Endeavour Magazine March 2024

Heads of Departments

Editor-in-Chief Carley Fallows editor@littlegatepublishing.com

Advert Space Director Emlyn Freeman emlynfreeman@littlegatepublishing.com

Editorial Manager Andrew Williams andrew@littlegatepublishing.com

Commercial Manager James Hamilton james@littlegatepublishing.com

Lead Designer Adam Knights Research Kristina Palmer-Holt

Editorial Research David Craig

Corporate Director Anthony Letchumaman anthonyl@littlegatepublishing.com

Founder and CEO Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com

For enquiries or subscriptions contact info@littlegatepublishing.com +44 1603 296 100

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Editor’s Note

Welcome back to Endeavour Magazine!

It’s March, and that means in only a few short weeks we will finally be into spring and will hopefully see the return of some warmer weather here in the UK! As we enter into the new season, we are delighted to bring you a whole host of features celebrating companies, associations and authority boards which have already taken the new year by storm.

This month we cover an array of ports and see how they all play a vital role in keeping cargo, commercial activities and essential ship-to-shore operations running round the clock. We look at The Gulf Ports Association, The Port of Guam, and The Port of Lake Charles all of which are boosting the economies of their respective regions and are respected internationally for their multi-faceted operations.

Then we return to some crucial energy projects around the world with BP Trinidad and Tobago, SBM Offshore, and Petronas Suriname. These companies highlight the increasing demand for energy across the globe and we get to see how each one has shaped its operations to meet these needs. For many, this includes moving towards renewable energy options because, for many companies, sustainability is the future.

We also return to some great mining organisations such as Newmont Corporation and The Mineral Commission of Ghana who remind us yet again of the valuable role the mining industry and its regulations play in bringing local and international economic development.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Endeavour Magazine, and we look forward to seeing what this new season will bring for more companies across the globe.

by Carley Fallows

78 Port of Lake Charles Supporting America’s Shipping Corridor

84 Trinidad and Tobago Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (TTAIFA) Education Enrichment

92 Minerals Commission Ghana Investing in Mineral Resources

98 Davis and Shirtliff Community Based Development

104 Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)

Propelling Excellence in Tanzania

Articles

6

Business Headlines

Asia/Oceania

Africa

Americas

Middle East Europe

58 Environment

Salar de Uyuni: : The World’s Largest Salt Flat or Mirror Lake?

90 Amazing World Europe’s Largest Vertical Farm: Jones Food Company

Indian actress fakes death for cervical cancer campaign

Famed Indian actress, Poonam Pandey, sparked a debate over her controversial cervical cancer campaign after she posted on social media claiming she had died following a fight with cancer. This led to news outlets reporting on her death and many fans flooding social media with tributes to the actress. However, the following day, she uploaded a video outlining that she had ‘faked her demise’ as part of a campaign to raise awareness about cervical cancer. The purpose was to get people talking about the disease which is one of the most preventable cancers thanks to the HPV vaccine which protects against high-risk cancer-causing strains of the virus.

Many people criticised the movement stating that it made a joke of death and cancer. The social media agency behind the campaign has now apologised to those who were affected by the campaign.

Ship Docks in Australia after Delays from Red Sea Attacks

Following many attacks on ships in the Red Sea, a vessel carrying 16,000 sheep became stranded off the coast of Australia. The vessel had planned to travel from Perth to Israel but was forced to return to Australia as the attacks were preventing ships from travelling via the Suez Canal. The attacks have led to many shipping companies having to take long diversions around Southern Africa to meet their destinations.

As the livestock had to be returned to Australia, the animals became stranded off the coast of Australia pending the decision of whether they posed any biosecurity risks. Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity controls in the world to protect the country from invasive pests and diseases.

Veterinarians had boarded the ship and reported that the animals examined pose ‘no significant health, welfare or environmental’ concerns.

Scientists in South Korea grow Rice Hybrid

To find an affordable and eco-friendly source of protein, scientists in South Korea have developed a type of ‘meaty’ rice that has been grown in a lab. The rice has been packed with lab-grown beef muscle and fat cells and covered in a fish gelatine coating to help the cells latch. After having been left on a petri dish to culture for 11 days the ‘meaty’ rice is made.

The development of this type of rice could see it become useful to combat famine and other food issues and shortages in the future. In terms of texture, the rice is reported to be a bit firmer and more brittle than the rice grains we may be familiar with, but it packs in a lot of protein. According to the development team at Yonsei University in South Korea, rice has 8% more protein and 7% more fat than regular rice.

The protein-packed rice grains make a more sustainable way of eating protein through its lab-grown beef muscle and fat, which produces significantly less carbon dioxide than raising and farming the animals themselves.

Africa

City Hall in Nairobi Becomes the First Green Building

The city hall in Nairobi is the first government building in Africa to have been certified as a green building by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC). This certification comes as the government of Nairobi is working to restore its reputation for a healthy environment which over time has seen the city’s expansion take away from the natural environment. Consequently, the government has put in place various initiatives and interventions to make Nairobi a world-class green city.

Therefore, the certification marked a crucial step for the city in developing the region towards a green future by putting a focus on sustainable practices which can promote real change in shaping cities of the future. The certification called for an event to mark the occasion, with the Governor of Nairobi County thanking those who have played vital roles in helping the city hall reach the milestone.

Ivory Coast beat Nigeria to win AFCON

Coming from a goal down, Ivory Coast brought back the game against Nigeria in the final of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to not only equalise but later gain another goal and claim a 2-1 win for the Elephants. The Nigerian Super Eagles were big favourites throughout the competition led by African footballer of the year Victor Osimhen.

The hosts were not a favourite going into the tournament and saw a big defeat against Equatorial Guinea in the group stages. However, Ivory Coast’s redemption arc from this defeat has fans across the world excited to tune in for the final – especially following Nigeria’s defeat of Ivory Coast in the group stages. The winning goal was scored by Sebastian Haller who in 2022 had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Therefore, his scoring of the winning goal after having recovered from his diagnosis had captured the hearts of football fans everywhere.

Postponement of Elections Leads to Violent Protests in Senegal

Presidential elections were planned to take place in Senegal on 25th February this year, however, officials have delayed these elections and have moved the date to 15th December. Senegal has a history of being one of the most stable democracies in West Africa, however, the delay in the elections sparked fierce and violent protests across the country.

Protestors in Dakar are reported to have been dispersed using tear gas, with many battling security forces, throwing stones and burning tyres. The protests became so violent that it was reported that one student lost his life. Whilst the president of Senegal states he will not be running again, critics have accused him of trying to cling to power or attempting to influence his successor.

Chile Wildfires in Valparaíso

Forest fires in the Valparaíso region of Chile have claimed the lives of at least 112 people according to local authorities. To tackle the situation, President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency and the health ministry said a health alert had been put into place. To tackle the influx of patients who needed treatment following the fires, medical students nearing the end of their studies are reported to have been hired to help ease pressure on the country’s health service.

It is thought to be the deadliest forest fire on record for the country, with many of the most badly affected areas occurring in rural areas where rescue services struggled to reach. It is feared that the death toll could increase as the housing ministry announced that between 3,000 and 6,000 houses have been impacted by the fires.

Taylor Swift Breaks Record-Winning Grammy for Album of the Year

At this year’s Grammy Awards eyes were on Taylor Swift, as she claimed her fourth win in the category ‘Album of the Year’. Having already won the acclaimed award three times previously for her albums Fearless, 1989 and Folklore. Swift collected the award from Celine Dion, for her album Midnights. The Grammy win marks the 13th one awarded to the megastar.

However, upon receiving the award she made history again by announcing her new album set to land in April titled The Tortured Poets Department. This is the second time the star has announced an album whilst winning the award and comes as a surprise to many fans who were expecting the announcement of her re-recording series for Reputation (Taylor’s Version).

Dengue spike ahead of carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Authorities in Brazil have declared a health emergency as cases of dengue fever spike in Rio de Janeiro. So far this year, 10,000 cases of the disease have been reported, which is up considerably from the total 23,000 reported across 2023.

The disease is carried by mosquitos and can cause a range of symptoms including a fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain and rashes. Health Officials have opened treatment centres for those with dengue fever and are urging people to apply repellent frequently to avoid being bitten by mosquitos carrying the disease.

The spike in the disease came before Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, one of the biggest carnivals in the world, which could see cases spike as millions of people descend onto the streets of Brazil.

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Middle East

Qatar Beat Jordan in the AFC Asian Cup Final

Qatar have held onto their AFC Asian Cup crown defeating Jordan in a historic final at the Lusail Stadium. The hosts were a favourite to win from the get-go, gaining a 3-0 win over Lebanon in the opening match of the tournament. This will be the first time a team has won consecutive finals since Japan’s consecutive wins in 2000 and 2004.

Qatar’s champion player was Akram Afif who kicked off the match by scoring a goal in the 22nd minute, with Jordan only equalising in the 67th minute of the game. However, Afif then scored a further two goals in the 73 minute and a further in stoppage time to secure himself a hat-trick and Qatar the victory over Jordan.

The World Food Programme Stops Deliveries in Gaza

The UN has warned for the last few months that Gaza is likely to face famine. Previously, vital companies such as The World Food Programme (WFP) delivered life-saving food deliveries to those sheltering in Northern Gaza. However, as the conflict across the region continues to escalate, WFP has announced it will be pausing food deliveries. According to the agency, the decision has not been taken lightly but comes after crews face crowds, looting and even gunfire whilst trying to deliver essential food aid.

The increase in “complete chaos and violence”, according to WFP, comes as civilians living in the north of Gaza become more desperate and dependent on agencies such as WFP for their survival. According to WFP, “Food and safe water have become increasingly scarce and diseases are rife, compromising women and children’s nutrition and immunity resulting in a surge of acute malnutrition”. The UN and government officials across the world continue to call for an immediate ceasefire to allow essential aid into Gaza.

UAE Joins Forced to Limit Global Warming

The United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and Brazil have joined forces to push for an international agreement to limit global warming. The three would form a ‘troika’ which will focus on ensuring that carbon-dioxide pledges are met ahead of the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP30) which will be held in Brazil in 2025. Azerbaijan is set to host the United Nations climate event this year.

The need for carbon reduction comes as 2023 saw the world exceed the global warming limit of 1.5C set out by the Paris Climate Agreement. The Paris Climate Agreement would see fossil fuels also phased in place of renewable energy. It is hoped that the partnership with bring further international cooperation and encourage more stringent measures to reduce carbon emissions.

Europe

King Charles Announces He Has Cancer

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. Whilst the type has not been revealed, the Palace announced it was not prostate cancer, but it was found during his recent treatments for an enlarged prostate.

Whilst the King undergoes treatment, he will pause public events and ask senior members of the royal family to take over some of these duties. However, he will continue with his constitutional role as head of state including all paperwork and private meetings.

This announcement comes just after Kate, Princess of Wales, was announced to have undergone abdominal surgery which would leave her unable to participate in some royal duties while she recovered. The bulk of royal duties will now fall to William, Prince of Wales, as heir to the throne.

The Start of a New Volcanic Era in Iceland

Over recent months Iceland has seen an increase in volcanic eruptions which have left villages evacuated and many homes lost to the lava flows. Just recently, volcanic activity engulfed a pipe which left thousands of people without heat or hot water, and completely cut off the road to the popular Blue Lagoon tourist attraction.

The increase in activity over the last few months has scientists thinking that the region may be entering into a new period of volcanic activity which could last for decades or centuries. Iceland sits on the edge of two tectonic plates – the Eurasian and North American – which are slowly being pulled apart which has created space for magma to flow up to the surface and cause eruptions.

However, these eruptions historically seem to have been working in a cycle as rocks from the region reveal data that the region experienced a quiet period of no eruptions to about 1,000 years and then saw eruptions again. This cycle has been seen three times in the last 4000 years, which leads many scientists to believe Iceland could be entering into a new episode of activity.

Greece Legalises

Same-Sex Marriage

Greece is now the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage. The law was passed after a 176-76 parliament vote in favour of the law. It will now allow same-sex couples to legally adopt children. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis championed the bill but required the support of opposition parties to get it over the line.

The law has been welcomed by the LGBTQIA+ community, allowing same-sex couples to be recognised by the government. Greece joins 15 other countries in the European Union that have already legalised same-sex marriage. However, the Orthodox Church has led a fierce resistance against the bill with protesters rallying in Athens.

BP Trinidad and Tobago

BP Trinidad and Tobago (BPTT) is a significant subsidiary of the global BP energy company which specialises in upstream, midstream, downstream, and retail energy sectors. Therefore as one of the largest natural gas producers, BPTT accounts for almost 50% of Trinidad and Tobago’s total gas production and 25% of the global BP’s net gas production. Consequently, the role of BPTT under BP cannot be understated. We are thrilled to be catching up with BPTT again to see how the company has continued to grow the energy sector of Trinidad and Tobago and highlight some key new developments and projects for the company over the upcoming year.

BPTT is one of the largest hydrocarbon producers and a leader in natural gas production with 16 offshore production platforms, 2 subsea tiebacks and 2 onshore processing facilities. BPTT believes the key to longterm sustainability is building local expertise across all areas of national energy. To achieve this BPTT has a range of operations spanning the oil and gas industry, the design and construction of platforms and the installation of pipelines across Trinidad and Tobago. As a joint partnership between BP (70%) and Repsol (30%), BPTT has seen major developments as it continues to expand its operations to meet the growing energy and renewable energy needs of the future.

A crucial development for BPTT in recent years is in the Cypre Gas Field. The project will develop BPTT’s third subsea development which will include 7 wells and subsea trees. The trees will tie back into BPTT’s existing Juniper platform via flexible flowlines. The gas field is located 78km off the southeast coast of Trinidad in the East Mayaro Block at a water depth of roughly 80 metres. The project is expected to deliver an average gas production of 250-300 million standard cubic feet a day (mmscfd) which will go towards meeting BPTT’s existing gas supply commitments. This development is part of BPTT’s goal to make the most of existing infrastructure, whilst identifying innovative solutions to bring gas to the market faster without adding operating emissions.

David Campbell, president of BPTT, highlights the crucial role of the Cyre Gas Field, “The go-ahead for the Cypre development is great news for Trinidad and Tobago and for BPTT, as it demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in our business here. Today’s announcement is a great reflection of our strategy in action – efficiently developing the resources in our existing acreage so we can bring new gas to the market faster, all without increasing operating emissions.” As Campbell highlights, the use of existing infrastructure emphasises BPTT’s push towards making the project more sustainable and also cost-efficient for its stakeholders and partnerships by delivering projects that excel whilst protecting the region for future generations. In June just last year, BPTT announced that the first segment of the flexible (flowlines) pipe which

Rosco Procom Driving Energy Forward in Trinidad and Tobago

Rosco Procom, a leader in engineered OEM products, industrial equipment and support services, is driving energy forward in Trinidad and Tobago. With over 70 years of experience and commitment to innovation, the company offers a diverse portfolio of brands and services within the energy sector.

Rosco Procom operates through four distinct divisions:

• Oil & Gas: Providing essential equipment and solutions for upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.

• Mechanical & Electrical: Delivering a range of generators, compressors, motors, along with expert support services.

• Rigging & Lifting: Offering comprehensive lifting solutions and specialized rigging inspection services.

• Consumer & Commercial: Supplying lubricants, paint and PPE equipment for diverse industrial and commercial needs.

“Our vision is to be the leading provider of integrated energy solutions in our region,” states Wayne Bernard, CEO at Rosco Procom. “We are committed to delivering key products and services that help our clients operate more efficiently and sustainably.”

BP Trinidad and Tobago

Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited (Paria).

It’s been five years since Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited (Paria) began its journey as a subsidiary of Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Limited. From our humble beginnings in 2018, we continue to strive to be the leading energy trading company in the region.

Paria which is located in Pointe-a-Pierre strives to be the leading supplier of refined petroleum products such as Motor Gasoline, 92RON Unleaded, 95RON Unleaded, Kerosene/Avjet, Gas Oil/ULSD and Fuel Oil (HSFO and LSFO)

We trade and sell products (40,000 bbls) daily to Trinidad and Tobago and the regional markets. Products are stored at our tank farm and distributed locally by Truck Rack Systems, regionally by our marine terminal and internationally via bunkering.

We also store, treat, and provide marine handling of crude oil for export and provide laboratory services to assess the quality of the products received and sold.

Our 120 employees and over 400 contractors are focused on providing safe, secure and reliable services and assisting our fence-line communities through sustainable programs.

We are Paria – The Passion and Energy to Make a Difference

accounts for roughly 40% of the total flexible length of the gas field. These were successfully loaded into custom-built storage baskets from the Baker Hughes Newcastle Facility and were shipped to the Port of Blyth which will be their temporary storage location until they are transported to Trinidad later this year. This marks a key milestone in the development and the future of the Cypre Gas Field and will add to BPTT’s extensive portfolio of offshore production platforms and subsea tieback projects.

A crucial project for BPTT is its Mango Field offshore project, which in May last year saw the first phase of the ‘small pools’ drilling campaign completed. The Mango Field campaign aims to add three wells in the Mango Field, one in the Savonette Field and 3 in the Angelin Field. Since we last covered this project, all of the wells on the Mango Field have been put into production and are producing roughly 180 mmscfd with the third well still ramping up its production. In addition to the wells, the ‘small pools’ drilling program includes a range of side tracks of existing wells as well as access to new exploration segments that have not previously been put into production. By targeting these smaller gas reserves that are already near existing BPTT infrastructure, the company can take advantage of these resources and bring them into production

much faster. So far, BPTT has been optimising its operations through seismic data to reprocess, interpret and provide rigorous well planning which has seen positive results thus far.

As we have seen, deepwater development in Trinidad and Tobago is such a key and lucrative industry that benefits both the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the range of energy companies working across the region. A key development for the region was announced in September 2023, with a joint contract awarded to BPTT and Shell Trinidad and Tobago by the government to develop deepwater exploration blocks off Trinidad’s east coast. BP and Shell own 50% stakes in each block and will oversee blocks 25(a), 25(b) and 27. The first two blocks will be operated by BPTT, with block 27 operated by Shell.

David Campbell comments in the press release that, “For more than four decades BPTT has been operating off Trinidad’s east coast and the deepwater represents the next major province for this country’s indigenous energy development. We are looking to this exciting new era of exploration and production in the deepwater of Trinidad and

The Passion and Energy to Make a Difference

SAFE DELIVERY, QUALITY ASSURED

Importing refined fuel to satisfy our Trinidad and Tobago’s energy needs.

Our focus is to lead the region in the fuel logistics and trading business.

We are a state-owned company with access to strategic linkages and high-level market intelligence. Our significant infrastructure positions us to offer safe, responsible and efficient terminal operations which will facilitate the reliable importation and trading of petroleum products.

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Tobago combining our knowledge of the country’s geological systems and our global deepwater expertise”. Campell’s comments emphasize the solidified role that BPTT continues to play across the region. With vital contracts awarded by the government, the company is set to continue to harness the gas potential of the region along with other vital stakeholders and develop the region’s global energy industry for many years to come.

As we saw last year, BPTT has been continually expanding its operations, with a key development in its Cassia C facility, which makes up part of BPTT’s Area Development Plan. The Area Development Plan has set out to develop the hydrocarbon resources in its licensed marine acreage for Trinidad and Tobago. This plan includes a combination of exploration and development projects which are focused on maximising BPTT’s production. The Cassia C facility is the first offshore compression platform for BPTT and its biggest offshore facility, which will enable the BPTT to access and produce low-pressure gas resources from the Greater Cassia Area. With an expected peak production of roughly 200-300 mmscfd of gas, the facility is the 16th one under BPTT to help meet the region’s supply commitment and sustain Trinidad and Tobago’s LNG and petrochemical industries.

David Campbell, President of BPTT said in a press release on the facility that “First gas from Cassia C is an important milestone for BP in Trinidad and Tobago. This first offshore compression facility will allow us to unlock new resources and bring muchneeded gas to market. I am immensely proud of the teams which have been working hard to bring this facility online”. Campbell’s statements come

as the facility, which sits approximately 35 miles off Trinidad’s southeastern coast, will maximise the production potential of BPTT’s acreage.

In December last year, BPTT announced the new Atlantic structure which would bring benefits to Trinidad and Tobago. The shake-up will see the restricted ownership and commercial framework allow for an intensified focus on operational efficiency and reliability for Atlantic LNG, a key liquified natural gas (LNG) company in Trinidad and Tobago. This will mean investors will provide greater certainty and allow for the sanctioning of the next wave of upstream gas projects. In an agreement between shareholders and the government, a new ownership structure and commercial framework was agreed which will see the National Gas Company increase its equity share in Atlantic LNG, consistent with the commitment by the government to maximise the value of hydrocarbon sales for the country.

In addition, the structure will facilitate marketreflective pricing which will provide fair value from the sale of LNG for both the country and the shareholders, which it will achieve by focusing

on the operational efficiency and reliability of LNG. For BPTT it will, as outlined by David Campell “set a strong foundation for future investment in Trinidad and Tobago’s energy industry, including deepwater”. Consequently, all shareholders across Trinidad and Tobao’s gas and oil industry are always working together to develop the region’s prosperity and highlight it as a key global hub for deepwater developments garnering investment from the international energy sector.

We have seen yet again that for Trinidad and Tobago, its energy sector remains a significant part of its economic development on both a local and international scale. With key investments from stakeholders and governmental organisations across the sector, companies such as BPTT continue to solidify Trinidad and Tobago’s role as a key energy hub. As the company looks towards the future with new and exciting key developments, we look forward to seeing how BPTT continues to expand the gas industry in Trinidad and Tobago and bring continued economic prosperity across the region thanks to its top-of-the-line deepwater developments.

As a global leader in the design, construction and operation of complex infrastructures and plant facilities, Saipem is an engineering company which has taken over the energy sector through both offshore and onshore projects. With a key vision to engineer solutions for a sustainable future, the company has spent the last 65 years at the forefront of a global transition towards net zero. For Saipem engineering is at the heart of its operations and so its business, activities, and industrial solutions are all working to create a clearer vision for tomorrow.

Saipem’s origins can be traced back to 1957 when it became an independent company and constructed its first offshore platform the Scarabeo. The platform exemplified Saipem’s exemplary construction and engineering skills, which still serve as the foundation of its operations across the globe. Since the completion of its first offshore platform, Saipem has continued to grow its international reputation which saw the company complete a range of key projects across the globe. These projects include 600 wells in the Mesota Espinosa, numerous gas and oil pipelines across Argentina, Italy, and India, and 4 key drilling platforms in the Adriatic Sea by the end of 1969. Today, Saipem is a global leader in engineering with operations in 60 countries, 9 manufacturing sites and a workforce of over 30,00 employees who are passionate about providing the world with innovative solutions to meet its client needs whilst protecting the world for future generations.

Saipem offers a vast array of services and solutions which it helps design, procure, engineer and construct to meet the needs of its clients’ projects. Saipem works across every stage of development projects taking each one from process and structural engineering, all the way to procurement and construction. Once constructed, Saipem helps with the maintenance, modification, and daily operations of each deep-sea system. The company even works to help decommission plants and platforms when they are no longer in use. By staying so close to every project, Saipem can ensure the maximum economic return of offshore field development whilst maintaining high levels of safety, reliability, and performance.

Just last year Saipem announced it has been awarded 2 offshore contracts which are roughly 900 million USD in value. The first contract is in partnership with Aker Solutions and was awarded by Total Energies for the LAPA Southwest Development Project. LAPA is a deepwater oil field in the Santo Basin in the South Atlantic 270km off the coast of Brazil. Work on the project includes the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of subsea umbilical, risers, and flowlines (SURF) as well as a Subsea Production System (SPS). For this Saipem will maximise local content by making use of its yard Guarujá CTCO (Centro de Tecnologia

Engineering for the Future

e Construção Offshore) for logistics activities and Quad Joints Fabrication and some other manufacturing activities.

The second contract was awarded to Saipem by Equinor for the Irpa Pipeline Project. The project covers the installation of 80 kilometres of swagged Pipe-in-Pipe pipeline which will connect the production template of the Irpa Field to the existing Aasta Hansteen platform. The Irpa Pipeline project is expected for operations to begin next year in 2025.

A fundamental aspect of Saipem’s operations is its offshore drilling services, which date back to the origins of the company where it began drilling off the coasts of Sicily. At present, Saipem has a fleet of drilling vessels that can operate in several harsh environments and at a range of operational depths. In addition to these, Saipem also has a range of

drillships, jack-ups and semi-submersibles which are also capable of operating in both shallow and ultra-deepwater depths. Drilling for Saipem has continued to allow the company to establish longterm relationships with exploration and production companies across the world to drill wells in some of the deepest and most technically challenging environments there are.

In November 2022, Saipem was awarded new offshore drilling contracts covering 3 projects in the Middle East and 2 in Western Africa encompassing approximately 800 million USD in value. In the Middle East, Saipem was contracted to work on two highspecification Jack-Up drilling units (Perro Negro 12 and 13) which are chartered by third parties for drilling and workover activities. The project is expected to take 5 years with completion expected in 2027, with an optional two years for the first unit

and another 4 years for the second. In West Africa, Saipem was awarded 2 contracts in the Ultra DeepWater segment for drilling operations with the sixth-generation Drillship Saipem 1200. The first contract was awarded to Eni Côte d’Ivoire for drilling operations. The second contract was awarded to Azule Energy for drilling. The project included the drilling of 12 firm wells and included the possibility of an extension for an optional term. These contracts in West Africa and the Middle East highlight the areas as key focuses for development over the coming years for Saipem and its operations in the ultra-deepwater market.

Furthermore, Saipem announced in February 2023 that it was resuming work on the Mozambique LNG project for Total Energies. The project covers the onshore development of the LNG plant and is the first for Saipem in Mozambique, and includes the engineering, procurement, and construction of the onshore plant. Saipem also announced in the same month that the company has renewed its collaboration agreements with Petrojet and ENPPI. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Saipem with Petrojet to continue the collaborative efforts in the pursuit of potential new initiatives in the oil and gas, infrastructure, and new Energy sectors in North Africa. This continued collaboration highlights the strong relationship Saipem has with companies in North Africa and the Middle East. The cooperating agreement signed with ENPPI continues the execution and co-engineering services for potential new initiatives to be pursued globally. The agreement gives Saipem access to local expertise and engineering in Egypt, especially in areas with high development potential in energy infrastructure.

Sustainability is key to Saipem’s current plans as it works to constantly update its expertise and renew its design and development assets to solidify its entry into the field of renewable energy. Consequently, Saipem has implemented a range of solar panels, integrated bio-refineries, geothermal energy, and waste-to-energy projects. The goal of these renewable infrastructure projects is to enter the world of existing renewable and continue to develop the sector with new and emerging technologies into wave, tide, thermal ocean energy,

Engineering for the Future

floating photovoltaic installations, renewable energy storage, hydrogen, and hybridisation projects which will reduce carbon on a significant scale.

Additionally, Saipem has recently announced the development of its new Bluenzyme™ modular products which are designed for carbon dioxide capture. The proprietary technology has been developed by CO2 Solutions by Saipem™ which offers efficient and cost-effective solutions for carbon capture. The modular constructions are designed to reduce construction time to save money for its clients. The flexibility of these standardised models allows Saipem to be ahead of the game and meet the specific needs of each client whilst also helping them to continue to meet the needs of the future.

Overall, Saipem is a vast and ever-expanding company which stretches to every corner of the globe with its engineering services. With vital work both onshore and offshore which aids the infrastructural development of regions across the globe, Saipem continues to lead the way with its reputation for excellence. As the company has moved towards the future, we have seen its vital shift towards renewable and green energy options which has allowed the company to remain ahead of the competition for many years. With vital development carbon reduction and infrastructure across the world, it is not a surprise Saipem continues to be awarded vital contracts for its engineering across the world.

Working with ports across the Gulf Coast of the United States, The Gulf Ports Authority (GPA) promotes the progress of waterborne commerce throughout Gulf ports to bring continued economic development to the region. As a trade organisation, The Gulf Ports Authority provide a forum through which its members receive vital support, education, and networking to uplift the area’s cargo shipment and highlight the region as a key area of shipment.

Since 1945, GPA has been working to progress the waterborne commerce of the Gulf Ports guided by a team of elected officials to promote the continued success of the region. GPA began in New Orleans when there were only 13 public port members in the five Gulf states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Over the last nearly 80 years, GPA has provided a forum for its member works where they can address mutual concerns and educate the public and elected officials on the economic impact of Gulf ports. Today GPA covers 36 ports across the Gulf Coast and provides users of the ports with innovatively managed and environmentally responsible facilities with the end goal of promoting the success of each port across the region.

Existing members of the port include the Port of South Louisiana. This is one of the largest tonnage port districts which extends 54 miles of the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. The port is served by 3 trunk link railroads and 3 major interstate highways. With 50 piers and docks, the ports receive vessels up to 45ft all year round. As a central cargo port, it facilitates cargoto-vessel transfers via its barge system. Every year it moves more than 233mt of cargo upriver to major US markets in the Midwest and Northeast. The Port of South Louisiana is such a complex port, which for GPA is a large member for its role within the industry. However, GPA is concerned with all ports no matter the size as their collective role is what allows the region and the GPA to maintain such a lucrative stream of cargo shipment across the region.

We also see the crucial role smaller ports play in the fundamental role of GPA in the appointment of Walker Smith as the president of the Association. Smith is the port director of the Port of Harlingen Authority and is the first time in the last 30 years that a port director from a shallow draft port has been elected as president of the Association. Smith will lead the Association over the coming months in its pursuit to fund and represent the 36 ports under the association, as it continues to educate elected officials and the public on the importance of waterborne commerce to the US.

A key part of GPA is the bi-annual meeting where all members are invited to meet and provide a space for crucial networking, education, and promotion of the vital role these ports play in the country’s economic development. The next conference is set to be held in May of this year where the 36 ports will gather together under the

The Gulf Ports Association

Association. However, should conflicts or concerns arise between meetings, GPA will hold gatherings as and when needed to maintain the strength of the region’s port facilities.

A significant partner to GPA is the railway network as these are what allow cargo shipped in from the coast to access markets across America. Companies such as Railworks Corporation provide construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance services to vital rail systems across North America. They recognise the vital role which ports play in today’s economy, as many ports are vital pillars of trade, travel, and industry. Therefore, the company ensures that the railways can be utilised year-round and has implemented custom-built track systems across ports to streamline operations and serve as a vital gateway to the nation and beyond.

Overall, GPA has spent nearly 80 years as the governing authority association across the Gulf Coast of America. Working with all ports from Manatee in Florida to Brownsville in Texas, GPA continues to be successful in its promotion of the region’s waterborne commerce, and, as the demand for cargo and tourism continues to grow across America, the ports will continue to play a vital role in the national economic development. We look forward to seeing how Smith shapes the future of the Association and the crucial developments from association’s conference in a few months.

Carnival Corporation and PLC

Providing travellers from around the world with life-changing vacations, Carnival Corporation and PLC is one of the largest cruise line groups in the world. With huge brands such as Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P+O Cruises (Australia and UK), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Cunard under the corporation’s umbrella, the company offers a wide variety of cruise options to suit any customer. Therefore, it is no surprise that every year nearly 13 million customers cruise with Carnival Corporation.

The corporation began operation in 1972 with just one second-hand ship, called the Mardi Gras, set on making a single trip from Miami to San Juan. The ship featured many innovative elements along with a thematic ambience that established the level of high-quality travel experience that many of the corporations’ brands focus on today. The success of this first initial voyage highlights the pioneering spirit and passion for travel which forms the basis of the corporation’s daily operations today.

Since the company was first founded, it has spent the last 50 years acquiring key cruise liners from across the world and now has representation in almost every market segment in the cruise industry. In 2004, Carnival Corporation combined with P+O Princess Cruises which created one of the first global cruise operators encompassing 12 highly recognisable brands. At the time this was one of the largest leisure travel companies in the world, which began to establish the corporation’s reputation as a leading cruise line provider.

With the continued acquisition of brands, the company now has 9 reputable and giant cruise line providers from across the globe under its umbrella. However, with all of these key cruise line brands, Carnival Corporation remains firm that each one keeps its own defined brand identity. This brand autonomy is what the company attributes a large amount of its success to because each one can focus its individual sales, marketing and reservation offers to specifically cater to its audience and geographical reach. This focus on brand autonomy is why the corporation is now a global leader in the cruise industry. Looking towards the future, Carnival Corporation aims to continue to innovate its fleets and deliver memorable vacations and borderless connections across the globe.

Throughout every single cruise operation under Carnival Corporation, the ports in which the vessels stop at are essential to keeping the industry running. Cruise ships under Carnival Corporation stop at over 700 ports around the world, where they receive vital reserves and maintenance via a range of ship-to-shore services. These include refuelling, handling, essential supplies replenishment, and facilitating excursions/security checks- to name just a few.

Los Cristianos

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

La Estaca

Santa Cruz de la Palma

THE CANARY ISLANDS

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San Sebastian de la Gomera

Tenerife La Palma La Gomera El Hierro

Ports of Tenerife: Top cruise destination all year round.

The volcanic Canary Islands are one of the most well-known holiday destinations for Europeans, with a temperature fluctuating between 18 and 22⁰C all year round. But that is just one of the many reasons that make the Canary Islands one of the most popular destinations for cruise traffic, specially during the colder months of the year.

Tenerife island has two cruise ports: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the ideal port for homeport operations and Los Cristianos, located in the most touristic area of the island. On the other hand, the rest of the islands offer a wide variety of exotic destinations: La Palma island or “la Isla Bonita” -the Beautiful Island-; La Gomera island, last Columbus call before the America’s Discovery and El Hierro island, known as the end of the world by the ancient conquerors.

The islands are highly connected to Europe and the Spanish mainland through daily and direct flights to Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Finland, Belgium and more recently even to the vibrant city of New York in the US. And the list goes on. Due to these connections, Santa Cruz de Tenerife provides easy access to a wide range of excursions and experiences: the visit to El Teide volcano – where they will find the most spectacular views of the Canary Islands – and San Cristóbal de La Laguna – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites –, or feel like the locals the Carnivals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife – one of the best in the world – and the celebration of the “Día de Los Indianos”, which is held every year on Carnival Monday on the island of La Palma as the greatest tribute to its relationship with Cuba.

But not only this: you will be amazed, for example, under the clear sky of La Palma, chosen by the International Scientific Community as the headquarters of one of the most important Astrophysics Observatories from the Northern Hemisphere and the views of a newborn volcano. La Gomera, the history of the New World and its quaternary Laurisilva forest should not be missed, but also the “gomero whistle”, the hissing language to communicate through ravines. Finally El Hierro, an example of sustainability where the trade winds are the main source of energy and where you will be thrilled with ancient lizards and incredible sea bottoms ideal for diving.

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Cruising With The Best

The vital role ports play in keeping all cruise lines under Carnival Corporation running smoothly cannot be understated. Therefore, the company has partnered and established agreements with a range of ports and port authorities across the globe. A significant existing agreement is with The Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is one of the busiest cruise ports in the Canary Islands, which is visited by AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Lines, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and P+O Cruises UK under the Carnival Corporation umbrella alone. Therefore, Carnival Corporation maintains strong ties to the port authority and its port services as it continues to be a vital stop for many of its cruise ships and so allows the company to continue to offer great holiday excursions in the Canary Islands.

Under Carnival Corporation is its own Carnival Cruise Line which is the leading provider of yearround cruises to the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico from America, with seasonal cruises to Canada, New England, Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, and Europe. Carnival Cruise Line is a leader in contemporary cruising focusing its 23-ship fleet on providing fun and memorable vacation experiences designed for all the family at a great price. With over 180 rooms with 11 different categories of

suite options, you are sure to find a restful night’s sleep to suit your vacation needs and price point. Its vessel line includes the Mardi Gras, which was introduced in 2021 and is the first cruise ship in North America to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG). This ship represents the gradual move by Carnival Corporation towards a more sustainable future for the leisure and tourism industry.

A key cruise line under Carnival Corporation is Princess Cruises which began operations in 1965. The company is now a world-leading international cruise liner and tour company with a fleet of 15 modern cruise ships. Travelling to 330 destinations around the globe including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada, New England, Antarctica, and world cruises. This expansive offering includes over 170 different itineraries with options ranging from 3 to 11-day trips. Each ship is designed with the culture, colours, and flavours in mind of the countries the voyage will be visiting to provide its customers with an immersive quality experience.

The Holland America Line has been in operation for over 145 years and today under Carnival Corporation has 10 spacious, mid-sized ships visiting more than 425 ports of call across over 100 countries around the world on all 7 continents. The ships are known for their immersive culinary experiences and extensive wine selections along with highly acclaimed brand partnerships across

the ship’s entertainment. In recent news, Holland America Line’s cruise offers will be extended to 11 countries between September 2025 and April 2026, with a strong focus on Japan where it will visit 24 different ports. The development will offer visits to Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, and will further expand Carnival Corporation’s offerings across the globe.

The luxury brand behind Carnival Corporation is Seabourn which is known as a luxury resort at sea. Seabourn has only 3 vessels in its fleet, however, the reduced passenger size ensures an intuitive personalised service for every guest. It is the youngest company in the luxury segment of the cruise industry but prides itself on having an industry-leading crew which are known for its experience and excellence in expedition travel. Customers on board the Seabourn vessel can make the most of spacious all-suite accommodations with oceanfront views, and experience awardwinning gourmet dining and premium food and drink every night. The ships travel to every continent on the globe, making more than 400 port visits to top cities as well as off-the-beaten-track gems which are handpicked by its expert travel itinerary teams, across Europe, Asia, the South Pacific Island, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas and Antarctica.

Costa Cruise Lines represents Europe’s leading cruise liner under the Carnival Corporation which visits more than 260 ports worldwide. The 12 contemporary ships across its fleet are deployed throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Brazil, Argentina, the Arabian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean. Trips with Costa Cruise lines cover anywhere between 7 to 20-day trips, with exotic sailing trips from 20-30 days. The company is also the leading cruise line in China and also has a world voyage itinerary option. Throughout Costa Cruise Line’s voyages pampering on board and top voyage destinations has made them a leading cruise liner

for many across Europe to experience the finest of what the continent has to offer. In 2019, Cost Cruise Lines added the Costa Smeralda to its fleet which is the first vessel to use LNG both at port and at sea. This again highlights the innovative approach that is fostered across Carnival Corporation’s sphere to make the cruising industry more sustainable.

A final vital cruise line operator under Carnival Cruises is P+O Cruises. Under the Carnival Corporation is P+O Cruises UK and Australia. P+O Cruises UK is Britain’s cruise liner of choice. The brand is known for discovery, choice and relaxation offering every visitor a restful stay catered to British tastes. The ships are great for all the family with activities for kids, as well as adults-only lounges. P+O Cruises UK offers voyages to 200 destinations worldwide with 2-to-3-month options. In recent years, P+O Cruise UK added the Arvia vessel which is focused on the future of ship travel. The ship is the latest innovation for P+O and is designed to focus on the newest trends in travel, dining, and entertainment. Offering contemporary holidays, the Arvia has a SkyDome, 16 guest decks, the first

Cruising With The Best

altitude skywalk at sea experience, as well as a plethora of food and dining experiences.

Overall, Carnival Corporation and Plc is such a vast cruise line company which continues to expand its offerings to bring once-in-a-lifetime holiday offerings to customers all over the globe. The company remains focused on the vital role that the individual brands under its umbrella play in diversifying the tourism industry and innovating holiday options to suit every customer’s needs. However, Carnival Corporation is also highly focused on respecting and maintaining the relationships the company has with ports across the world as they help to keep cruise lines running smoothly. Furthermore, we have seen that many of the companies under Carnival Corporation are starting to shift towards using LNG to fuel their vessels, which is hoping to move the tourism and leisure industry towards a more sustainable future. However, one thing is for sure, no matter which brand you travel with under Carnival Corporation, you are sure to have the adventure of a lifetime supported by teams of people passionate about travel.

CMA CGM Group

As a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, CMA CGM Group serves more than 420 ports worldwide with a vast fleet of vessels. The Group is on a mission to contribute to sustainable development on a global scale as it works to establish balanced international trade which focuses on developing the plants on both an economic and social level. Consequently, with a key focus on energy transition in the shipping industry, CMA CGM continues to innovate its offerings to provide its customers with comprehensive and increasingly efficient shipping solutions and lines serving international markets.

Established in 1978, CMA CGM began as a company that focused on providing a longterm strategic vision for the shipping industry driven by expertise and passion for the industry. Today, with these same values, CMA CGM continues to expand to be a leader in its industry and continues its perpetual quest for excellence whilst remaining committed to environmental development. The Group is now present in 160 countries across its global network with more than 400 offices and 750 warehouses worldwide. Just last year, the Group transported 21.7 million TEU containers and its subsidiary CEVA Logistics transported 552,000 tonnes of air cargo and more than 22 shipments of inland freight.

Behind CMA CGM are 5 pillars which have helped to establish the company as a global player in the industry, to help it achieve the perfect balance of interaction between each of these pillars and the foundation of its growth towards sustainable development. The first of these pillars is pursuing maritime development in which it uses innovation to make ships and port terminals more efficient than ever. A key part of this is enhancing customer satisfaction by adapting its capacity to help manage their demands and provide them with the top-quality care and service that the company is known for. Therefore, across CMA CGM’s solutions, it provides solutions which leverage the synergies between its shipping services and the main intercontinental routes and its revamped inter-regional lines.

The second, and arguably the largest pillar of its operations, is in offering logistics solutions. These solutions work between shipping and logistics and are crucially a key part of the CMA CGM Group’s identity. Under the Group is CEVA Logistics which is a global player in logistics which provides the Group with air freight services. Along with this, CMA CGM provides a range of end-to-end transport solutions for all types of goods, overland and air freight services in its know-how in contract logistics and warehousing. These logistics solutions cover a vast network which enables the Group to deliver an intermodal approach which is known for its efficiency in meeting its customers’ transportation needs.

The CMA CGM Air Cargo Division has been scaling up its transport and logistics which meet the

growing demand for new, comprehensive, fast, and agile solutions. The division has 17 freighter destinations and 115 long-haul wide-body vessel destinations at key hubs in the Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Amsterdam AMS) with an extensive network and enhanced schedule. In response to the demand for air freight, the division created a long-term strategic partnership with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo which provides highquality airfreight services worldwide and continues to expand the global reach of CMA CGM.

The third pillar is working towards accelerating innovation and digitalization. CMA CGM uses research and development, IoT, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology at the heart of its innovation process to accelerate the digital transformation of the industry. With the smart development of the industry through its logistics solutions, CMA CGM is hoping to develop the industry for the future and through the roll-out of intuitive digital tools which will help the Group and the industry deliver a smoother user experience for both its staff and customers. This user experience is also hoped to bring a shorter-term return on investment for the company and its customers.

The fourth pillar is key to the ethos of CMA CGM, ensuring that the company’s development, operations, and services remain respectful of the planet and its people. This key focus to contribute to a more balanced and inclusive globalisation which is respectful of the natural environment is central to the Group’s mission. One way that CMA CGM is implementing these sustainable goals is by moving the company towards energy solutions that include liquified natural gas (LNG), biomethane and biofuel. These energy resources hope to reduce the environmental impact of the maritime transport and logistics industry. An overarching goal for CMA CGM is to move the company’s operations to be carbon neutral by 2050, which highlights its key commitment to developing the industry whilst protecting the planet from further harm.

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Also all our procedures comply with ISO 9001-2015 standard looking the Customer Satisfaction and our continuous quality improvement.

If you need provisions, bonded stores, technical stores, etc., please contact with the most reliable Ship Chandler in Chile.

The final key pillar of the group is supporting and enriching the lives of its employees. It’s clear that for any company to run smoothly it must focus on developing and providing wellbeing support to its staff. For CMA CGM, the company has 155,000 employees across its global network, and it is these people who are at the heart of ensuring that the Group’s operations remain a leader in the Camino

CMA CGM Group

Wilhelmshaven, Germany’s only deep-water container port, offers excellent development prospects

Located directly on the German Bight, the JadeWeserPort, which can be reached 24/7 regardless of the tide, is Germany’s only deep-water container port with a water depth of 18 metres and offers ideal nautical and geographical conditions for handling international flows of goods. The port and logistics location is very attractive for investors from all over the world. Efficient transport connections by rail, road as well as deep & short sea shipping ensure that goods can be transported quickly to and from the continent’s economic and metropolitan regions. In effect giving access to more than 250 million consumers in Europe. Wilhelmshaven is increasingly gaining importance as a port of call for international shipping companies due to its good accessibility. The new “Atlantic Loop 4” liner service operated by HapagLloyd since January provides us with a fast connection across the Atlantic. This enables us to tap into new flows of goods and now offer our port customers a direct connection with Houston and the Mexican ports of Veracruz and Altamira. The new liner service means our motorway links with the hinterland now have a virtual extension across the sea between Northern Europe and the American Gulf Coast,” explains Marc Hauswald, Managing Director of JadeWeserPort-Marketing. The freight village directly adjacent to the terminal has 150 hectares of space and is the ideal site for logistics. A leading developer and long-term owner of logistics properties in Europe will be offering the first construction phase of three multi-user logistics halls with a total of around 140,000 square metres to interested companies in early summer.

industry. Therefore, as its people are the Group’s biggest asset, CMA CGM ensures the safety of its staff throughout every aspect of its operations and implements wellbeing and inclusive approaches to support the well-being of its staff. Another way they are implementing development is through tailored training programs which it makes available to its staff through the CMA CGM Academy.

These pillars are why the company has such a vast presence in the international shipping industry, and as such, also plays a pivotal role in many global economies. As we have seen, CMA CGM remains committed throughout every aspect of its operations to fostering a stable and reliable shipping and logistics service which serves its customers and the planet. It aims to reinvent the transport and logistics solutions industry and take on every operation with a bold strive to go above and beyond for its clients which continues to place CMA CGM as a fundamental player in the industry and ultimately its ongoing development.

CMA CGM offers one of the largest shipping networks in the world with routes spanning the globe serviced by its environmentally friendly, high-performance ships which provide value-

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Kenya Ports Authority:

Improved efficiency boosts performance at the Port of Mombasa

The Port of Mombasa has defied global economic challenges, compounded with heavy rains in 2023 to achieve its targets and solidify its position as the Port of choice.

One of our notable achievements was the successful commencement of night pilotage of oil tankers courtesy of the operationalization of the new Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT). We are optimistic that the 24/7 service for oil tankers is progressively reducing ship turnaround time and attendant costs.

Additionally the Port of Lamu is steadily gaining business muscles and global recognition owing to our continued marketing efforts. Recently, the Port received its first hinterland bound cargo from World Food Programme (WFP) followed by a cruise ship and a naval ship calls. All along, the Port has been handling transshipment consignments.

We have also made strides in capacity expansion initiatives that include expansion of container handling berths, increased automation of services, acquired modern ship and cargo handling equipment and improved partnerships with key government agencies and stakeholders to enhance synergy. Acquisition of the new equipment is expected to double berth productivity and reduce ship working time. Moreover, the procurement for the construction services of Dongo Kundu Berth 1 (DK 1) is almost complete with construction expected to commence soon. The facility is strategically important in catalyzing the development of the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone which upon completion, will not only boost the economy of the Country but, through enhanced trade, drive major business growth for Mombasa Port.

We are now back on a steady recovery path having witnessed remarkable improvement in port performance. This year, our total cargo throughput grew by 1.587 million tons or 5.1% recording 32,950,000 tons between January and

November 2023, compared with the same period in 2022. By the close of 2023, we expect to have handled 35 million tons.

Total container traffic recorded 1,470,754 TEUs in January – November 2023, which is an increase of 145,702 TEUs or 11% compared with the same period in 2022. We expect to reach 1.6 million TEUs by end of the year.

Transshipment traffic registered 177,144 TEUs in January – November 2023 which is a drop of 11% compared with the same period in 2022. However, we expect transshipment traffic to grow further due to the congestion currently being experienced in other regional ports. Transit traffic grew by 10.8% registering 10,425,000 tons in January – November 2023. The annual forecast for 2023 is expected to reach 11 million tons.

Recently we launched our five-year Strategic Plan 2023/24 – 2027/28 which provides a roadmap in furtherance of our mandate towards realizing our vision - world class ports of choice. This strategy is driven by four strategic directions: customer focus, operational excellence, business growth and good governance. We are optimistic that the initiatives that we pursue will not only positively impact on our customers’ experiences but will exceed their expectations.

According to the latest Africa Ports Productivity 2023, the Port of Mombasa is ranked second in Africa pointing to improved efficiency. This is also supported by the new shipping lines making maiden calls to the port to deliver transshipment cargo destined for other regional ports and a vote of confidence to the port.

As the Port continues to make strides in enhancing its operational capabilities, stakeholders within the maritime industry are optimistic about the prospect of sustained growth and heightened competitiveness for the Port of Mombasa https://www.kpa.co.ke

CMA CGM Group

MEC Safety Systems GmbH

MEC Safety Systems GmbH is a leading company with three main business areas: Lashing, RoRo, and Design and Engineering. With a company in Germany and Singapore, as well as large production capacities in China besides local production in Europe we are well-equipped to meet the needs of our clients worldwide. In the Lashing division, we offer both loose and fixed container securing materials, as well as specialized lashing items for new building projects. Our RoRo division provides fixed and loose equipment, including our specially developed 3-ton car lashing, which has been used in various new building programmes. In the Design and Engineering department, we have our own team of experts who specialize in design and technology, as well as calculations and construction of lashingbridges and cellguides.

Choose MEC Safety Systems GmbH for all your cargo safety needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your cargo safety requirements.

added solutions to protect, track and optimize the shipping of goods. With more than 40 years of experience in deep-sea shipping as well as shorthaul shipping lines, CMA CGM has services suited to every customer to provide solutions ranging from fleet, port infrastructure or services through one of its specialist subsidiaries. Consequently, the company serves 420 trading ports across the globe.

In terms of cargo shipping, CMA CGM is well equipped to transport a range of mediums from liquid or perishable cargo, all the way to the shipping of heavy goods such as yachts and industrial machinery. These diverse cargo shipping offerings allow CMA CGM to meet the needs of its clients and offer tailor-made solutions and services which are perfectly suited to the cargo and its need for transport. The Group also has Eagle Express which operates shipping between China and the United States for emergency cargo.

In addition, CMA CGM offers roll-on roll-off (RORO) services to a broad range of intra-Mediterranean services to North Africa which helps to reduce loading and unloading times to make shipping simpler and faster. For dry goods, CMA CGM’s containers can meet any needs as they provide ISO 1496, 6343 and Convention for Safe Container (CSC) criteria to help

ship products of any type in any type of packing to anywhere in the world. Tailor-made solutions help keep products moving and so the company is a first choice for many customers as they are ready to provide the perfect transportation environment and needs for such a vast array of products. Therefore, to ensure that these services remain efficient and productive, CMA CGM works with ship chandlers across the globe who facilitate its vessels with all the necessary equipment and materials. Consequently, ship chandler companies are essential to maintaining the speed and reputation of CMA CGM’s shipping service operations to keep cargo moving towards end markets.

Consequently, the shipping line network of CMA CGM as they are able to facilitate such a diverse range of shipping and cargo solutions means that they continue to add value to its operations. Executive Vice President for Shipping Lines at CMA CGM, Olivier Nivoix outlines that ‘By improving our services and offering you our range of new addedvalue solutions, we continue to go beyond regular business relations by bringing you an experience that meets your needs and expectations to build with you the shipping of tomorrow’. Nivoix’s comments highlight that, unlike many other shipping companies, CMA CGM is such a giant company that it can offer solutions that meet the needs of its customers and provide comprehensive shipping and cargo solutions which develop the industry and continue to help these customers’ businesses thrive.

However, CMA CGM has gone one step further and has developed a dedicated door-to-door service called CMA-CGM Intermodal which combines train, barge, and truck, services to its existing shipping services. This is available all over the world and draws on the full strength of its landbased infrastructure to offer the best intermodal freight transport services to its customers. These services are secure and reliable and allow freight to be transported anywhere in the world, including to and from landlocked countries.

These services are available in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, India, the Middle East, North America, and Asia-Pacific. With intermodal freight services, CMA CGM is aware of the possible climate change implications that this type of shipping may cause. However, the company has implemented dedicated trains and barges to reduce its carbon footprint, optimize itineraries to limit fuel consumption, and has given priority to the most environmentally friendly modes of transport.

This focus on sustainability is why the company remains such a key player not just in the freight, shipping, and logistics industry, but in moving global companies to see how the implementation of sustainable measures is possible. This development towards sustainability was recently announced to have seen a range of private and public stakeholders investing in decarbonizing the shipping industry. CMA CGM, along with these stakeholders, are calling in favour of the decarbonisation of maritime transport with the ambition of implementing the IMO GHG Strategy.

This strategy is hoping to establish new building standards that support the energy transition in the maritime industry and push the sector towards achieving its goal of Net Zero by 2050. The coming together of these leaders highlights the readiness of the industry to provide a robust regulatory framework to achieve crucial decarbonisation. This move will also help to concrete the government’s commitments to provide regulatory and financial support to the shipping industry initiatives to enable and enhance decarbonisation.

Overall, CMA CGM has spent the last 45 years leading the logistics solutions industry on a global scale. Its keen focus is on moving the global shipping, cargo, and logistics industry towards sustainable development. With tailor-made logistics solutions covering inland, port, and air logistics services the global company continues to be a leading player in international logistics markets. As the company continues to lead the industry for its logistics solutions, we look forward to seeing how it moves the sector towards continued sustainable development to meet the global demand for carbon neutrality.

As the energy demand continues to soar across the globe, companies such as SBM Offshore are working to create new and innovative solutions which hope to make energy more accessible. However, SBM Offshore is doing this by harnessing the ocean to move the world towards a future of renewable energy.

SBM Offshore utilises its vast expertise across the sector to bring energy to some of the world’s biggest cities whilst constantly working to protect to planet and its people.

To achieve carbon neutrality across the energy sector, SBM Offshore uses its technological expertise to design, build, install, and operate offshore floating facilities across the worldwide energy industry. According to SBM Offshore, twothirds of the world’s cities are located near a shoreline, therefore the need for energy solutions on coasts has the potential to bring significant local prosperity. However, a key focus for SBM Offshore is harnessing the natural power of the ocean to bring energy to local communities whilst not putting these communities or the environment at significant risk. This attention to protection and energy infrastructure building is what positions SBM Offshore as such a significant player in the future of energy development.

SBM Offshore specialises in a range of offshore deepwater solutions including floating production storage and offloading (FPSO), oil and gas production operations and installation services, offloading terminals, TMS LNG, wave converters and floating offshore wind terminals. It has positioned itself at the top end of the FPSO market and deals with some of the largest and most complex projects in the sector. SBM Offshore focuses on using innovation to deliver high-performance solutions which always aim to meet and exceed its client’s expectations, often going beyond what is available across the market. Its deepwater systems work to tackle unique sets of engineering challenges and make energy infrastructure possible through its comprehensive research and development teams.

A key pioneering strategy of SBM Offshore’s operations is its Fast4Ward program which includes its Multi-Purpose Floater (MPF). The MPF is a generic hull which can accommodate an internal turret, external turret, or spread-mooring solution to facilitate topsides for increased production capacity. The Fast4Ward program has been designed to transform its operations by reducing the cycle time to energy delivery by de-risking projects and improving the quality and safety of its solutions. Therefore, the resulting energy solutions produced by SBM Offshore are paving the way towards future generations of FPSOs across the energy sector.

The Fast4Ward program hopes to add value to its clients’ operations by improving the economics of their deep-water projects which in turn will lower break-evens. To achieve this, SBM Offshore has leveraged its experience by standardising its designs to improve execution of multiple projects which has knock-on benefits across the deepwater

Connecting the future: Cables International leads the global market through innovative cable management

Becoming the world’s leading supplier of specialty cables for the marine and offshore sectors is no mean feat. Yet with more than 50 years of experience, research, and innovation behind them, Cables International have firmly established themselves as global market leaders. Their history, however, is only part of the story. Today, the company’s exceptional range of partnerships has allowed Cables International to continue building momentum: a steadfast customer-centric focus provides a continuous impetus to pioneer new, creative solutions.

One such partnership, namely with the Prysmian Group, has resulted in Cables International’s marketleading offering of offshore cables.

Required to deliver reliability and quality results in the harshest environments, these cable solutions provide high-performance power, instrumentation and control systems. Offshore oil and gas locations all around the world are served from Cables International’s distribution centers in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia and Dubai.

Meanwhile, Cables International’s extensive range of cable cleats from industry leaders Ellis Patents has been designed specifically to meet the gruelling needs of the energy sector.

As a matter of course, the design is driven by safety, and the products are measured against stringent quality standards. Designed for heavy-duty use, they can be relied upon consistently in the most testing environments.

While safety and longevity are at the core of Cables International’s entire product offering, these design pillars also support one of their core values – sustainability. The first industrial company in Southeast Asia to achieve carbon neutrality, they are strongly committed to maintaining an environmental focus throughout their business and supporting their customers in their own sustainability goals.

These products provide enhanced protection against the intense forces associated with short circuits, pulling and slamming that are often found in industrial environments. Manufactured from superior metallic and composite materials, the components have international industryappropriate certifications, making them a vital addition to any high-risk, high-load energy installation.

Similarly, through working closely with cable specialists Tecnikabel and APS Finland, Cables International’s portfolio of telecommunications cables now satisfies the widest range of customer requirements and meets or exceeds the strictest international standards. Reliable and longlasting performance is thus a given no matter the conditions.

In addition to offshore cabling solutions and cable cleats, Cables International also provides plugs and sockets, an offering that the company has diversified and honed with expert support from partner Marechal Electric.

Sustainability, in fact, forms a key part of Cables International’s strategic partnership with SBM Offshore, a global frontrunner in the supply and installation of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels and a pioneer in developing a sustainable and affordable energy source from the world’s oceans. Significant collaborations to date include the supply and installation of cables for the FPSO Almirante Tamandaré, Mero 4 and FPSO One Guyana.

A crucial factor in making the collaboration run smoothly has been Cables International’s flagship program, Cable Management Solutions. This service guarantees that a customer’s cables and wiring are carefully devised, exactingly installed, and meticulously overseen, ensuring that every system works at maximum efficiency from day one. The company’s team of experts offers support with every aspect of design, engineering, procurement, installation, and ongoing maintenance for all kinds of cable management systems, providing regular and detailed communication with customers throughout the entire process.

Through their continued focus on developing productive partnerships and anticipating customers’ needs, Cables International have earned their place at the head of the cable industry. With so many changes, developments, and innovations happening throughout the sector, however, they refuse to leave space for complacency. Look out for more exciting news from Cables International in the coming year.

www.cablesinternational.com

SBM Offshore

solution industry due to their repeatability. In addition to this, SBM Offshore has worked to seamlessly incorporate digital solutions into its offshore solutions, which allows its models to constantly improve their performance whilst also remaining continually optimized for the specific needs of its client’s operations. At present, SBM Offshore has completed the construction of two Fast4Ward hulls with more planned in the future.

In addition to this, SBM Offshore has its Ocean Infrastructure program which delivers value platforms that are safe and sustainable, whilst also creating a more affordable energy solution. This includes a fleet which has been made increasingly efficient by SBM Offshore to lower the carbon footprint of its solutions and produce a leading uptime and safety track record. Therefore, SBM Offshore leads the market with its leased FPS solutions and currently has multiple units in operation across the globe which continue to provide the company with a unique breadth of operations experience across the energy sector.

However, everything that SBM Offshore does is framed by climate change mitigation which can be seen throughout its operations with its strong commitments to net-zero by building facilities and infrastructure in a carbon-reduced way. A key way SBM Offshore does this is through its emissionZERO program which aims, as the name suggests, to

achieve near-zero emissions from its operations. To do this SBM Offshore has set targets in line with the net-zero emission of its key stakeholders and continues to develop products in an emissionreducing way. This is seen in its continued product developments which not only provide a platform for stakeholder engagement but uses the development of its FPSOs to show the energy industry what is possible when strict emission targets are put into place across such a global company. Its Fast4Ward programs are the foundation of this for SBM Offshore.

Furthermore, SBM Offshore remains committed to these carbon-neutral goals through its 3 key strategy pillars of environment, social and governance. As we have seen, in terms of the environment, SBM Offshore is continually investing in energy-efficient technologies whilst also working to bring environmentally friendly solutions to a global market. In addition, the company continues to work closely with its suppliers to encourage innovation and ensure that sustainable solutions encompass its supply chains at every level. We see this in its zero-emission solution for hydrocarbon production which, as the company moves towards the future, is hoped to continue to create value for all of its stakeholders as it leads the market with carbon-zero energy solutions.

Additionally, SBM Offshore fosters a safe and inclusive environment where the people are at the heart of its every function. The company aims to inspire and empower people by focusing on strict guidelines on workplace health, safety and security, community relations, human rights, diversity, and inclusion. It is this keen focus on its people that has earned SBM Offshore global recognition as a responsible corporate citizen. In turn, those who choose to use SMB Offshore as their energy solutions provider, know they are working with a company that has a reliable reputation as a reliable and supportive partner across international markets.

Throughout SBM Offshore there is a strong commitment to achieving high operation performance which focuses on a value-based approach. This approach prioritizes strong leadership, clear decision-making processes, effective communication between management and stakeholders, as well as strong ethics and

SBM Offshore

compliance. All of these factors are part of the company’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement which helps it achieve operational excellence and consistently high-quality solutions. As the company moves towards the future, it has continued to incorporate digitalization into its operations and governance to help it remain ahead of the curve. However, what remains the same about SBM Offshore is its central values of integrity, care, entrepreneurship, and ownership which can be seen throughout every single aspect of its operations.

As SBM Offshore looks towards the future its key focus is on its new-build FPSOs with oil production volumes of up to 250,000 barrels per day which previously was the focus of the Fast4Ward FPSO. The large conversion FPSO with an oil production volume of up to 150,00 barrels per day will rival traditional FPSO markets as it continues to convert oil tankers to FPSOs. Furthermore, SBM Offshore will continue to take a selective approach to market opportunities

with a key focus on the main FPSO markets in Brazil and Guyana where the majority of low breakeven oil-price prospects are concentrated. In addition, SBM Offshore continues to develop its business across the globe which hopes to see up to 35 FPSO projects reach a Final Investment Decision (FID) between 2021 and 2023.

Overall, SBM Offshore continues to strive to keep pushing the boundaries across the energy sector to produce solutions which respect the planet whilst also bringing essential energy infrastructure to coasts across the globe. What separated SMB Offshore from its competitors is it commitment to sharing its experience with the industry to continually deliver safe, sustainable, and affordable energy solutions from the oceans which can provide essential energy for many generations to come. We look forward to seeing how SBM Offshore continues to develop the offshore energy industry and continues to show the industry how crucial sustainability is in the energy sector.

EUROPE’S LARGEST VERTICAL FARM:

JONES FOOD COMPANY

Written by Carley Fallows

When you think of farming you probably picture fields or large greenhouses extending over miles using as much land space as possible. However, Jones Food Company (JFC) has been farming a little differently. JFC builds and operates some of the largest vertical farms in the world supplying huge quantities of fresh, local food 365 days a year to the people of the UK.

According to JFC food grown outdoors often requires extensive resources and the perfect climate to ensure crops can grow to their full potential. These can be costly and with British weather, you can never be quite sure whether it’s going to be raining or sunny from minute to minute. Therefore, the company has developed a vertical farming facility which reduces the need for extensive resources and adapts to each plant’s needs. The farming method also does not use the same chemicals which are often associated with field agriculture, so you know every bit of produce from the vertical farms is top-notch.

So how does ‘vertical farming’ work?

JFC’s facility in North Lincolnshire, JFC1, covers approximately 5000 square metres and can grow 150 tonnes of produce per year. Each facility has multiple vertical layers of stacked crops. To access each layer the facilities are fully automated taking advantage of state-of-the-art robotics and technology from its partner The Ocado Group to deliver high yields of crops in a compact vertical unit.

Crops at JFC facilities can be grown year-round to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of the farming industry. Traditional field agriculture

faces constantly changing climate conditions with temperature, rain, wind, and snow all affecting how crops can be grown. However, using the housed vertical facilities, JFC has removed all of these factors which could disrupt growth and can provide each crop with the perfect constant environment it needs to thrive. This leads to fresher produce which has a much longer shelf life – perfect for supplying to shops and businesses across the country.

For JFC’s facilities, they also focus on sustainability and utilise renewable energy to grow crops. This is facilitated through solar energy which provides roughly 15% of its power requirements. In addition, the vertical farms are set up to capture and recirculate water on a huge scale. Each litre captured is cleaned and reused for the crops. This reduces the water usage of the facility by 90% for each kilogram of produce grown.

JFC has an exciting new development in the works with its JFC2 Facility which once completed will be the largest and most advanced vertical farm in the world located in Gloucestershire. The facility is expected to cover 15,000 square metres and will produce herbs and salads. JFC2 will also operate with 100% renewable energy and will bring people across the UK and beyond fresh produce year-round.

For JFC it is trying to limit the food miles that many of the crops we eat in the UK undergo. By providing a high-yield, temperature-controlled and sustainable facility it can continue to provide leafy greens all year limiting the need for produce imports from overseas. By growing more food locally, JFC hopes to reduce food miles by up to 95% on certain crops.

As global temperatures continue to rise resulting in even more unstable environmental changes and weather phenomena, facilities like JFC’s vertical farms are going to be essential for the future. Using a lot less land space, cutting down on water usage and increasing their renewable energy production, JFC’s vertical farms are closing the much-needed gap in global markets and making essential produce available year-round.

www.jonesfoodcompany.co.uk/vertical-farming

Petronas Suriname E&P B.V. (Petronas Suriname) is a fully owned subsidiary of the international energy group Petronas, which encapsulates the global company’s operations in Suriname to increase energy potential and optimise the value of the energy industry. Petronas’ energy operations can be broken down into three core businesses: upstream, gas and downstream. These divisions span the company’s portfolio of energy solutions which covers oil and gas, renewable sources, advanced products, and adaptive solutions. Throughout every aspect of its global operations, Petronas has embedded a culture of duty and respect for the planet. This respect for the environment has been implemented firmly throughout its Petronas Suriname subsidiary as it works to bring continued economic development to the region, stable energy, and the development of renewable energy options.

For Petronas, Suriname is a key place for exploration as the country and its surrounding waters have already seen vast discoveries of oil and gas field potential in the region. Therefore, the development of Petronas to its Surinamese subsidiary was an easy decision to harness the potential of the region and continues to expand Petronas’ reach across the world. Consequently, Petronas already have a range of exploration blocks of which it either has full or split participating ownership of.

A crucial development for the company in recent months is the discovery of the Roystonea-1 exploration in the existing Block 52. The discovery is for oil in the block, located 185 kilometres off the country’s coast in a well at a depth of 904 metres. The oil potential was discovered after encountering several oil-bearing Campanian sandstone reservoir packages, which could provide the company with great oil resources. Further evaluation of the well’s resources is currently being conducted to determine the full extent of the discovery. The potential development could work in synergy with the existing Sloanea-1 discovery which was made in the same block in 2020 and could bring significant oil resources to the region.

Mohd Redhani Abdul Rahman, Vice President of Exploration at Petronas, highlights that “The success of Roystonea-1 is expected to drive further exploration for commercially viable hydrocarbon resources in the surrounding areas. Petronas will continue to work closely with the host authority Staatsoli and partners to unlock Suriname’s hydrocarbon potential. We look forward to implementing safe and successful future exploration programs together”. Rahman’s comments highlight the key role Petronas Suriname plays across the region by working with vital stakeholders and companies such as Staatsoli Maatschappij Suriname (Staatsoli), a key oil and gold company in the region, to deliver vital development and investment towards the country’s energy sector. Rahman’s comments also highlight the vital role hydrocarbon resources will play in serving energy demands as the world moves towards more sustainable energy options.

Block 52, in which the discovery was made, covers an area of 4,749sq km and lies in the prospective

Suriname-Guyana basin where Petronas Suriname is the central operator, with a 50% participating interest. However, Petronas’ operations in the region do not end there as the company also has a 100% participating interest in Block 48, as well as a 30% non-operating participating interest in the adjacent Block 53 where the company made the Baja-1 oil discovery in 2022. The continued involvement of Petronas Suriname in crucial development blocks off the coast of Suriname has highlighted its ongoing efforts towards ensuring energy security for the future as energy demands continue to increase at a rapid pace.

In December last year, Petronas Suriname signed a Production Sharing Contract with Staatsolie for the exploration of Blocks 63 and 64 located in the Guyana-Suriname Basin. The signing came during the Suriname Demerara Bid Round 2022-2023 earlier last year. Block 63 covers an area of 5,425 sq km and is at a water depth of 1,700m, whereas Block 64 is shallower at only 1,300m deep. Here, Petronas Suriname has a 100% participating interest in and is the operator of Block 63. Block 64, on the other hand, is operated by TotalEnergies who have a 40% participating share in the Block, with the remaining 60% split evenly between Petronas Suriname and QatarEnergy. This key exploration contract with key players across both Suriname’s energy industry and international energy industries highlights the vital role the country is playing in global economic development and energy potential.

Rahman, Vice President of Exploration for Petronas, highlights that “Securing these blocks is crucial to Petronas’ effort in unlocking Suriname’s vast resource potential in the basin. This underscores the aspiration to build our presence in the country and strengthen our international portfolio, especially in the Americas.” He continues, “We look forward to working alongside the host authority and our partners to achieve more significant milestones while ensuring secure affordable, and sustainable energy to the market”. Rahman’s comments exemplify exactly how Petronas continues to be a leading energy solution provider across the globe as it works to extend its reach across the globe by adding yet another vast region to its portfolio. By helping to establish Suriname in its own right as a vital oil and gas exploration site, Petronas Suriname

adds to the continued investment from companies across the globe into the region.

However, as Rahman notes, throughout every aspect of Petronas Suriname’s operations there is always a keen focus on sustainability, a value passed down throughout the Petronas network. Sustainability is such a key aspect of Petronas’ operations as they are working with finite resources so must be responsible with every aspect of its operations to bring vital development across the energy sector whilst limiting the damage done to the planet. The global Petronas is on a mission to be entirely net zero by 2050, and so this responsibility extends to the Suriname subsidiary to create value, whilst safeguarding the environment with environmental initiatives, supporting social impact

projects, and working closely with governmental agencies to make real change in the oil and gas sectors.

Ultimately, behind Petronas Suriname is a passion for the planet and its people, which is driven by a desire to create sustainable value across all of its sites of operation and exploration. Petronas Suriname has continued to play a vital role in the country’s energy industry, and thanks to its key contracts and projects with stakeholders, it looks set to continue to develop the energy industry in Suriname for many years to come. We look forward to seeing the outcome of the further evaluation of Block 52, and the role the company will play in bringing oil products to market whilst maintaining sustainability as its core focus.

Newmont Corporation is home to a vast portfolio of world-class assets, prospects and talent operating across multiple mining jurisdictions spanning the globe, from the Americas, Australia, and Africa. Newmont is a world-leading gold mining company, with many favourable operations also producing copper, silver, zinc, and lead across the globe. However, Newmont is focused on creating value throughout its operations by following strict safety standards, superior execution regulations and a leading level of technical proficiency that has established it as a leading player in the international mining sector.

Newmont began its operation focusing on the natural resources industry that mines gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc, lithium, uranium, coal, nickel, and various aggregates, as well as helping facilitate key developments in the oil and gas industry. However, today thanks to its continued development since it began publicly trading in 1925, Newmont now has a portfolio that is unmatched across the mining industry with more than half of the world’s Tier 1 assets, including many long-life operations, value-accretive projects, abundant exploration opportunities and world-class talent. This is why it is the only gold producer now listed on the S&P 500 Index. The company’s assets, prospects and people have allowed it to continue to expand its reach across the globe, as it continues to work to create value and opportunities for its shareholders, host communities and employees across every mining operation.

A central mining area for Newmont is in South America where its operations continue to develop the regions on both local and international scales through value-adding mining operations which support employment opportunities across the region. A key site for gold mining for Newmont is the Pueblo Viejo mine in the Dominican Republic. The mine operation is located 100km northwest of Santa Domingo and began construction in 2005, with commercial production beginning in 2013. The site is one of the largest gold assets in the world, however, it also produces silver and copper. The Pueblo Viejo Mine project is jointly owned by Barrick Gold Corporation and Newmont Corporation, with Newmont having a 40% ownership in the project. The site includes two open pits, a processing plant, and a storage facility which is operated by Barrick Gold Corporation.

The Pueblo Viejo Mine project has a 97% Dominican workforce as part of the jointly owned operation’s desire to ensure that all of its operations are creating value for the people that their mining projects affect. By employing a largely Dominican workforce, the companies are making the most of the expertise on the ground and providing those closest to the operations with economic development and growth through employment at the mine site and subsequent processing operations.

To make the Pueblo Viejo Mine project more sustainable the mine’s Quisqueya 1 Power Plant

Mining done right.

Since 2008, BGC Engineering has supported the Pueblo Viejo (PV) gold mine located in the Dominican Republic, northwest of the capital city, Santo Domingo. PV is operated by the Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation—a joint venture between Barrick (60%) and Newmont (40%).

BGC’s work on PV includes site investigations, feasibility studies, construction monitoring, and Engineer of Record services for a tailings impoundment that contains conventionally slurried tailings. More recently, we have begun site investigation for a new tailings impoundment to provide required storage for expanded reserves.

Our global experts serve the mining industry from exploration to closure, focusing on the safe and resilient design, construction and operation of mine tailings facilities and open pits. BGC is committed to “mining done right,” delivering projects that benefit our clients and their stakeholders financially, socially, and environmentally. In collaboration with our clients, we aim to develop unique and innovative solutions to often complex problems.

bgcengineering.ca

Newmont Corporation

was converted to natural gas from fuel oil. This conversion took place in 2020 as a measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 85%. This shift is just one way the mine site is hoping to continue to reduce its environmental impact because, for Newmont, operating in a way that respects the environment as much as possible whilst also using its operation to add value to the mined resources is crucial.

The mine operation at Pueblo Viejo announced just last year that the engineering design of the El Naranjo Tailing Storage Facility that operates within the mine operation will extend its life to 2040 and beyond. This continued development is expected to sustain gold production above 800 thousand ounces (Koz) per year (100% basis) going forward. The extension will require comprehensive engineering, environmental and community involvement, which is expected to be conducted over several years. The hope is that Pueblo Viejo will help to double its existing contributions to the Dominican Republic’s economy and continue to do so for many years to come.

Another key site of operation for Newmont is in Suriname at the Merian Mine. Newmont Suriname LLC is the fully owned subsidiary of the Newmont Goldcorp Corporation which operates the Merian Mine on behalf of Suriname Gold Project CV - a Suriname Limited partnership. Newmont Suriname owns a 75% interest in the limited partnership with Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V., Suriname’s state-owned oil company, which owns the remaining 35% interest. The Merian Mine is an open pit mine for gold which began construction in 2014. The mine has a mine life of 12-14 years and is committed to partnering with the Surinamese government, the local population, the Pamaka community and the Kawina community, to create value and improve lives through sustainable and responsible mining practices.

As part of Newmont Suriname’s keen commitment to the local community through the Merian Mine,

it established a Community Development Fund (CDF) in 2016 with the goal of regularly contributing to sustainable projects which will benefit the Pamaka community. These projects have included providing drinking water, electrical supply, and agricultural projects to develop the local regions towards success. Furthermore, Newmont Suriname is currently in deliberation with the local Kawina community who have been impacted by the Merian activities to find a way that this community can also reap key benefits from Newmont’s mining activities within its community. Consequently, Newmont is committed to continuing its close engagement with government and local community members to advance the development of the project in a manner that will generate sustainable economic and social benefits for people across Suriname.

A further significant development for the Newmont Corporation in South America is in the Yanacocha Mine located 800 kilometres northeast of Lima, Peru. The project invested more than $1 billion in environmental and social responsibility projects between 1993 and 2012 and remains committed to investing in the local community for many years to come. The Yanacocha Mine is South America’s largest gold mine which is situated between 3,500 and 4,100 meters above sea level and has development activities in four primary basins. The mine is wholly owned by Newmont and remains one of its largest mining operations in South America.

Yanachocha is a surface mine, which poured its first gold ore bar in 1993 and has an annual gold production of 270 Koz. However, whilst being Newmont’s largest gold mine operation it is keenly concerned with creating profitable production that generates sustainable developments and opportunity for the region. It plans to do this through its key guiding values of integrity, trust and respect which saw it establish the Asociación Los Andes de Cajamarca (ALAC) to promote sustainable development in the Cajamarca region. The activities of ALAC are focused primarily on three areas: entrepreneurial development, institutional capacity building and human capital development. Through its ALAC organisation, it can focus on bringing greater development across health infrastructures and services, its farming initiatives, and its nonprofit farming organisation FONCREAGRO, all with the

combined aim of bringing economic development on a local and regional level.

The final key operation of Newmont in South America is in Argentina at the Cerro Negro project. The mine complex sits 600 metres above sea level on the low Patagonian plains in the southern part of the country. The complex includes 3 high-grade underground operating mines including Eureka, Mariana Central and Mariana Norte. However, the complex has many sites of development including 2 underground deposits being developed (Emilia and San Marcos), and 5 other deposits in latestage evaluation which are hoping to expand the existing operations in Mariana’s complex and establish operations across the eastern district. The Newmont Cerro Negro complex is a key site of development for the company with a vast range of deposits currently being developed to continue to bring Newmont and the local community in the province of Santa Cruz continued economic development.

have established the vital role that the region

Always Beyond

plays in developing the mining industry towards continued global success. We can see from all of its operations across the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Peru and Argentina that the central focus for Newmont is to develop, support and develop the mining industry in South America whilst always prioritising the impact its operations will have on local communities. By working with the local communities at each respective mine site, Newmont ensures that its operations are always positively impacting the people and the environment. The company’s focus on opening a dialogue and implementing employment opportunities, alongside its implementation of strict regulations and certifications for its operations, has ensured that every aspect of its mining remains governed by national and local environmental standards. We look forward to seeing how Newmont continues to develop its global reach, and specifically how it will develop its South American operations over the coming years as it continues to be a world-leading gold company.

TDM Group

TDM Group is a leading company in engineering solutions in Latin America, with over 30 years of experience in mining and infrastructure projects. We specialize in the manufacture, supply and installation of geocells, geomembranes, geogrids and other geosynthetics through our consolidated distribution network in the region.

Our manufacturing plants located in Peru and Brazil are internationally certified, guaranteeing the quality of our products. Our highly trained technical staff provides support in project designs, catering to the specific needs of each customer.

We are committed to offering reliable and efficient solutions to our clients in Latin America and beyond.

www.grupotdm.com

As a leading manufacturing company that pioneers all of its operations with innovation, it is no surprise that JCB is a globally recognised brand playing a vital role in sculpting the modern world. JCB is trusted for its reliable machinery, and, thanks to this reputation, its products can be seen across project sites all over the world. However, more recently the company has been making vital developments towards sustainability as it works to meet global demands for decarbonisation. Therefore, with its legacy, reputation, and experience behind it, JCB is stepping into 2024 with its sights set on introducing renewable energy options across its machinery and equipment portfolio.

JCB found its origins in agricultural tipping trailers and has spent the last 79 years developing its manufacturing offerings of heavy machinery and equipment, and now is a globally recognised brand with 22 plants in operation across 4 continents. In addition to the plants, JCB has more than 750 dealers globally with roughly 11,000 employees in over 150 countries around the globe. Therefore, as the company approaches its 80th birthday next year, we simply can look back over all of the projects that JCB’s equipment and machinery have been a part of to see the vital role the company continues to play across the world.

Having established itself as a leading manufacturer in the world of construction, agriculture, waste handling and demolition, JCB is now focused on developing renewable energy machinery. The push towards sustainability starts all the way at the top with Lord Bamford, Chairman of JCB, who outlines that “I set the challenge that we should be making hydrogen engines for the construction industry and for agriculture. Two years later, we have hydrogen engines working in the kind of equipment that JCB makes. A solution that delivers power in the same way as conventional engines, but with none of the fossil fuels. We’re proving daily that hydrogen does work, that it’s clean, renewable, transportable fuel”.

Bamford’s call for zero-carbon alternatives has propelled the company’s mission to find ways to replace fossil fuels whilst still fuelling heavy machinery that can meet the same high-demand workloads of its carbon-emitting counterparts. This high demand payoff means that batteries are not the solution JCB were looking for as they can weigh too much, are costly, and then need the time and infrastructure to recharge. Therefore, the alternative green energy choice for JCB is hydrogen, and so JCB Power Systems has developed the first hydrogen motor in the industry. The hydrogen motor takes advantage of existing technology and adapts it to establish a new engine technology with readily available components. The motor will combust and deliver power in exactly the same way as a diesel engine but with zero emissions.

To make the most of this hydrogen engine development, JCB has made a Backhoe Loader with can do everything its diesel-powered equivalent

can do but is a lot less complicated than hydrogen fuel-cell technology and emits no steam from its tailpipe - so no carbon dioxide is released at the point of use. To support the Backhoe Loaders and future hydrogen-powered machinery, JCB has also developed a mobile hydrogen refuelling unit which allows for easy transportation of hydrogen on-site. This will increase the efficiency of its fuel delivery and continue to make the hydrogen-powered solutions a preferable choice over previous fossil fuel options. In 2023, the 50th JCB hydrogen combustion engine came off the production line and continues to move the company towards a sustainable future.

JCB has also been making waves in the electric equipment sector, and last year saw the company launch two articulated boom aerial work platforms which give its customers the choice of having fully electric or diesel-electric hybrid drivelines. JCB’s A45E is a fully electric option which produces zero emission whilst not compromising on performance. In addition, JCB has also expanded its equipment line further with the launch of a compact 403E, which is the first full electric wheel loader for the company. It boasts the largest standard battery pack in its class which matches the productivity seen by the popular 403 diesel model. The strong focus on

renewable and green energy sources shows the innovation that has allowed JCB to remain ahead of its competition across the globe. The company continues to strive for the best technologies, and with the help of its global network, it can achieve these and move the industry towards sustainable solutions.

A crucial aspect of JCB’s worldwide network is its subsidiary in India, where JCB began its joint venture in 1979. The now fully owned subsidiary of J.C Bamford Excavators has 5 state-of-the-art factories where it manufactures an array of the company’s world-class equipment for the domestic market in India, as well as for exports overseas. These exports are delivered to more than 124 countries worldwide, via a network of 60 dealers and 700 outlets and thanks to its 8,00 employees. The headquarters for JCB in India can be found in New Delhi where the company has its Ballabgarth Factory.

The Ballabgarth Factory is the world’s largest factory for Backhoe Loaders and also manufactures Skid Steer Loaders, Telehandlers, Diesel Generators and Diesel Engines. However, for India, a crucial

focus is ensuring local workers and companies are benefitting from the company’s operations. Therefore, JCB in India has close to 380 world-class Indian suppliers throughout its supply chains and manufacturing lines. This, along with a range of community initiatives, ensures that JCB’s operations in India are always looking to bring economic and infrastructural development to the region for the benefit of those who live there.

Overall, JCB is a brand that fosters innovation as it works to supply sustainable and efficient machinery to make projects a breeze for its customers whilst helping them to achieve carbon reduction in their projects. For JCB, the future of heavy machinery needs to be geared towards sustainability to keep up with the worldwide demands for carbonreduced options throughout every industry, but especially in industries such as construction which was previously very fossil fuel-dominated. We look forward to seeing how such a global company continues to lead the manufacturing industry and exemplify how focusing on sustainability is key to continued success.

Located in Louisiana, The Port of Lake Charles is a deepwater seaport along the Calcasieu Ship Channel which runs north of the US Gulf Coast. Encompassing roughly 203 square miles of prime channel-side real estate, the port is now the 12th busiest across the nation and annually handles over 56 million tons of breakbulk and bulk cargo travelling along the channel. Therefore, the Port of Lake Charles continues to play a pivotal role in developing the economic landscape of Louisiana through vital cargo shipment and handling facilities.

The Port of Lake Charles is responsible for managing the Calcasieu Ship Channel which runs inland 36 miles and extends out into the Gulf of Mexico a further 32 miles. This Ship Channel drives almost $40 billion of the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as it facilitates the shipment of cargo and materials across the Gulf Coast of America. Therefore, the Port of Lake Charles provides essential cargo and landlord services and today is regarded as the 14th busiest port district in the nation as ranked by the US Army Corps of Engineers based on tonnage.

The Port opened in 1926 following its authorization by Act 67 of the Louisiana Legislature just a few years earlier. The official title of the port upon opening is The Lake Charles Harbour and Terminal District, a title the port has kept to this day. However, since its origins the role of the port has continued to expand and now is annually responsible for helping the shipment of vital cargo such as forest material, aluminium ingots, grain, rice, petroleum and petroleum products, frac sand, and heavy lift project cargos. All of these cargos are handled by the port and delivered to the vital land logistical infrastructure across Louisiana.

The Port of Lake Charles is governed by a 7-member board of commissioners who are responsible for overseeing the 2 marine terminals and the 500 acres of property which make up the Lake Charles Harbour and Terminal District. Therefore, serving as the landlord to companies across the port property as well as various other leasable sites near the Calcasieu Ship Channel, the Port of Lake Charles plays an expansive and committed role in ensuring the development of the Louisiana region via the port’s services and land.

A key part of the Port of Lake Charles’ operation is in marine shipping. The port has developed a custom shipping solution which delivers big results for the shipping channel. This includes the City Dock Facility, where the majority of cargo operations take place. It includes 12 deep water berths, where cargo is offloaded or loaded. The berths have a projected depth of 35 feet (ft), with berth 8 having a depth of 40 ft which is used for bulk grain shipments. The facility also includes a 1.6 million square foot of covered storage for warehouse services. The City Dock Facility is located close to essential rail links

making it an ideal location to connect the port to the rest of the state and beyond.

The Port’s Bulk Terminal No.1 provides 7 acres of dry bulk terminals at the Rose Bluff Cutoff along the Calcasieu Ship Channel and can accommodate 2 vessels for loading and unloading. Furthermore, the terminal also operates 2 travelling ship loaders and 2 travelling clamshell bucket unloaders, these include a pet coke ship loader which can facilitate 3,200 short tons per hour, and a calcined coke ship loader with a capacity for 1,200 short tons per hour. Bulk Terminal No.1 provides vessel-tovessel, vessel-to-truck, or vessel-to-open storage solutions. Consequently, the terminal processes more than 3.1 million short tons of dry bulk material annually which includes petroleum coke, calcined coke, barite, rutile, and other dry bulk commodities. In addition, the port is home to Bulk Terminal No.4 which deals in aggregates and is leased to a private company. The Terminal has a 251ft dock face, which can extend to 355 ft with dolphins and has a depth of 35 ft to help move more than 1 million metric tons of imported aggregate annually.

The facilities at the port have been designed to deal in such high quantities of multiple different types of cargo including break-bulk, speciality, heavy-lift, and project cargo from industrial components to forest/lumber products. Whilst the port facilities help to optimise the efficiency of shipment across the terminals, the port is also in a great strategic location just 12 miles upriver from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, is close to rail lines (Port Rail) and only 2.5 miles from an interstate. Therefore, the shipment of cargo from the port across land logistical services is made so much easier. Therefore, it is no surprise that the port trades with more than 70 countries around the world thanks to its reputation as the port of choice along the shipping channel.

As the company looks towards the future it is set on developing facilities at the Port of Lake Charles to cope with the $46 billion worth of pre-planned projects set to take place along the ship channel. This will add a further 90.8 million tons of cargo to the existing 56 million tons already travelling through the channel and port every year. The port has already begun inputting new port docks which can accommodate loads of 1500-2000 pounds per square foot, which is almost 4 times the strength of its current berths. This is part of more than $287 million in capital projects which are planned over

the next decade to expand the port’s role and capacity as it continues to be a key player in world trade and speciality cargo.

Another key development for the future is the opening of Cameron LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) Facility which will handle the exports of coke by-products from local petroleum refining, imported lumber, exported bagged and bulk grain, wind energy equipment, project cargo, limestone, rutile, barite, rubber, and chemical products. As this development will take place on the leased land of the Lake Charles Harbour and Terminal District, it will continue to establish the port as a key player for international shipping of cargo.

Overall, the Port of Lake Charles is home to one of the most pivotal ports along the Calcasieu Ship Channel and is responsible for developing a significant part of the Louisiana economy thanks to cargo shipment both into and out of the country. With key developments set to take place over the coming years to meet the growing demand for shipments along the Calcasieu Ship Channel, we look forward to seeing how the port’s facilities continue to expand and meet the needs of the future as a leading port and cargo terminal.

Trinidad and Tobago Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (TTAIFA)

As a trusted provider of professional services for the insurance and financial sector, the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (TTAIFA) is committed to providing its members with continued education development across the finance and insurance advisory role for the benefit of the insurance industry and the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

TTAIFA is on a mission to enrich Trinidad and Tobago one family at a time by providing longterm growth in the financial and insurance industries. TTAIFA does this through its clear code of conduct based on its name to help maintain accountability and responsibility across the sector:

T – “Transforming Advisors into Professionals and Prospects into Advocates.”

T - “Technically Disseminating Information”

A – “Advocating Ethical and Best Practises”

I – “Inspiring and Informing”

F – “Focusing on Building Family Financial Strength”

A – “Alliances (with regulators, for the benefit of financial advisors and the industry”

By ensuring that these are the main focuses for advisors across the industry, TTAIFA remains a highflyer for the life insurance industry as it brings companies and education together to continually promote the vital role these organisations play in the everyday lives of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. By putting education and knowledge at the forefront, TTAIFA pioneers the sector with support, guidance, and advice to create a constant cycle of improvement and development.

The Association began as the Life Underwriters Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LUATT) which focused on life insurance salespersons across the region – a key focus the association still has today. LUATT hoped to facilitate salespersons who qualified for the prestigious million-dollar round table and needed to be affiliated with such an organisation, with its prime responsibility being to continue the education and professional development of insurance and financial advisors. However, following a few years of instability, the secretariat began part of the Joint Secretariat Corporation which facilitated the Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Institute, the Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies and the Academy of Insurance. Over the years LUATT attended government committees to make inputs on reform and other relative issues affecting the financial services sector.

In 2003, the official name was changed to TTAIFA which today is a recognised body with over 1300 members from across the major insurance and

financial service companies in Trinidad and Tobago. Part of TAIFA’s role is to offer a range of educational courses to bring greater education and training across the finance and insurance sectors. These courses include those to develop agency management, techniques for prospecting, ethics for the financial services professional, and essentials of business insurance - to name just a few. These courses also include a FSCP certification course and examinations and a range of MFA courses. By providing a range of readily available educational courses and programmes, TTAIFA continues to develop the industries and increase the level of excellence among insurance and financial services for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

In addition to formal educational courses, TTAIFA also put on a range of workshops and seminars to provide educational development in a different format for the sector. These seminars and workshops provide a more hands-on approach and focus on the community aspects of the industry through the networking potential these offer too.

The overarching role of TTAIFA is empowerment to help professionals of all ages through knowledge and experience to be productive and effective in their roles. In turn, by raising the level of education in these sectors across Trinidad and Tobago, TTAIFA is investing back into the sector for future

Trinidad

generations. Furthermore, by establishing Trinidad and Tobago’s Insurance and Financial advisors as highly trained, it brings greater investment potential into the region and many stakeholders can see the crucial role these people play in keeping the economy running smoothly.

Thanks to this reputation for excellence across education the insurance and finance industry, TTAIFA is now working with 5 of the leading insurance companies across the region. The partnership with these companies allows them to take advantage of the educational potential of the TTAIFA to encourage greater agency and business practice across their operations. These practices bring greater revenue and encourage other key players in the industry to participate in the education programs to see the same results. Consequently, TTAIFA continues to grow its reputation as the leading educational provider for these industries across the region.

Overall, TTAIFA plays a leading role in ensuring the insurance and financial advisory industry of Trinidad and Tobago remains ahead of its competitors. With a key focus on education, the Association provides its members with vital courses, programs, workshops, and seminars to keep knowledge and success at the forefront of its every operation. We look forward to seeing how TTAIFA makes waves in the Insurance and Finance advice market over the coming years as it continues to promote economic success through education.

THE WORLD’S LARGEST SALT FLAT OR MIRROR LAKE?

Written by Carley Fallows

Located in the Daniel Campos Province in Southwest Bolivia is one of South America’s most interesting phenomena in the form of the world’s largest salt flat. The phenomena can be located near the crest of the Andes 3,656 metres above sea level and covers 10,000 square kilometres. The flat was formed thousands of years ago following the evaporation of several prehistoric lakes which left behind an expansive salt flat.

The salt flat’s structure is made of layers of salt which has been sandwiched between sedimentary deposits. These layers in some places are 10 metres thick and the area is expected to have roughly 10 billion tonnes of salt across it. The vast white expanse of the salt flat brings tourists from all around to see the miles of white before them. During the snow season, you can travel into the salt flat and experience the flat nothingness around you.

Sources: www.salardeuyuni.com/info/ www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/ how-to-see-salar-de-uyuni-salt-flats-bolivia

However, the region sees more tourists during the rainy season when the flat is covered in a thin layer of water. The water acts as a giant reflective surface, turning the flat into a mirrored lake. The reflective lake has seen tourists take some breathtaking images where you cannot distinguish where the sky ends and the land begins. Although, if planning to travel to see the salt flat be warned that accessing it during the rainy season can be difficult as it is one of the most challenging landscapes in the region.

Aside from its picturesque quality, the salt flat is known to cover a rich lithium reserve below it. The reserves are said to cover 70% of the world’s lithium which is being increasingly mined as the world moves towards renewable energy. Lithium plays a big part in lithium-ion batteries which are used in electric vehicles, laptops, and mobile phones. Therefore, despite its picturesque quality, the region is also a central focus for mining development to access this vital resource for the global push towards a green future.

Whilst people love to travel and take images of natural phenomena that the mirror-like flat presents, there are many legends surrounding the formation of the flats. If you ask locals you are likely to be told that the mountains surrounding the salt flat were once giant people and the mountain goddess Yana Polloa was involved with both Thunupa and Q’osqo. When Yana Polloa became pregnant the two male volcanoes fought over who the father of the baby was. The legend says that Yana sent her baby away

to protect its safety. However, she worried that it would not survive alone, so in an attempt to provide for her baby, she is thought to have flooded the plain between the mountains with milk which would sustain her baby. According to this legend, the milk eventually turned to salt which left behind the phenomena of the Salar de Uyuni.

However, some locals tell a slightly different story, that according to Aymaran legend, the mountains were once people and Tunupa and Kusku were a married couple. However, the legend outlines that Kusku deserted his wife for Kusina, leaving his wife Tunupa heartbroken. The salt flat in the said to have formed from her tears flooding the plain.

Overall, whether you heading to the salt flat to marvel at its size or to make your own mind up about the legend behind its formations, you are sure to leave with a great picture and new respect for the landscape.

As the leading gold producer in Africa, the mineral industry in Ghana is vast and profitable, with a whole host of critical metal and mineral reserves naturally occurring across the country. Therefore, a regulatory body was established by the government to ensure that this natural resource potential brings vital economic development to the region. With the sole responsibility of developing and coordinating the mineral sector across Ghana, The Minerals Commission of Ghana takes great pride in implementing policies and regulations to bring continued prosperity to the people of Ghana and establish it as a key player in mineral trade on a global scale.

The Mineral Commission of Ghana was established as a government agency under the Minerals Commission, which gave the commission legal backing to act as a regulatory and management body for the utilization of Ghana’s miner’s resources and establish any policies relating to the mining of these minerals. The commission aims to foster an efficient and effective regulation and management system developed through knowledge which recognises and establishes the means for mining investments to bring joint prosperity for both investors and the country. The goal of the commission is to make Ghana the leading destination of mining sector investment in Africa as it works to establish an atmosphere where mining companies, investors, stakeholders, and local businesses all mutually benefit to bring continued investment and support the economy of Ghana for the future.

Before the establishment of the commission, there were two governmental agencies which were working to develop and promote the industries for specific minerals in Ghana. These agencies were the Aluminium Industries Commission (AIC) for Bauxite and the Integrated Iron and Steel Commission (IISC) for iron ore. However, the maintenance of two separate agencies with similar mandates posed some challenges and concerns over budgetary constraints and scarce human resources. Therefore, a single united body was established by the government to develop and coordinate the mineral sector all under one roof. The new company, which we today know as The Minerals Commission of Ghana, was then made responsible for coordinating mineral sector policy and monitoring its implementation across all mineral types. This greatly reduced the division of resources and promoted a well-established governing body better suited to manage key investments into the sector for the country.

Today the commission is overseen by a board of 9 members, with the secretariat headed by the Chief Executive Officer. The secretariat is made up of 3 main divisions which oversee the Commission’s operations. These divisions are support services, promotion and development, and inspection and compliance. The commission oversees the vast resources across the country, which has 6 mineralisation belts including the KibiWinneba, Shanti, Sewfi-Bekwai, Bui, Bole-Nangodi and Wa-Lawra. Between these belts are a range of basins including Birim, Kumsai (Asankrangwa Belt),

Sunyani and Maluwe. This vast resource potential makes Ghana the preferred destination for mineral mining, and so the Commission’s divisions work across all of these belts and basins to oversee mineral operations to ensure continued economic development.

The commission’s role is vast, as we have seen with the expansive mineral potential across the country. However, its overarching mission is to bring continued prosperity to Ghana by investing revenue generated from mineral sales back into the Ghanaian economy. To do this the commission work with stakeholders and government agencies to formulate recommendations for national policy regarding the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources with special reference to establish national priorities. Furthermore, the Commission continues to monitor the implementation of these policies throughout all bodies operating within and alongside the country’s mineral industry.

Just last year, The Minerals Commission of Ghana announced the implementation of the newest edition of its procurement list which now has 50 items on the provisions of goods and services. In an announcement by the CEO of the Mineral Commission, Mr. Martin Kawaku Ayisis, outlined how the procurement list’s regulatory purpose is to promote job creation using local expertise, goods, and services throughout the country’s mining industry. The list is part of the Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulation 2020. Part of this legislation requires the commission to provide a public local procurement list which stipulates the goods and services with Ghanaian content which are to be procured in the country.

One of the purposes of the regulations and procurement list ensure continued economic benefits for the country. This means all mining companies are expected to ensure that a minimum of 60% of their financial services including revenue from sales are submitted to local banks. In a similar way, regulations are in place to ensure that 60% of all insurance services which also require placements are to be made with insurance companies which

are owned exclusively by Ghanaians. This regulation ensures that banks and insurance companies are keeping a large amount of money from mineral mining within the country.

This commitment to keeping the economic impact of the mineral industry benefitting Ghana is crucial as a whole range of new mines are set to come into commission, and existing ones will continue to expand. New projects expected to begin are with Newmont Ghana Gold Limited and the US$850 million investment in the Ahafo North Gold mine project, the US$500 million gold project currently being undertaken by Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, a $200million gold mine in the upper west region, and a $125 million lithium project in Ewoya. The planned projects are set to be roughly US$1.7 billion of investment to Ghana. It is these crucial investments that will bring sustained economic development

to the region, as the Commission expects these investments to support the growth of the economy and boost local participation.

Overall, The Mineral Commission of Ghana is focused on ensuring that the mineral resources of the country are constantly working to benefit the people of Ghana. As a governing body, it has been vastly successful in regulating and overseeing the mineral industry, which in turn has brought several large investment opportunities to the industry. With over a billion in investment announced just last year, the Commission continues to solidify Ghana’s place as a vital mineral and mining sector not just in Africa but across the globe. As a key area that already benefits from mineral resource potential, a stable regulatory environment, and a favourable fiscal scheme; the Commission’s work continues to make Ghana a hub for minerals.

As the leading supplier of water-related equipment across the East African region, Davis and Shirtliff is committed to playing a vital role across the industry by offering a comprehensive and competitive product range. The company is focused on pioneering the industry with unrivalled technical and service support to ensure that every customer is met with only the best for all their water-related activity needs. However, for the company, a central focus is on community development, and helping ensure that those across the East African region have vital access to water-related equipment and resources, as well as sustainable solutions, to make every day a little easier.

Davis and Shirtliff was founded in 1946 with the goal of distributing high-quality equipment from industry-leading companies across the region. However, over the years it has developed its own manufacturing and assembly line of products to allow it to distribute its own products alongside those from leading manufacturers from around the world. Therefore, the company continues to put a key focus on infrastructure investment to allow it to expand its steady stream of distribution throughout the east of Africa and across international markets.

To facilitate this distribution, Davis and Shirtliff have roughly 900 highly trained employees across its operation. In Nairobi, the headquarters for Davis and Shirtliff provides 10,000 square metres of warehousing, manufacturing, and training and administration facilities. It is from here that the company ships production across the region and beyond via its own fleet of trucks. The in-house nature of its storage, manufacturing, training and shipping operations allows Davis and Shirtliff to ensure the quality of product and service remains extremely high.

In terms of products, Davis and Shirtliff’s business activities can be broken down into four central product sectors which are water pumps, water treatment, swimming pools and renewable energy products. Davis and Shirtliff provide a range of pumps including its own range Dayliff, and others including Grundfos, Davey, DAB and Rovatti Pompe. In addition to regular water pumps, the company also offers a range of borehole pumps and general machinery. This machinery includes a range of generators and engines, as well as accessories such as trimmers, mowers, and induction motors. For water treatment, Davis and Shirtliff provide a range of domestic treatment, reverse osmosis, and UV water treatment plants, alongside blowers, filters, softeners, chemicals, and water treatment media. Water pumps and treatment cover a wide range of Davis and Shirtliff’s manufacturing and distribution to help people across the region gain vital and clean access to water.

The company then also works to provide a range of swimming pool essentials such as filters, pumps, chemicals, chlorinators, accessories, spas, saunas, and fountain nozzles. However, one of the most interesting parts of Davis and Shirtliff’s operations

is to provide renewable energy products. These include solar solutions such as solar panels and their accompanying support structure, solar water heaters, inverters, backup systems, solar pumps, digital solutions, energy storage systems and controls. To provide vital products and structures to facilitate renewable energy solutions, Davis and Shirtliff is both supporting the global movement towards carbon reduction, whilst also implementing vital infrastructure to support continued sustainable power generation for years to come. This is vital in remote areas where water infrastructure may not be as developed, to provide households, businesses, and local communities with the vital products to access water and maintain the water supply for future generations.

This focus on renewable energy highlights a vital part of Davis and Shirtliff’s purpose to give back to local communities. The community aspect of Davis and Shirtliff has been present since the company’s very beginning in 1946. To ensure giving back to the community remains a crucial part of Davis and Shirtliff’s operations it has launched the #ImprovingLives initiative which is helping to solve some of the most pressing challenges and unlock the potential of the communities through sustainable implementation. Davis and Shirtliff is

focused on corporate strategies and interventions using a multi-sectional approach which is designed to end poverty, inequality, climate change and environmental degradation. Currently, there have been 1,066,248 beneficiaries from the initiative from across 6 countries and 545 projects.

In January this year, Davis and Shirtliff worked with The Upper Manza Community Based Organisation to help bring water and sanitation facilities to over 10,000 residents in Machakos County. The Upper Manza Community Based Organisation currently runs two high-yielding boreholes in the area to meet the existing demand of the community. However, the region has faced an increased rate for power over recent months. Therefore, bills for local residents have been extraordinarily high, and this has affected the running costs of the existing pumps and the operations of the organisation. This price increase in late 2023, threatened to interrupt the organisation’s project as it could not cover the costs. Consequently, Davis and Shirtliff’s initiative has implemented a 7.5-kilowatt borehole with the Upper Manza Community Based Organisation to help lower its operations costs and

guarantee a constant and efficient water supply for the community. This borehole highlights the firm commitment by Davis and Shirtliff to implement vital resources and infrastructure across the region and ensure that 10,00 residents will now have reliable access to water resources.

For Davis and Shirtliff it has led the industry for over 75 years as a vital supplier of water-related equipment which is delivering vital products throughout Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia. This equipment and product line ensures that reliable access to water supplies is made more readily available for more communities. However, it seems the heart of Davis and Shirtliff is its commitment to giving back and supporting local organisations to ensure that people across Eastern Africa benefit from its operations and product lines. We look forward to seeing how Davis and Shirtliff continue to expand its distribution network and product line offerings as it continues to play a vital role as a supplier of vital water-related equipment across the continent.

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)

The aviation industry is such a vast sector which has a significant impact on a region’s economic development on both a commercial and industrial level. Therefore, having a governing body which focuses on ensuring this industry runs smoothly, safely, and efficiently is crucial to bringing continued economic development to regions. Consequently, in Tanzania, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) is working to ensure the safety, security, and regularity of civil aviation across the country through its effective leadership, management, and safeguarding operations.

Established as a corporate body under the Civil Aviation Act Cap 80 (R.E. 2006), TCAA is a semiautonomous public institution responsible for overseeing the aviation industry in the United Republic of Tanzania. The Act mandates that TCAA will provide safety, security, and economic oversight of Tanzania’s civil aviation industry. For TCAA its role can be broken down into three focused categories: air transport services, aeronautical airport services and air navigation services. These key areas allow the authority to maintain the existing aviation infrastructure, and work to propel the industry towards excellence in both Africa and beyond.

TCAA is governed by a 7-member board of directors, which includes 6 non-executive members and the Director General of the Authority. The president of the board appoints the chairman, whilst the vice-chairman and other directors are appointed by the Minister responsible for aviation. However, to make the board more efficient it has 4 committees under its operations. These committees include the executive committee, the human resources and administration committee, the audit and finance committee, and the technical committee. All committees are responsible for undertaking an in-depth analysis of any issues before they are referred to the board with recommendations.

For air navigation, TCAA is responsible for the safety, regularity, and efficiency of air navigation. This includes the AIM publication which is designed by the Authority to provide all the aeronautical information necessary to ensure the safety, regularity, and efficiency of air navigations for the entire territory of Tanzania and the Airspace over the high seas encompassed by the Dar es Salaam Flight Information Region (FIR). In addition, to fly into or across the airspace of Tanzania, TCAA provides short-term licensing which is essential for all foreign registered aircraft wishing to do so.

TCAA also issues licenses under the Civil Aviation (Personnel Licensing) Regulations to flight crews, remote pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers, flight operations officers and cabin crew members. These licenses maintain the security and regulation of personnel travelling through the airspace and airports. In addition, TCAA is mandated to license all services in the country as part of its Air Service License (ASL) operations.

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)

Inside Tanzania’s airport, TCAA are responsible for airside airport operations, ground handling, in-flight catering, and aviation fuelling. Therefore, the all-encompassing role that TCAA plays across the country’s aviation industry has marked it as a crucial authority which is keeping both Tanzanian and African commercial aviation moving seamlessly. This is so crucial as the economic impact of commercial air transportation brings sustained development for the country, and so maintaining such high standards is critically important to ensure a continued customer base for Tanzania’s aviation industry.

However, the aviation industry in Tanzania extends back to 1929 in East Africa before independence. Aviation activities began in the region by Florence Wilson in Kenya who established Wilson Airways for charter services and later scheduled airmail services between Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala. However, following the outbreak of the World War in 1939, all aircraft were taken by the

Air Force to join the fight. Following the war, East African Airways Corporation (EAAC) was made responsible for all air transport across the region from 1945 under the British colonial empire. Starting in Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Morogoro and many other locations across the region, EAAC continued to grow the aviation industry, adding further aviation routes across Africa, Europe, and the Far East. By this point, the aviation industry in West Africa had become part of a global network which can still be seen throughout the region’s industry today.

A crucial turning point for the region’s aviation industry came when the East African states gained their independence from British rule. This caused significant changes in the civil aviation sector, with the creation of The East African Common Services Organization, a regional independent body. Over the years all East African countries began to establish their own civil aviation bodies, which saw Air Tanzania Corporation (ATC) established to oversee the commercial transport of Tanzania. ATC makes up the foundations of what TCAA is today.

Looking towards the future, it has recently been announced that TCAA has entrusted Indra, a leading ATM and CNS system provider, to enhance the aviation safety and sustainability of Tanzania’s civil aviation industry and its role across the continent. Indra will implement an advanced aeronautical information management (AMI) system. The system is one of the most advanced in existence and will provide Tanzania’s airlines and controllers with reliable updates and high-quality aeronautical data enabling TCAA to plan and manage flights more efficiently. This movement towards advanced digital innovation with Indra highlights the ever-growing and innovative role that TCAA continues to play across the commercial aviation sector.

As we have seen, TCAA’s commitment to developing the sector through the promotion and efficiency of civil aviation continues to position it as a leading authority across Eastern Africa. With a range of operations designed to ensure the safety, security and regularity of civil aviation, Tanzania continues to propel the country’s civil aviation system towards excellence, marking it as a vital aviation district in Africa and beyond.

The proud guardian of Sudan’s substantial gold resources, Ariab Mining Company Ltd is targeting portfolio diversification in conjunction with international investors.

As the mineral-rich republic’s leading operator in gold exploration and exploitation, the ambitious company is seeking to dig deeper and unlock additional value in several existing mines and highly prospective exploration tenements.

With the goal of achieving long-term value that is strategic, significant, and sustainable, the state-owned firm is on a quest to increase technology acquisition to develop a world-class project pipeline. The forward-thinking enterprise is adopting winning strategies, transforming operational performance and delivering step-change improvements throughout the value chain – from strategy to capital productivity and to developing skills in local communities. With Sudan introducing investment laws that match international standards, now is the ideal time for intelligent investors to bring knowledge and technology to achieve lucrative rewards.