Projects Magazine

Following discussions among the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), Wesgro, industry and strategic partners with Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA), a R98m floating caisson will be constructed for the Sturrock Dry Dock in the Port of Cape Town. The new caisson forms part of a multi-million-rand overhaul of the port’s ship repair facilities over a three-year period (2019-2022) under South Africa’s Operation Phakisa Programme, which has identified ship building and repairs as a strategic industry for the port. A caisson - which is a large steel gate structure that acts as a secondary seal and subdivides the dock and allows for simultaneous docking of multiple commercial vessels within the facility - is expected to double the productivity of Sturrock. South Africa ranks among the world’s top 15 shipping nations, based on the tonnage transported to and from its ports, with three of the eight major commercial ports based in the Western Cape. Further to this, th...

The Nxuba project, which is slated to enter into operation by September 2020, is expected to generate over 460 GWh annually and will be the Group’s third wind farm in the Eastern Cape province. • The company will invest a total of over 200 million euros in the construction of the project, which is part of the 700 MW of wind capacity awarded to the company in April 2015 following the South African government’s renewable tender Rome and Johannesburg, February 12th, 2019 - Enel, through its renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power RSA (EGP RSA), has begun construction of its 140 MW Nxuba wind farm in the Amatole District, making it the Group’s third wind project in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. The construction of Nxuba, which is expected to be completed by September 2020, will involve an overall investment of more than 200 million euros. “Through the start of construction of the Nxuba wind farm, which is the first out of the five projects awarded to the company in South Af...

National Treasury will be reprioritising resources towards President Cyril Ramaphosa’s infrastructure fund and away from the wage bill, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said on Wednesday, with government committing R100-billion over the next decade towards the building and operation of key infrastructure assets. In several instances, the private sector will be responsible for the design, build and operation. Dubbing the infrastructure fund as “a central pillar of the Budget and of reprioritisation”, Mboweni stated that it would accelerate R526-billion worth of on-Budget projects by bringing in the private sector and the development finance institutions. During 2019/20, R625-million is allocated to the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Government Technical Advisory Centre and the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission to strengthen project preparation in this context and on a sped-up basis. Projects based on rural roads and water would be prioritised, the Minister s...

Leading cement manufacturer, Bamburi Cement has urged the government and players in road construction to incorporate Hydraulic Road Binders (HRBs) into existing road design manuals and specifications for designers and contractors thereby giving HRBs a legal basis of use. Soil stabilization is the process by which the strength, stiffness and bearing capacity of soils in road are improved by either mechanical or chemical means. Through the process, soils are altered and enhanced to increase suitability for construction purposes as well as ensure strong foundations for roads. In Kenya, specification for soil treatment and stabilization has been highly restrictive, allowing only the use of a CEM I 42.5 cement, traditionally known as Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). However, if fully embraced, the use of HRB will be a significant milestone heralding a major change in road construction. “We urge all players in the country’s road construction industry to fully embrace the use of the more cost...

The Nxuba project, which is slated to enter into operation by September 2020, is expected to generate over 460 GWh annually and will be the Group’s third wind farm in the Eastern Cape province. • The company will invest a total of over 200 million euros in the construction of the project, which is part of the 700 MW of wind capacity awarded to the company in April 2015 following the South African government’s renewable tender Rome and Johannesburg, February 12th, 2019 - Enel, through its renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power RSA (EGP RSA), has begun construction of its 140 MW Nxuba wind farm in the Amatole District, making it the Group’s third wind project in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. The construction of Nxuba, which is expected to be completed by September 2020, will involve an overall investment of more than 200 million euros. “Through the start of construction of the Nxuba wind farm, which is the first out of the five projects awarded to the company in South Af...

Aligning with Industry 4.0 is no longer optional for the mining industry. Companies are urged to embrace digitalisation and automation for the critical goal to enhance sustainability, productivity and profitability. thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa, a market leading engineering company, unveiled its latest technology and digital solutions at an exclusive press conference on 07 February 2019 in Cape Town, during the coveted Mining Indaba 2019. “thyssenkrupp has been a trusted supplier of premium quality products and services to the Sub-Sahara African mining industry for decades,” states Philipp Nellessen, CEO of thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions Sub Sahara Africa. “In order to keep up with the evolving market, we have placed Industry 4.0 at the crux of operations which will in turn be to the ultimate benefit of our customers.” The company’s Minerals Processing division which concentrates on comminution also boasts one of the largest crushing and grinding technology po...

Isiolo County has secured an investor to complete the construction of an abattoir that stalled due to poor workmanship and inadequate funds. Governor Mohamed Kuti said his administration had engaged an investor “with a market network and expertise” who will partner with the county to complete and operationalise the abattoir in the next eight months. Dr Kuti said the slaughterhouse will open up the livestock market, export meat and boost the region’s economy. The livestock sector accounts for about 80 per cent of Isiolo’s economy. The slaughterhouse was built under the Vision 2030 programme and handed over to the county government in 2014. It is among four major slaughter house projects under the programme including others in Garissa, Wajir and West Pokot. They were earmarked for construction by the national government to support development in targeted livestock production areas. Dr Kuti said the investor won the tender through a competitive bidding exercise. The governor spoke whil...

ENGIE has started operations of Kathu, a 100 MW Concentrated Solar Plant and one of South Africa’s largest renewable energy projects. Kathu is the first Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) development for ENGIE. ENGIE is pleased to announce that commercial operation was achieved on 30 January 2019 for the 100 MW Kathu Solar Park in South Africa. This state of the art plant is a greenfield Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project with parabolic trough technology and equipped with a molten salt storage system that allows for 4.5 hours of thermal energy storage to provide reliable electricity in the absence of solar radiation and during peak demand. The Kathu site covers approximately 4.5 km², with 384,000 mirrors. Kathu is the first CSP development for ENGIE. The solar park was awarded under Round 3.5 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPP), a competitive tender process that was launched to facilitate private sector investment in renewable ener...

Sandton Central, as South Africa’s cosmopolitan centre of commerce and culture, will introduce several groundbreaking urban management innovations in the coming months – all cutting-edge ways to optimise the quality of life in today’s demanding world. More mixed-use development, flexible people-friendly and eco-friendly co-working spaces and the safety of CCTV cameras are among the growing trends that can be seen in Africa’s financial capital. Sandton Central Management District (SCMD) City Improvement ManagerElaine Jack, says, “Sandton Central is constantly evolving, growing, improving and innovating for those who live, work, invest, shop, stay and play here.” More mixed-use and residential developments Sandton Centralhas built a reputation as the country’s vibrant businesses hub at the forefront of office and working trends, which are now more integrated with other property uses than ever before. “Mixed-use development is on the rise in Sandton Central. This pleasing trend enc...

7th February, Nairobi:Britam Tower has received the Emporis Skyscraper Award, becoming the only skyscraper in Africa to feature among the top ten buildings in the world, in the Award’s nine-year history. The Emporis Skyscraper Award is the world’s most renowned prize for high-rise architecture. Winners are chosen by a jury of architecture experts from all over the world, while the nominated buildings are judged based on their achievements in functions and aesthetics. The Iconic Tower, developed by Britam Properties Limited, is currently the tallest building in East and Central Africa, rising from Nairobi’s skyline at 200 meters, and is Britam’s flagship project for its property strategy. Located in the upmarket Upperhill area, the 31-storey skyscraper offers panoramic and breathtaking views of the capital and surrounding areas, like the Nairobi National Park. On clear days, both Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen from thetop of this cutting edge building. Commenting on ...

The festive season is generally accepted as a time spent with family, friends and loved ones partaking in meals, activities and exchanging gifts. However, for many disadvantaged children the holiday season brings little happiness or sense of unity. Recognising the plight of these children, Atlas Copco- Home of Industrial Ideas, decided to brighten up disadvantaged children’s’ festive season by donating Santa Shoeboxes to AMCARE Alberton. AMCARE was founded by the Alberton Methodist Church in 2002. The non-profit organisation (NPO) which originally began to provide relief for those living with HIV/Aids in the New Redruth area, has steadily grown to provide additional services. AMCARE aims to educate, inform and care for people so that they can empower themselves, by offering support and relief effort services which are divided into four programmes; Victim Empowerment Programme, HIV/Aids Programme, Elderly Care Programme and a Skills Development Programme. The organisation strives to b...

Third Eye Management and Associates has announced a partnership with Sprinter Real Estate investment Limited, to build 300 houses in Kiambu County. The project Dubbed Fanisi Tigoni View consists of two-and three-bed-room units will be constructed in Ndenderu. Mr. Mbugua, Sprinter’s Chief Executive said they will construct the housing units which will be two and three bedroom units in Ndenderu dubbed Fanisi Tigoni View. “We are excited to be part of the vehicle of improving the housing sector in Kenya. The first project ‘The Fanisi Tigoni View’ is a fantastic project, with the first phase being launched on Saturday with about 90 units on a one acre piece of land,” said Mbugua, Sprinter’s Chief Executive. The Fanisi Tigoni View The Fanisi Tigoni View will be a mixed use development that will sit on 8 acres prime land next to the western Bypass interchange. Additionally, the firm plans to build over 700 units this year targeting the middle income with their prices ranging between US $50...

At Bauma 2019, international construction equipment manufacturer Wacker Neuson Group will be taking visitors on an electrifying tour of its vast product portfolio. The zero emission range will be one of the main attractions at the Wacker Neuson and Kramer stand. “Bauma is and always has been the most important platform for us to engage in depth with current and prospective customers in a professional setting, inspire them with our products and showcase our impressive machines in action,” explains Martin Lehner, CEO of the Wacker Neuson Group. “Every three years, the entire international construction equipment industry comes together in Munich – it is the place to be. All I can say at this stage is that visitors to our stand can look forward to the usual impressive and captivating experience. Even for me personally, Bauma is the highlight of the year.” New, larger site This year, the Wacker Neuson Group will be located at a new stand – FN.915 – with an impressive 6,000 square me...

The safe, reliable operation of tunnel boring equipment relies on the integrity of critical bearings and seals Once construction starts, there’s no going back. A tunnel boring machine (TBM) is not equipped with a reverse gear, so it is imperative that the machine is able to complete its job without suffering any significant mechanical failure on route. Where problems do occur, accessing the machine for repair can be a complex, costly and time-consuming project, especially with the main slewing bearing installed inside the TBM’s gear box. The main slewing bearing is the heart of the machine and in case of failure, it cannot be replaced easily, potentially causing months of delays and cost overruns that could easily add up to millions of dollars. For design engineers, the challenge of delivering high levels of reliability and availability are compounded by the extremely tough working conditions associated with tunnelling works. TBMs combine several highly undesirable operating cond...

Kenya Railways has asked the High Court to compel the National Lands Commission (NLC) to disclose all monies paid for land compensation under the Standard Gauge Railway project (SGR). In a judicial review application filed before Lady Justice Pauline Nyamweya Kenya Railways Corporation is seeking to know unpaid amount as well and the challenges the commission is facing in making payments. Through lawyer Peter Munge of MMC Africa Law, Kenya Railways argues that the matter is of national importance and any delays in settling compensations would affect a big number of people. The push for disclosure comes amid talk of scandal in compensations, where the value of land was inflated. NLC senior officials have been charged with manipulating compensation figures and illegally paying millions of shillings to individuals presenting dubious documents during construction of Phase One of the Sh327 billion Standard Gauge Railway line. While the government had projected to spend Sh3.8 billion on land...