNamib, Mbahupu Hippy Tjivikua, who received the shipment recently, the locomotives will be deployed to transport sulphuric acid between Arandis and Tsumeb. “This is the best procurement that we have ever done in the history of TransNamib and it is indeed a positive step in the right direction now that we are focusing on the upgrading of our rail and road network,” he said. Apart from the six new locomotives, TransNamib owns 97 others of which only 52 are operational, with some more than 50 years old. Tjivikua said buying new locomotives was a necessity, not only to replace the ageing and redundant ones in the fleet but also as a way to increase company revenue in order to become selfsustainable. Tjivikua also indicated that TransNamib would need at least 80 new locomotives to replace the ageing ones. It is more costly to refurbish the old ones than to acquire new ones, Tjivikua explained. TransNamib has now reverted to a brand it has trusted for the last 50 years when it agreed to purchase six new locomotives from General Electric (GE), in a deal sources estimate to be worth about N$500 million. In December 2012, two locomotives and 17 wagons carrying manganese derailed near the same location and this accident alone was estimated to have cost TransNamib over N$65 million. In 2014, two TransNamib locomotives and one of 20 wagons filled with sulphuric acid, destined for use in uranium leaching at Rössing Uranium, derailed outside Walvis Bay. It was that time that discussions about bringing GE back began. By end of 2014 TransNamib had scrapped four locomotives, which were bought in China for N$42 million in 2004. It cited safety concerns. The four CKD diesel electrical locomotives and 10 mainline railway passenger coaches, which were inaugurated in 2004 by the former TransNamib CEO, John Shaetonhodi, were sold on tender.
“The CKD8C … the first batch of four locomotives bought from China are unsafe to operate due to poor braking and poor filtration systems. There are also interface problems between engine and alternator, and unsafe multiple locomotive workings. The locomotives’ electrical systems are poorly designed, posing challenges to operate safely,” said TransNamib’s senior engineer, Joe van Zyl, at the time. The four locomotives were purchased from Sifang Locomotive Works, China North Railways. In fact, the Ministry of Works and Transport contracted a local private company to upgrade and maintain the railway network particularly between Otavi and Tsumeb, which when completed should realise and upgrade to regional standards.
But the rest of Africa is still working on Chinese locos and rails. Earlier this January, the first train rumbled down the tracks of a US$3.4bn electric railway connecting landlocked Ethiopia with Djibouti and its access to the Red Sea. The 750km (466 miles) line, expected to carry up to five million
tonnes of goods per year, promises to have a massive impact on the economies of both countries and the region at large. The project was 70% funded by a loan from China’s state-run EXIM Bank and built by China Railway Group and Chinese engineers.
Kenya railway line almost done It is the latest in China’s massive infrastructure investment in Africa. A US$13bn railroad in Kenya, financed by the Export-Import Bank of China and built by the state-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation, is nearly complete. Other railway lines are planned to stretch into east African countries including South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Between 2000 and 2014, China made US$24.2bn in loans to finance transportation projects on the African continent, according to researchers at the China-Africa Research Initiative, a group at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies focusing on China-Africa relations. Eighty percent of those loans were for roads and railways.
“This is the best procurement that we have ever done in the history of TransNamib and it is indeed a positive step in the right direction now that we are focusing on the upgrading of our rail and road network”. Mbahupu Hippy Tjivikua, Acting Chief Executive Officer of TransNamib The Engineer
Feb-March 2017
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PROJECT FOCUS
China eyes African ports Experts say Chinese infrastructure investment in Africa is not about altruism. Funding railways benefits China by connecting ports and facilitating the movement of raw commodities that are badly needed to fuel China’s development. “East Africa, particularly the ports in Kenya, ports in Tanzania and especially ports in Djibouti, these are very important for the Chinese just for the exports,” said Jyhjong Hwang, a senior research assistant at Johns Hopkins’ ChinaAfrica Research Initiative. Hwang says that for China, these projects will take a long time to pay dividends. By contrast she said African economies are likely to see an immediate impact. “These are big transportation projects that will stimulate local economies, these are good for basic infrastructure,” she said. “This is good for local, loan recipient countries just because these projects have a lot of costs and not a lot of immediate financial return. “These are the projects that need a lot of financial infusion to begin with and obviously the financier has to be willing to want to take on a lot of risk, but willing to recuperate over a longer horizon,” said Hwang.
Not a ‘clear pattern’ In 2016, the China-Africa Research Initiative published its database of all known loans made by China to Africa between 2000 and 2014. The countries that received these loans were not all resource-rich countries, researchers found. “When we talk about China and Africa and interests, people talk about natural resources, but one of our findings was that actually there isn’t a clear pattern in terms of the amounts of loans to countries and how well-endowed they are with natural resources,” said Janet Eom, a research manager at the China-Africa Research Initiative. Oil-rich Angola received the largest amount of funding, Eom says. But resource-poor Ethiopia came in second.
‘One Belt, One Road’ policy in Africa China views its investment abroad as part of its “One Belt, One Road” policy. Spearheaded by Beijing, this effort is a Chinese publicprivate partnership, Hwang says, “even though technically no company is truly private in China.” It aims to develop a modern “silk road” where goods and commodities can be easily
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transported between China and its surrounding region. Eventually, China says, it would like to shift labour-intensive industrial work to places like Africa. Local governments are aware a lack of infrastructure is a roadblock to international investment, Hwang says, and are eager to partner with China. “On the Chinese side, they want to have better investment opportunities in Africa, so if they don’t have a railroad, they will help them build it themselves,” she said. China also has a large number of infrastructure contractors who need work, many of whom have close links to the ruling party or are state owned. The quality of the work has come under scrutiny, says Hwang. But, she added, “they are capable of doing [the work] very fast and very cheap, and they are able to find the financing for it …”
Most labourers are African The Johns Hopkins researchers also found Chinese projects benefit African workers, the foremen and technicians tend to be Chinese while the manual labourers are generally African. There are concerns about the ability of African nations to pay back these loans, researchers found. This is particularly true in countries heavily reliant on oil revenue, which have seen the price per barrel slump in recent years. There are also concerns China may pull back its investment on the continent as it experiences an economic slowdown. But the recipient countries of this investment believe it is a win-win. – additional VOA
An inverter’s job is straightforward. They change PV-generated or battery-stored DC electricity into AC electricity that can be used by household appliances or sent back to the utility grid.
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Exceeding the maximum voltage specification of an inverter may cause damage or fire in a worst scenario; and while it is not dangerous, too low array voltage can cause the inverter to stop processing power.
Choosing a Grid-Tied Inverter
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT): All grid-tied inverters use some kind of MPPT, which enhances the PV array power output. Most inverters simply follow one MPP for the whole array as it keeps on changing all day, but some models can follow two series-string MPPs for a fairly better energy harvest for arrays with numerous orientations. AC modules, DC optimizers and microinverters, all offer the ability to track individual module MPPs.
owever, with numerous models and options, choosing the right inverter for your application has become a more challenging task. Inverters are specific to whether your system will be grid-tied or off-grid, and whether your system will include batteries, either for off-grid use or on-grid with battery backup.
AC Output Power: The inverter’s AC output power should be matched to the PV array. A PV array’s Standard Test Conditions (STC) power rating will provide a good idea of the minimum size of the needed inverter.
The AC output voltage of the inverter should match the building or service voltage where it is interconnected. In most cases inverters are field-configurable for different output voltages, but for a few, this must be specified up-front.
Choosing an Off-Grid Inverter
For instance, a 5 kW PV array will require an inverter with about a 5 kW power output. If the climate interferes with the array preventing it from reaching STC power, it is possible to “undersize” the inverter by 10 to 20%. In that case, undersizing would need a 4 to 4.5 kW inverter for that 5 kW PV array. The inverter may require ‘oversizing’ for arrays in higher elevated areas which are colder and sunnier; this is to avoid power clipping. In addition, a larger inverter can capture random moments of high PV output, such as those from cold, sunny days or from ‘edge-of-cloud’ effect and possibly leave room for future expansion DC Voltage Input Window: This is the voltage range that the inverter will accept from the PV array. Local climate data and temperature coefficients will determine the maximum and minimum expected voltages.
ENERGY CONSTRUCTION
By Dennis Ayemba
Choosing the right solar inverter
An off-grid inverter must have enough AC output power to cover any AC loads that might run simultaneously. For instance, in case of 2,850 W of AC loads, then it is advisable to choose an inverter with 3,000 W of continuous output power. Any surge requirements common with compressors and motors, such as in refrigerators, or well pumps need to be checked against inverter ‘surge’ or ‘overload’ specs Since the inverter draws from a battery bank instead of the PV array; the DC voltage input needs to match the nominal battery bank voltage usually 12, 24, or 48 V. Inverter model numbers normally reflect both the AC power output and the DC battery voltage. For instance, the OutBack VFX 3648 can produce up to 3,600 AC watts progressively and works on a 48 VDC battery bank.
Most quality stand-alone inverters produce a pure sine wave. The utility AC electricity is a relatively clean sine wave form, and higher-end inverters match or beat this quality. Modified square-wave inverters are usually cheaper, but the power quality is fairly poor. Many appliances actually run fine on a modified square wave, but some loads, including thermostats, clocks, fans, and power tool battery chargers, might not function properly. Sine wave inverters are mostly preferred, as they will run motors more efficiently, and consumer electronics with less electrical interference and noise. AC Output Voltage: Some off-grid inverters have a 120 VAC output, hence they need ‘stacking’ two inverters to make 240 V, or require a 120/240 step-up transformer. Other inverters have single-phase 120/240 V AC output. Since most larger generators are also 120/240 V, they have to be connected to an inverter that accepts a 240 V AC input, or run through a transformer to step it down to 120 V. Utilizing only one 120 V leg of a 240 V generator can enhance generator run time. Some inverters can also run three-phase AC loads.
Choosing a Grid-Tied with Battery Backup A Grid-tied with Battery Backup (GTBB) inverter should be able to work both as a stand-alone inverter and grid-tied inverter to energize loads when the grid is down. Choosing is quite simple, since there are few models available. GTBB inverters must have a large enough AC power rating to pass through the full PV array output like a grid-tied inverter; and to power the backed-up AC loads subpanel like an offgrid inverter. In off-grid systems, the battery bank voltage must match the inverter; while in grid-tied systems, the AC output voltage must also match the utility voltage. Most features of GTBB inverters are similar to off-grid inverters. Some GTBB inverters can also be used as off-grid inverters. They simply need some programming differences to let the inverter know whether it needs to interconnect with the grid.
The Engineer
Feb-March 2017
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2017 will be a critical year for Africa. After many years of high growth rates, many African countries are facing potential headwinds that can jeopardise their future. Within the horizon, there are many major storms forming and sailing through these troubled waters will be treacherous. Indeed, the journey ahead will not be a smooth sail at all.
2016 has been an intense year with many unexpected events happening in the world. Two main ones are Brexit and Donald Trump. The aftermath of these two events will unfold I n 2017 with many uncertainties ahead. The World Bank just released its Global Economic Prospects, January 2017 report. For 2016, the global growth rate is estimated to have been 2.3%, whereas the sub-Saharan African region is estimated to have grown at 1.5%. This means that for the first time since 2001, sub-Saharan Africa have drastically underperformed global growth. If we look deeper at the statistics, particularly at the period prior and post the great financial crisis of 2008, we will find that from 2001 till 2008, sub-Saharan Africa had been growing at an average of 5.9%, whereas from 2009 till 2016, its growth has dropped to 4.1%. From 2013 onwards, the region’s growth rate has been on a constant decline. As for the major north African economies – Algeria, Egypt and Morocco – representing more than 25% of the African gross domestic product (GDP), their economic growth rate for 2016 is estimated at 3.6%, 4.3% and 1.5% respectively. Compared with their respective 16-year average growth rate of 3.7%, 4.2% and 4.4%, only Morocco has underperformed, while Algeria and Egypt have had a nearly on-par growth rate.
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By and large, for the African continent, the main issue is whether the uncertainties in 2017 will bring about an upturn or a deeper downturn. There are many looming threats that may stall Africa’s growth, but every cloud has a silver lining. If the African governments anticipate and proactively build resilience in their economies, they may be able to overcome these economic shocks.
Commodity prices weakness One reason for the massive decline in subSaharan Africa’s growth rate is that the three main African economies – Angola, Nigeria and South Africa – representing about 40% of the African GDP, are facing major economic difficulties. For 2016, their growth rates are estimated to be at a low of 0.4%, -1.7% and 0.4% respectively, compared to their 16-year average of 7.5%, 6.9% and 2.9%. Both Angola and Nigeria are suffering from the steep decline in oil prices, whereas South Africa is facing major political uncertainties with the Jacob Zuma administration.
by Richard Li
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2016 has been an intense year with many unexpected events happening in the world. Two main ones are Brexit and Donald Trump. The aftermath of these two events will unfold I n 2017 with many uncertainties ahead.
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INVESTMENT
2017 outlook for Africa – threats or opportunities?
Commodity prices over the last year have recovered slightly. For 2016, the Bloomberg Commodity Index has increased by about 12%, but compared to the beginning of 2014, it is still down by about 30%. Referring to the recently released Pink sheet from the World Bank, the 2016 annual price averages for crude oil and natural gas are still down by about 56% and 49% respectively, when compared to the 2014 averages. For precious metals – gold, platinum and silver – when compared to 2014, their 2016 annual price averages are still down by 1.3%, 28.7% and 10.5% respectively. Similarly, for base metals like aluminium, copper, iron, nickel
Even for agricultural commodities like cocoa and arabica coffee, the 2016 averages are still down by 5.6% and 20.1% respectively. All African countries that depend mainly on these commodities for export, have been severely affected by the significant drop in commodity prices since 2014. This has contributed to the massive drop in the African economic growth over the past few years. Although prices have slightly recovered in 2016, they may not go to their previous highs in 2017. According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), low-income countries will be especially vulnerable to commodity price volatility. For Africa, the top five low-income countries that may be at risk, are Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and Chad. In 2014, their commodity exports as a percentage of their GDP were 78%, 48%, 39%, 33% and 30% respectively. Therefore, in this current difficult environment, African governments can seize the opportunity to restructure their economies by undergoing economic diversification and liberalisation of certain industries. Diversification by promoting and supporting other high potential industries will enable them to move away from natural resources, whereas liberalisation can attract foreign investments, which can move economies up the value chain. The UK triggering Article 50 and Trump as President of US are the two major storms that can have an enormous impact on Africa, as well as the global economy. Both are the results of populism, with people in Europe and US increasingly embracing protectionism and anti-globalisation. As a result, both events will bring about a lot of uncertainties that will affect Africa’s relations with Europe and the US. This will in turn affect the African economic growth in 2017.
Bright spots Despite the fact that growth in Africa as a whole has dropped significantly in 2016, World Bank data show that there are 31 African countries that grew by at least 3%, compared to 2015. Moreover, 13 countries grew by at least 5%, more than twice the global growth rate.
The top five fastest growing African economies in 2016 are Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Senegal and Djibouti. Their respective growth rates are 8.4%, 7.8%, 6.9%, 6.6% and 6.5%. Compared to 2015, the top five best performers in terms of growth improvement in 2016 are Niger, Mauritania, Eritrea, Madagascar and Burkina Faso. These countries improved their 2016 growth rate by at least 30%, with Niger improving by 42.9%.
This represents an enormous domestic, regional and continental market that should be tapped upon for growth. Last, building institutions for better governance as well as economic reforms, will be key to attract foreign investors in the future.
INVESTMENT
and tin, their 2016 annual price averages are down by 14.1%, 29.1%, 39.7%, 43.2% and 26.6% respectively.
Sailing through the troubled waters in 2017 will require a very skillful captain and crew.
For 2017, growth in sub-Saharan Africa will improve with an overall forecast growth rate of 2.9%, which is slightly above the global growth rate of 2.7%. Moreover, 39 out of the 54 African countries will grow by at least 3%. Of these countries, 20 will grow by at least 5%. The 2017 best performers will be Ghana and Mozambique, improving their annual growth by a staggering 108.3% and 44.4% respectively. Major African economies, like Angola, Nigeria and South Africa, are facing economic difficulties and will marginally improve their performance for 2017. However, despite the disappointing overall figures for Africa, there are many other African countries that are improving by leaps and bounds. For some, their journey may be full of ups and downs, but it will be a learning process that will build and strengthen their resilience.
Strengthening economic partnerships In the current sluggish economic environment, there are many potential opportunities that African leaders can tap into. For instance, with Europe and the US increasingly looking inwards, they can turn eastward and build better economic partnerships with the rising Asian economies like China and India. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi just completed an Africa tour, visiting Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia, Congo and Nigeria. Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta just visited India, wooing the Indian business community and meeting up with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Other opportunities will be about strengthening the economic integration within the various regional economic communities, in order to increase intraAfrican trade. We should not forget that Africa represents 1.2 billion people.
Yu Zhengsheng (L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with visiting Namibian President Hage Geingob
They will need to proactively take actions to avoid dangerous reefs ahead. Like the African proverb says, ‘A roaring lion kills no game!’, Africans and Africans leaders are the masters of their destiny. Ultimately, they will determine whether they can continue on overcoming adversity for future success. The author, Richard Li, is a partner of Steel Advisory Partners, Singapore. This article was written specifically for NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies, a trilateral platform for government, business and academia to promote knowledge and expertise on Africa, established by Nanyang Technological University and the Singapore Business Federation.
The Engineer
Feb-March 2017
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by Jaco Maritz
INVESTMENT
RMB reviews property development opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa It is the “extreme challenge” that Michael O’Malley, director of sub-Saharan Africa-focused property firm RMB Westport, enjoys most about his job.
Over the past decade the company has been involved in the development of numerous shopping centres and office blocks in countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, including the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos and the Accra Financial Centre. But commercial property development in many of the region’s frontier markets is fraught with challenges, such as uncertainties related to land ownership, slow legal systems, inadequate infrastructure, and high building costs, to name a few. “I think if we had traditional desk jobs… doing vanilla property development, it wouldn’t be half as satisfying,” notes O’Malley.
RMB Westport’s first fund focused on Nigeria, Ghana and Angola – all countries that have experienced significant economic headwinds in recent years. Nigeria and Angola both suffered from the plunge in the oil price, while Ghana is recovering from macroeconomic instability and an electricity crisis. Of these three countries, O’Malley says Nigeria has been the worst affected. In 2016 it experienced a recession with the economy contracting by an estimated 1.75%. “What we’ve seen is a serious impact on the retail environment, and a serious impact on the commercial office environment. And not a lot of clarity as to how this is going to change in the immediate future,” explains O’Malley. A major challenge in Nigeria has been the shortage of US dollars, which is related to lower foreign exchange earnings from the oil sector. The central bank intervenes to keep the official exchange rate at about 315 naira against the dollar, while the unofficial, parallel market rate can be over 450 naira.
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Compounding the challenges is a 2015 central bank directive barring importers of a list of 41 product categories – including rice, meat, vegetable oils and roofing sheets – from accessing foreign exchange from official sources.
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There are opportunities where we can come in, make a difference – use our capital and our expertise and make money for the fund. In stressed environments, you do find that these opportunities present themselves.
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Economic headwinds
“And what it means is that retailers themselves cannot purchase imported [items] at the official exchange rate, they have to go to the parallel market, which is a lot more expensive. So it is like a double whammy, and consequently a double whammy for us,” says O’Malley.
Nigeria’s economic troubles has, however, created opportunities for RMB Westport to get involved in projects that have run into financial difficulties, at more favourable terms than would normally be the case. “There are opportunities where we can come in, make a difference – use our capital and our expertise and make money for the fund. In stressed environments, you do find that these opportunities present themselves.”
CONSTRUCTION
Growth opportunities For its second fund, RMB Westport has broadened its geographic focus. O’Malley is bullish on the potential in French-speaking west Africa, particularly Ivory Coast, Senegal and Cameroon. “We find the Ivory Coast interesting. We don’t think it is a massive market, but it is interesting enough for us to be looking at three or four projects in Abidjan. And who knows, the more you get into a country… the more you understand the opportunity set… We’re taking it seriously enough to have employed a French-speaking team.” He also sees opportunities in east Africa, especially in areas such as industrial property and the development of healthcare facilities. Another focus country is Zambia. “We are looking at the gaps in the market in Zambia – we think there are some. It is not unlimited, but we think it is enough for us to be deploying time and capital to it, and we are making some fairly reasonable progress on certain Zambian projects.”
Retail complexities In an earlier interview, property expert Kevin Teeroovengadum noted many of the large A-grade shopping malls developed in sub-Saharan Africa over the past few years are not performing as well as expected, and that developers should rather focus on building smaller convenience centres. O’Malley generally shares this view. “We don’t think the big centres are actually developable at the moment if you are using conventional development parameters such as having a significant portion of your capital structure provided by debt providers, and a pre-let requirement before you commence
construction.” Moreover, he says in countries such as Nigeria, the low number of modern retailers is making it difficult even to develop smaller retail properties. “The retailer base in Nigeria at the moment is not broad enough for even the smaller centres to gain a lot of traction. The types of retailers that are currently present in Nigeria are not offering a discount product to the public. We need value discount retailers to… look at the market opportunity in Nigeria.” However, he concedes this is easier said than done. One of the challenges is that many international discount retailers looking to enter
Nigeria are seeking local partners, who in turn are under stress due to the country’s economic troubles. He adds it is also property developers’ responsibility to build the type of shopping centres that will allow value retailers to flourish. “We’ve got to construct sustainable buildings that enable market-related rentals to be agreed with those retailers. And that is a lot of hard work that many of us are undertaking at the moment, but is certainly has a long way to go.” Despite these obstacles, O’Malley doesn’t seem deterred. “It is frustrating at times, but the kick we get out of successfully delivering projects is immense. I love it.”
| Who We Are Knight Piésold is an employee-owned global consulting firm that provides specialized services to the mining, power, water resources, infrastructure, and oil and gas industries. We are engineers, environmental scientists, geoscientists, and technologists who focus on creating value at every stage of a project through quality driven, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions. Established in South Africa in 1921, we have expanded our reach into a global network of over 750 professionals based in offices in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia.
By developing close working relationships and focusing on the specific and unique needs of each one of our clients, we work together to understand each project and business in today’s global environment. With a commitment to quality, safety, and technical excellence, Knight Piésold specializes in creating tailored solutions at every stage of a project life cycle while delivering sustainable bottom-line results.
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The Engineer
Feb-March 2017
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EQUIPMENT
New or used equipment? Africa’s construction industry continues to record exponential growth thanks to an upsurge growth of urban centers, infrastructural growth, growth in the mining and industrial sectors, general farming needs and an upcoming real estate and built environment that has come as a result of general growth in economies of African countries.
Africa had 51 cities with more than a million inhabitants in 2010, and only Cairo with more than 10 million people. Africa is expected to have more than 100 cities of one million and above inhabitants and seven cities of more than 10 million come 2040.
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his trend has led to a steep rise in the demand for construction machinery and associated equipment. This raise in demand has translated into an exponential rise in the price for these machines. With this in mind coupled with turbulent conditions in the world economic circles, many are opting to procuring used equipment as opposed to new ones.
Why used From a blank page, buying new equipment may seemly be the obvious choice but in many circumstances, it is just not a practical reality. New equipment may not always be readily available in the local market and companies wishing to buy the machinery may be quoted lead times of six months or more–time that sometime and in most cases they do not have. On the other hand used equipment is available immediately and in many varieties to choose from. Additionally, a knowledgeable and skillful dealer can often locate equipment that is in close proximity to a manufacturer’s plant, which may help in sidestepping potential shipping costs.
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Africa in particular faces a number of challenges. Sando T, Johnson, the Regional Executive Director in charge of Africa at Motter Equipment Inc, says the challenges facing the industry in Africa are huge and pressing demands of plants and equipment. He cites poor access to funding, capital and credit as big challenges hindering access to equipment especially for new comers in the industry. He adds that Africa is at a disadvantage in terms of technological advancement as many equipment lack the right skills and expertise to operate and maintain them. They are therefore left to lie idle in most cases He suggests that to help iron out the risks, a potential buyer should find and work with someone and business entity that understands the customers’ product demand, the financial requirements and expectations, the nature of work and environment, the application and results expectations. Motter is US-based with an international touch with a 30-year market experience. Probably the greatest benefit associated with buying pre-used is the ability of a manufacturer’s engineers to inspect and examine a pre-owned machine first-hand while it is still installed and running product at its original point of sale.
This allows the manufacturers to have a better feel of the machine in terms of what the machine does, what parts it has and its overall condition. This luxury is rarely available for new equipment purchases. Depending on the nature and specifications of the machine, new equipment customers can only depend on either drawings or similar models of the machine that have yet to be manufactured, but not the specific and exact machine in question until it has been delivered. The buyer therefore lacks that chance to have a pre-purchase feel of the equipment. In evaluating the cost effectiveness of buying used equipment against new ones, the big questions generally rotates around how much will be saved in forgoing new ones for used ones and will “pre-owned” machinery last?
Pre-owned machines can be handed down from companies that never took them out of the original packaging and include everything from fluid beds to capsule polishers. Part of the reason behind this is that used dealers are privy to information that competing manufacturers, packagers and suppliers may not be comfortable sharing with one another. In addition, sales representative for new equipment manufacturers may not be inclined to share information about a six-month-old machine they just finished installing. A used equipment dealer finds this equipment, including one- and two-year-old machines that will soon be disposed off due to changes in contracts. In the long-run, the insider knowledge and experience of a used equipment dealer could ultimately save the company a lot of money. Financial risk and cash flow are subjects with high consideration whenever a company is considering to purchase. Used equipment allows small companies with small budgetary allocations the latitude to purchase “money making” machines at a substantially reduced investment hence reducing on the financial risk and strains on cash flow. Even bigger companies with bigger capital base can benefit by purchasing used equipment for projects and contracts that require expensive or specialized equipment. In regard to the dilemma of whether the machine will last,” used equipment in most cases prove to have the same long and productive lifespan as a new machine. In fact, many used machines have the reputation of lasting for many years while still outproducing and calling for less maintenance compared new machines.
independent expert preshipment inspection and 30 day money back guarantee These common used equipment buying pitfalls can easily be avoided with a little of the buyer’s extra efforts. Here are some measures that can be undertaken to iron out the risk when buying used equipment at auctions, online, privately or via a dealer.
Buy from a reputable seller There is need to confirm you are dealing with a reputable and legitimate business when buying equipment from an auction house, dealer or company. Have a look at the company’ public records so as to have information of the company’s history and customer base. With hundreds of thousands of international asset transactions every year, Ritchie Bros. has a unique position to establish asset valuations and consult on getting the most return on investment. These services are not exclusive to construction and mining businesses. Financial institutions, leasing companies and governments regularly partner with Ritchie Bros. as well.
Ensure clear title Ensure you buy equipment that has been paid in full money borrowed from financing company or bank to purchase them. The financing company or bank will be named on the title certificate if money is still owed. In case you buy an equipment that is not clear title, you may have forfeit ownership to the lending firm
Inspect before you buy Test and inspect the equipment before you make up the mind to buy. You can employ the services of a qualified mechanic or experienced operator to conduct both physical and functional inspection on your behalf. If buying online look for sites that have a wide range of equipment photos.
EQUIPMENT
In many circumstances, used equipment can save customers as much as half the price of new models, sometimes for machines that are practically brand new or else unused and still in their original conditions.
Mrs. Musya Tumanyan, Senior Vice-President at Hoffman International, Inc, a US based company that supplies used equipment in the international market, shares his insights on the challenges encountered when buying used equipment. She says sometimes by the time the equipment and the offered price are evaluated and decision is made, that unit may no longer be on the market. Instead a new but more expensive unit may come up because the cheap units are the first to be sold. She advises potential buyers not to fall for the cheap price trap as this could be a sign of counterfeit. She adds that to avoid falling for rogue suppliers, one should take a close examination of the vendor background. Conclusively, old is gold, so they say. Making use of pre-used machineries could be more beneficial as opposed to going for the new ones. A buyer should however exhaustingly evaluate among other factors, the nature and scale of work, the working environment and requirements, the nature of workers available in terms of both quality and quantity. Cost implications involved could also be pivotal in determining the way to go.
Ironing out post-sale risks Despite the economic advantages associated with buying pre-used equipment, some business owners shy away from this money saving option. They fear the risk may over weigh the reward. Micheal Rohmeder, the Founder and CEO of Equippo acknowledge that the equipment business is rather too slow to move especially on the online platform. He says the online market platform is recording small transactions because of the risks that come with buying abroad and the bureaucratic process of importing. Equipo is a Swiss online start-up that prides itself in giving African buyers direct access to inspected machines and trusted owners. The Equippo online marketplace has a “one-stop” approach – the online prices include direct shipping to many African ports, and every machine is available with an
The Engineer
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MECHANICAL
7 steps to proper maintenance of diesel generators Diesel generators can run for long hours continuously as a power supply source and also as a standby or during emergency power needs.
They can withstand heavy load for long hours and start off the power supply on full load within minutes and must be regularly maintained to ensure they provide quality power throughout their service life. The best generator maintenance practice is following the maintenance schedule provided by the manufacturer of the generator to ensure maximum service time for the generator and proper operation when it is called upon to provide power. The preventive maintenance tips for the diesel generator that guarantees uninterrupted power supply that is innocuous and consistent for all the needs intended for. They include the following aspects:
1. Routine General Inspection During the running of the diesel generator, the exhaust system, fuel system, DC electrical system and engine require close monitoring for any leaks that can cause hazardous occurrences. As with any internal combustion engine, proper maintenance is essential. Diesels are no exception, and the most important maintenance is oil changes at every 100 hours of operation for a long and trouble-free life assurance.
2. Lubrication Service The engine oil must be checked while shutting down the generator at regular intervals using a dipstick. Allow the oil in the upper portions of the engine to drain back into the crankcase and follow the engine manufacturer’s recommendations for API oil classification and oil viscosity. Keep the oil level as near as possible to the full mark on the dipstick by adding the same quality and brand of oil. The oil and filter must also be changed at acclaimed time intervals. Check with the engine manufacturer for procedures for draining the oil and replacing the oil filter and their disposal is to be done appropriately to avoid environmental damage or liability.
3. Cooling System Check the coolant level during shutdown periods at the specified interval. Remove the radiator cap after allowing the engine to cool, and, if necessary, add coolant until the level is about 3/4 in.
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Feb-March 2017
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Having a well-designed and well-maintained standby power system is the best protection against utility power outages. For hospitals and other health-care facilities they can be life-threatening. For businesses like data centres, the outages can be enormously costly. Other critical facilities at risk include government offices, police departments, fire stations, airports, and water/sewage treatment plants.
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D
iesel Generators require less maintenance due to their durability, reliability and the sturdiness characteristic and also they are considered cheaper to operate due to the low fuels costs as compared to the other types of fuels such as gasoline and propane.
Heavy-duty diesel engines require a balanced coolant mixture of water, antifreeze, and coolant additives. Inspect the exterior of the radiator for obstructions, and remove all dirt or foreign material with a soft brush or cloth with caution to avoid damaging the fins. If available, use low-pressure compressed air or a stream of water in the opposite direction of normal air flow to clean the radiator.
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Checking specific gravity: In opencell lead-acid batteries, use a battery hydrometer to check the specific gravity of the electrolyte in each battery cell. A fully charged battery will have a specific gravity of 1.260. Charge the battery if the specific gravity reading is below 1.215.
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Checking electrolyte level: In opencell lead-acid batteries, verify the level of the electrolyte at least every 200 hr of operation. If low, fill the battery cells to the bottom of the filler neck with distilled water.
Diesel is subject to contamination and corrosion within a period of one year, and therefore regular generator set exercise is highly recommended to use up stored fuel before it degrades. The fuel filters should be drained at the designated intervals due to the water vapor that accumulates and condenses in the fuel tank. Regular testing and fuel polishing may be required if the fuel is not used and replaced in three to six months. Preventive maintenance should include a regular general inspection that includes checking the coolant level, oil level, fuel system, and starting system. The charge-air cooler piping and hoses should be inspected regularly for leaks, holes, cracks, dirt and debris that may be blocking the fins or loose connections.
5. Testing Batteries Weak or undercharged starting batteries are a common cause of standby power system failures. The battery must be kept fully charged and well-maintained to avoid dwindling by regular testing and inspection to know the current status of the battery and avoid any start-up hitches of the generator.
MECHANICAL
4. Fuel System
7. Keep your Generator Clean
Regular exercising keeps the engine parts lubricated and thwart oxidation of electrical contacts, uses up fuel before it deteriorates, and helps to provide reliable engine starting.
Oil drips and other issues are easy to spot and take care of when the engine is nice and clean. Visual inspection can guarantee that hoses and belts are in good condition. Frequent checks can keep wasps and other nuisances from nesting in your equipment.
Engine exercise is recommended to be executed at least once a month for a minimum of 30 min. loaded to no less than one-third of the nameplate rating.
The more a generator is used and relied on, the more it needs to be taken care of. However, a gen set that is rarely used might not need a lot of care.
6. Routine Engine Exercise
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They must also be cleaned; and the specific gravity and electrolyte levels of the battery checked frequently. •
Testing batteries: Merely checking the output voltage of the batteries is not indicative of their ability to deliver adequate starting power.
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As batteries age, their internal resistance to current flow goes up, and the only accurate measure of terminal voltage must be done under load. On some generators, this indicative test is performed automatically each time the generator is started. On other generator sets, use a manual battery load tester to attest the condition of each starting battery. •
Cleaning batteries: Keep the batteries clean by wiping them with a damp cloth whenever dirt appears excessive. If corrosion is present around the terminals, remove the battery cables and wash the terminals with a solution of baking soda and water (¼ lb baking soda to 1 quart of water). Be careful to prevent the solution from entering the battery cells, and flush the batteries with clean water when finished. After replacing the connections, coat the terminals with a light application of petroleum jelly.
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VOL.2/NO. 9 • FEB-MARCH 2017
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NAMIBIA’S PULSE OF TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
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15 Choosing the right solar inverters
TransNamib ditches China 13
Engineer of the Month Ndapewa Paulus 4
Trump’s policies could hurt our mining 16
Besides money & the Chinese, Namibia’s construction has other bigger problems 8 Software frees quantity surveyors to add yet more value. Enthusiasts are seeing improvements in software as a sign that the days of the quantity surveyor are numbered. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Engineer Feb-March 2017
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