13 minute read
Lesedi
CHAMPIONING ENERGY INTEGRATION
At the forefront of energy facility solutions, Lesedi’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects help develop plants across Africa and maximise energy advancement. We speak to Business Development Executive, Shane Pereira, about the company’s services and sustainable edge
Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Jordan Levey
Energy is the key to the future.
At present, the world is recognising the critical need for smarter energy practices to increase efficiency to maximise yield, and within the industry, there are multiple players facilitating this.
Lesedi is one such company. Originally evolved from Intens Engineering, founded in the 1980s, Lesedi has since diversified into a major engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, having successfully completed numerous key projects in the nuclear field, as well as in the company’s three major markets: industrial power generation, mining, and oil and gas.
“There is a lot of opportunity in the energy industry at the moment,” begins Shane Pereira, Business Development Executive (BDE) at Lesedi. “This is due to the embedded generation of hybrid energy project opportunities available, as well as
NTP Products AS operates in several market segments and supplies insulators in ceramic, glass, epoxy-resin and composite materials for low, medium and high voltage applications worldwide. We also supply warning spheres for overhead power lines and other utility products on demand.
ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS
We have developed insulators for environmental solutions, which are critical components in such installations. Air pollution is a huge global problem and the demand for these products is increasing. It is our ambition to grow even more globally and become one of the leading manufacturers within this field of environmental products. Together with our existing and new customers, we will build lasting relations.
NTP Products AS
Market Director: Rune Johannessen
E-mail: rj@ntp-as.no / sales@ntp-as.no Phone: +47 915 83 015
the nature of load-shedding in South Africa (SA), including the reduction and interruption of the electricity supply to ease the load on energy generation plants and avoid national shortages.”
With its head office in Cape Town, and other offices including Centurion (Gauteng) in Johannesburg, Lesedi is made up of approximately 330 employees dedicated to clients across the continent, and works with major players in the energy industry, as well as independent power producers (IPPs).
Eskom, the SA government-owned national power utility and primary power generator, is one of Lesedi’s most significant long-standing clients, and the company undertakes major contracts with Eskom to carry out modifications on existing plants and increase their performance and efficiency.
“We are providing new solutions in the sector on multiple sides, whether that is for state-owned entities like Eskom, or in the private sector where
AFRICA OUTLOOK: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ENTRANCE INTO LESEDI AND YOUR INTEREST IN THE FIELD?
SHANE PEREIRA, BDE: “I have been with Lesedi for 16 years, and my initial interest in the energy industry stemmed from my father, who had a keen interest in the nuclear environment. When the opportunity with Lesedi presented itself, I joined as a Marketing Analyst. “At university, I had undertaken a business science degree, and from there I developed a background in business marketing and marketing strategy, and so I joined Lesedi to look after the company’s communications portfolio. I grew with the company, taking on various roles as the portfolio diversified, including corporate social investment, and all topics related to that, such as supply, skills development and how all of this impacts commercial strategy. “My personal interest in the energy landscape and spheres of energy diversification besides nuclear relates directly to the company’s activities; we have built some open-cycle gas turbine projects for utility companies in SA, thermal power stations, undertaken projects in the oil and gas and mining markets, and taken on complex engineering projects in the sector. My interest has been continuous since I first joined the company. “A key focus area of mine is also partnerships, stakeholder relations, managing relationships, and cultural diversity.” we have projects under development,” Pereira continues. “These range from waste-to-energy to biomass projects and hybrid systems for private clients, such as a combination of solar, batteries, and diesel.
“It is an exciting landscape when it comes to opportunities, but at the same time the market is immature and has a lot of room to develop, which means that there is a lot to navigate in the industry.”
HYBRID SOLUTIONS
Lesedi’s roots originally stem from the nuclear energy field, however the homegrown South African company has adapted and evolved to reflect its purpose and vision for the future. In this sense, Lesedi is on a journey of transformation, and has changed its company definition from ‘nuclear services’ to ‘power generation,
ABOUT NTP AND THE SERVICES WE OFFER:
• NTP Products manufacture and supply insulators for environmental solutions and the energy industry.
• We are located in Fredrikstad Norway with a good infrastructure, well located for transportation of our products to various destinations by sea, land or air transport.
• Since establishment in 1916, the company has developed to its current position as one of the leading suppliers of technical ceramics.
• Our customers have shown us trust that has contributed to the development of NTP
Products.
• We are a leading Norwegian supplier with a substantial and high export share.
• Our strengths are competence, product range, quality and adaptability.
• The combination of our leading-edge competence and motivated co-workers ensures quality in our services and products.
• Our insulators constitute the backbone in all high-voltage systems. The society of today, and tomorrow, is increasingly more dependent on a stable and secure electricity supply.
• Our Quality Management System is ISO 9001.
• We believe quality is the ongoing process of building and sustaining relationships by assessing, anticipating and fulfilling stated and implied needs.
• This philosophy is applied in all steps in our process, from how we respond to requests, to how we follow up our customers.
• The company’s long experience and leadingedge competence, and positive references, assures a positive contribution to our customer’s profitability.
• NTP Products operates in several market segments and supplies insulators low, medium and high voltage applications worldwide.
• Our customers shall select us as their preferred supplier and flexible co-operating partner.
– SHANE PEREIRA, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE, LESEDI
mining, oil and gas’ to reflect its extended offering. Nevertheless, it has kept nuclear intertwined as a key part of this.
“50 percent of our business is in the industrial power generation sector,” Pereira explains. “In terms of our products, we specialise in bringing forward any particular technology that we feel is appropriate for a specific client, and we have very strong relationships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) locally and abroad. This comes in useful to provide clients with suitable products and solutions. Compliance is key to us, as is remaining competitive.”
When it comes to the market, Lesedi operates in the power generation sector. This includes modifications, upgrades and maintenance services in the nuclear market in Africa and internationally. The company also delivers its services abroad, such as valve and pump fitting and maintenance, and refuelling onsite.
An example of this is Lesedi’s American projects. Across the US, the company has undertaken over 75 interventions since 2006 by sending teams abroad to get involved in maintenance activities on around 15 different nuclear stations.
“We have done similar work in Brazil, Spain, China, and the UK on the services side,” Pereira continues. “In the other power generation areas, gas-to-power is another market of ours, as is thermal, and renewables including hybrid systems – solar, wind, batteries, biomass, waste-to-energy. These consist of building bespoke energy projects as an EPC contractor.”
Waco Modular
Arguably the strongest benefit of using modular buildings is the immediacy of the solution. In July 2020 Waco Modular Cape Town and Lesedi contracted to the delivery of over 1300m2 of offices, with supporting ablutions and kitchens, to be installed at Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. The offices had to meet Eskom’s stringent health and safety requirements and were required as the base for the Eskom contractors managing the nuclear plant maintenance.
There were two time sensitive deadlines. The first was the delivery of 32 EzeeSpace fully configured modular units by December 2020. The second deadline was handover of the remaining 44 units by February 2021. EzeeSpace modular units had been proposed because of the speed of fabrication as well as providing the optimum in flexibility and scalability. Work began immediately at Waco’s Elandsfontein facility, and the first order of units were fabricated and assembled in record time. The units were then transported to the site and installed ahead of deadline. The remaining 44 units followed the same successful process, again being handed over, ready for use, ahead of time.
EzeeSpace is a world-class space solution that is leading the modular revolution. The versatile and scalable units can be configured to meet a client’s current, and future, space requirements. EzeeSpace has the capability of being a double storey building, reducing the required on-site footprint. The higher than average 2.53m ceiling height delivers a spacious and comfortable interior. Built to withstand harsh African climatic conditions, EzeeSpace Modular units are durable. The steel exoskeleton ensures a robust structure with a rigid floor. The Chromadek walls are fully insulated with built-in gutters and downpipes to weather any storm and prevent leaks. Under normal conditions, there is very little to no maintenance required. When you combine the immediacy of modular with the added advantages of EzeeSpace you have a quality, cost effective space solution.
While EzeeSpace is the premium modular product, Waco Modular also delivers a range of alternative building technologies including Cabins, Light Steel Frame, Site Builds and Converted Container Solutions. The Company is a division of Waco International - a focused equipment rental and industrial services business with operations in South Africa, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The Group’s expertise extends to Formwork and Scaffolding, Portable Sanitation and Hygiene and Powered Access.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENERGY EFFORTS
Lesedi’s activities in the mining sector typically surround the integration of solutions to reduce emissions, for example, within South Africa’s platinum mining industry. Emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are two kinds that the company aims to limit to lower the sector’s environmental impact.
“Another aspect of our business is technology integration,” Pereira says. “Lesedi carries this out for existing clients on existing facilities with the aim to improve performance. In Mozambique for example, we undertook a project for Mozal Aluminium, where we upgraded their compressed air energy storage expansion.
“We also get involved with integrating solar to improve the performance
LESEDI – SERVICES AT A GLANCE
PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
• Lesedi conforms to the PMI’s 10 knowledge areas of the five project management processes of initiating, planning, executing, closing, and monitoring and controlling, as well as a full project management function.
BESPOKE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS:
• Engineering is at the core of Lesedi’s capabilities and forms the major foundation of the business. Lesedi’s experienced design teams produce designs from concept/feasibility studies through to full detail design packages for greenfield or plant modification projects.
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE:
• Lesedi supports clients by generating comprehensive operating and maintenance manuals and providing operations and management services which assist clients to protect vital and valuable infrastructure assets.
AMS
AMS is a leader in the panel Energy & Utilities and engineering industry - supplying products and services, designed, engineered and manufactured by a diverse team of talented employees.
AMS is a proud manufacturer of Siemens Sivacon S4 & S8 Low Voltage Assemblies as well as Siemens Simoprime Medium Voltage Assemblies. As a licensed partner we design, manufacture & assemble all assemblies, type tested in accordance with IEC 61439-2 & IEC 62271 200.
We specialise in the design, manufacture, assembly, and testing of all of our boards.
www.ams-za.co.za
of clients when it comes to emission reduction.”
In the oil and gas sector, Lesedi’s activities centre around tank refurbishment projects for clients across the African continent, and the company has plans to build strategic fuel assets such as tank storage facilities in South Africa and alternative regions.
“Furthermore, we have biomass projects in Ghana, oil and gas operations in Angola and Mozambique, and in Uganda we are looking at nuclear-related operations,” Pereira explains. “It is quite a diversified business for sure. Lesedi undertakes various operations across different markets. We are specialists in EPC with our construction often being subcontracted or through one of our many partners.”
STANDOUT SUCCESS
Lesedi’s environmental efforts are not limited to external clients. Within
– SHANE PEREIRA, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE, LESEDI
the company itself, sustainability is a core pillar of Lesedi’s mission and for Pereira, this is one of the many factors that makes Lesedi stand out from its competition in the energy industry.
“A key thing for Lesedi is sustainability. We are in it for the long haul, and this is also needed for our clients,” Pereira tells us. “Often, we are not the cheapest option in the market, and that is because we are providing a solution that we feel is sustainable, so I think that the level of quality that we put in and our ability to honour the client for the long term is what differentiates us.”
As an integrator, Lesedi is able to carry out the engineering and procurement of equipment to a greater standard than many alternative options in the market.
“The fact that we have grown out of the nuclear business has given us a greater appreciation for doing things right – I think that’s key for us,” Pereira continues. “Whatever we commit to, we want to get it right the first time. We have a real appreciation for EPC.”
Moving ahead, Lesedi has some serious ambitions to increase its resource pool, including a successful skills academy based in Cape Town that doubled in size during COVID19 when it came to artisan training and training courses in different disciplines, including mechanical fitting, boiler making, hydraulics, and welding.
“We are also looking at some engineering resources for the future by developing a pipeline of engineering graduates that we are feeding into our system in resource pools,” Pereira concludes.
Lesedi’s success in the energy sector can be seen in both the company’s organic growth, its expansion into other markets, and the establishment of additional locations. On top of this, 2022 is seeing Lesedi perform its highest revenue year in the history of the company, bringing its innovative and sustainable energy solutions to the wider African continent and beyond.
Tel: +27 21 525 1300 info@lesedins.co.za www.lesedins.co.za
