Sparks Electrical News June 2019

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH – CAREL SCHEEPERS

THINKING ON YOUR FEET IS THE GREATEST ASSET

Sparks: What are the greatest changes you have seen over the years? CS: How the Internet of Things (IoT) has changed the electrical game.

build silos – be agile; support quality and service, not just price.

Sparks: What is your favourite quote? CS: The bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity to grow. Sparks: Name three things on your ‘bucket list’. CS: Big tuna fishing, visiting the Serengeti, and visiting the Rainbow Mountains in China.

Sparks: What major projects have you worked on and what is your greatest accomplishment? CS: Metering systems is my strength, from major plants in medium voltage to Citiq Prepaid and prepaid solutions. Sparks: Have you won any awards? CS: In the medium voltage space: to be the first person to land a dry type transformer deal in South Africa as well as selling the most solid insulated switchgear worldwide with Schneider Electric. Sparks: Who has been your inspiration or have you had a mentor who has influenced your career? CS: My inspiration and drive comes from a personal space – always striving to be the best for my nearest and dearest. Sparks: What, to your mind, is one of the biggest challenges facing the industry at this time? CS: Adaptability is key to any sector – this is not only a trend as it was in late 1990s-2000s. Today it is vital for survival, and that includes the IoT, diversifying, and branching out. Sparks: What do you enjoy most about your job? CS: The ability to be handed a challenge, and building the solution. Every day at Citiq we find new challenges in this emerging market. Thinking on your feet and overcoming obstacles at a rapid rate is what makes the Citiq story such a success. Sparks: How do you motivate your staff? CS: First, one has to recognise the talent, then place that talent where it will benefit the person and the company equally – youwill always havemotivated and happy employees and a successful company with this recipe. Sparks: If you could ‘do it all again’, would you change anything? If so, what would that be? CS: There are so many ways to answer this question – at the end of the day, ask yourself, “Am I happy where I am right now?” If yes – great job. If no – move, you are not a tree. Sparks: Would you advise a person leaving school to enter the electrical industry? And why? CS: I would absolutely advise anyone to join the electrical industry. Why? Everything works with power! Sparks: What is your advice to electrical contractors or electrical engineers? CS: Don’t isolate yourself, align yourself with the best in the industry. Don’t engineering sectors that currently have the capacity to undertake these major and complex projects,” says Viterenwa. The reality is that the Renewable Energy Sector will continue to grow significantly faster than any predicted national and international economic growth indices, providing significant opportunities for developers and operators alike. Demand by governments and individuals for a secure supply of cleaner and cheaper alternatives to fossil fuels is escalating, along with the introduction of tightening emission reduction targets. But renewable energy projects come with significant and complex risks and, in most instances, massive financial requirements and contractual liabilities due to the debt financing models in place. “Seamless insurance cover is a key requirement of any renewable energy construction project, right from the planning and early works stages and between marine cargo transits, construction All Risks, delay in start-up, operating property damage and business interruption, as well as all third-party liability exposures. Renewable energy insurance products cover the main lines of insurance such as property, engineering, marine and liability while additional special types of insurance can be made available such as credit, political and weather risks, errors and omissions, and directors and officers cover,” concludes Mofubetsoana.

Enquiries: www.citiqprepaid.co.za

Carel Scheepers

CAREL SCHEEPERS, General Manager: Sales at Citiq Prepaid, has worked in the electrical industry for over 26 years and finds great satis- faction in building the solution to challenges. Every day new challenges emerge, and it is these that keep him motivated. Sparks: Where were you educated? CS: I received my Electrician’s Qualification from the Mining Industry & Engineering Trades Board in 1995. I then furthered my studies by obtaining a Diploma in General management from PenTech in 1998.

Sparks: How long have you been involved in the lighting industry? CS: I have been in the electrical industry since 1993.

Sparks: When and where did you start your career? CS: I started my electrical apprenticeship in Port Elizabeth at PPC Ltd, a leading supplier of cement, lime and related products in southern Africa.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 attitude, everyone should be trying to find a workable solution,” adds Michael Viterenwa, Account Executive for construction and engineering at Aon South Africa. Global sentiment supports green energy, while reinsurers have gone so far as to re-evaluate their stance on coal mining. The Paris Agreement signed in 2015 by United Nations members called on all members to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases as quickly as possible. This led to insurance giant Zurich announcing that it would stop offering insurance to mining and power generation companies receiving more than 50% of their revenue from coal, joining a growing list of global insurers taking steps to distance themselves from the ravages of coal in the wake of climate change concerns. South Africa is currently behind the curve of investment in renewable energy; however, this is set to change with the President’s recent announcement of Eskom’s unbundling into three units of generation, transmission and distribution. “This bold move paves the way for IPPs to sign power purchase agreements with the new ‘transmission’ company that will evolve from Eskom’s unbundling. While it will take a few years for the new transmission business to be fully operational as a separate entity, it will launch South Africa on the path to renewable energy infrastructure development, which will be well-received by the construction and

Enquiries: www.aon.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JUNE 2019