MechChem Africa September 2018

The oil-and-gas sector in East Africa is on the verge of a major boom, as various infrastructure projects are either kicking off, or are in the final design stages, according to AECOM Uganda managing director, Bridget Ssamula. Oil-and-gas project boom in East Africa benefits local company

G lobal oil-and-gas companies have set up offices, and some are deliv- ering projects in Uganda. “Inter- est is rife,” says AECOM’s MD, Bridget Ssamula. “The largest opportunities are in the oil-and-gas sector, whereAECOM’s global skills, expertise, and project experi- ence, coupledwith our local know-how, and a demonstrated commitment to local content, are key strengths,” she continues. There is a growing trend of delivering projects through private-sector involve- ment of these oil-and-gas companies. In addition, the sector is embracing varying procurement methodologies, from Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) through to Design and Build, Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) and Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management (EPCM). “This has opened up opportunities for

various sectors that support the construction and services industries,” Ssamula notes. In ad- dition, there is an increased focuson local con- tent to ensure that thefinancial investment in the infrastructure sector trickles through to locally registered entities, a concept familiar to South Africa through the government’s Supplier Development Programmes (SDPs). “The experience that AECOM has gar- nered through its own SDP has enabled us to propose and deliver local-content project offerings, based on the understanding that leaving a legacy of skills development, job creation, and technology transfer is inherent in the way we deliver projects,” Ssamula says. AECOM has been involved with the en- vironmental and social impact assessment for Total and Tullow in the Tilenga field- development project in Western Uganda since 2013. “This is a clear demonstration of deploying a specialised AECOM team with

AECOM Uganda managing director, Bridget Ssamula. skills specific to the oil-and-gas sector, and using that strength to deliver the project.” In addition, the target spend for local partners has grown from 26% of the project cost to 40% as a result. This project has posed a particular envi- ronmental challenge, as it is locatedmostly in the wildlife conservation areas of Murchison Falls andQueenElizabethNational Parks. The strength and experience of the local team in this regard was key. “Amajor outcome is that our local partner is now able to tender for similar projects in the oil-and-gas sector on its own accord,” Ssamula reveals. “The biggest success comes in brand recognition, and in selling the expertise that AECOM can provide in order to assist in developing the region further, in conjunction with funders, contractors, and key clients. We now have a project pipeline in-country, demonstrating both our growth and the potential based on targeted opportunities wherewecancompeteeffectivelyonthebasis of the depth of our expertise and experience,” Ssamula concludes. q

WearCheck opens second Namibian lab WearCheck’s newest laboratory has offi- cially opened in southernNamibia, bringing to 16 the number of laboratories that the company operates in nine countries around Africa and beyond. “The experience that AECOM has garnered through its own SDP has enabled us to propose and deliver local-content project offerings, based on the understanding that leaving a legacy of skills development, job creation, and technology transfer is inherent in the way we deliver projects,” Ssamula says.

A second Namibian WearCheck labora- tory has provided condition-monitoring services to the Husab Uranium Project since 2016. Swakop Uranium, owners of themining operation, awardedWearCheck a contract to supply and operate an on-site laboratory. WearCheck MD, Neil Robinson, is de- termined to make world-class condition monitoring services as accessible as pos- sible to industrial operations on the African continent. “The learning curve for equipping and operating a remote laboratory has been asteepone,however,everyprojectisalearn- ingexperienceandwitheachnewlaboratory, the implementation process is improved. WearCheck Namibia is available for use byotherindustries,suchasquarrying,indus- trial, transport and shipping operations. q

Situated at the Skorpion Zinc mine near Rosh Pinah, the new lab is strategically placed to answer a growing call for world- class condition monitoring services in the region, particularly in theburgeoningmining and construction industries. The lab is open to any industry requir- ing used oil analysis and other reliability solutions services. It is fully equipped with the latest instruments and technology and is backed by its own uninterrupted power supply. To enablemaintenancemanagers to makequickdecisions, the laboffers 24-hour sample turnaround time.

Laboratory manager, Leandra Smith, is standing by to process used oil samples and other condition monitoring services for industrial operations in the southern Namibia region.

30 ¦ MechChem Africa • September 2018