EGOLI GAS
Gas on Tap: bringing civilisation to the energy sector
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NATURAL Alternative The
Egoli Gas’ championing of piped natural gas is slowly etching its way into South African consciousness, with the benefits of its product already being seen in Johannesburg Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Eddie Clinton
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s a leading operator in South Africa’s energy and gas sector, Egoli Gas continues to satisfy the needs of its diverse customer range as a result of rapid response, flexible operations, close customer collaboration, and improved project turnaround times. On a consistent growth path since an inception which can be traced back to 1892, the Company’s most recent phase of evolution has incorporated a host of significant projects, capital investments and internal refinements; led most recently by the completion of the 8.2 kilometre pipeline in western Johannesburg to the cost of R80 million. “The project had a profound impact on the temporal employment around Johannesburg from the time it was initiated up to commissioning,” enthuses the Company’s Managing Director, Monde Tyusha. “Then it contributed to the reduction of carbon footprint of our customers. “A good measure of performance for any company is financial trends and our Company always kept in line with targets set by the shareholders; Egoli Gas being 100 percent owned by Reatile Group.” From a non-financial perspective, the Company has also brought onboard new customers forming sustainable, positive impacts on the portfolio and performance of the business.
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“While we are keeping an eye on the performance of the Company, one also scans the horizon for any potential risks or trends that could be emerging in the energy market,” Tyusha continues. “Such trends have the potential to disrupt a Company and affect its performance; but the ability to adapt to emerging risks and trends has allowed Egoli Gas to be both a relevant and significant player in the energy and gas sector. “Therefore, the completion and commissioning of the new pipeline to the west of Johannesburg was very significant for Egoli Gas because it was a major pipe construction undertaken by the Company for more than 30 years.”
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Compounding this landmark achievement has been an extension to the east as well, constructing a 4.6 kilometre pipeline to a Provincial Government Hospital; converting their boilers from coal to natural gas and subsequently contributing to the reduction of pollution caused by
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emissions of the institution. “Through the above, Egoli Gas has contributed to the economic activities of the city in particular, and the country in general. And now we look forward to working in Sandton and Randburg in 2017,� Tyusha says.
Gas on tap
Translating this physical, visible success into numbers and the growth curve of Egoli Gas is every bit as evident, firstly hitting all revenue targets set for 2016 and secondly demonstrated through the 120 satisfied and enriched employees that work for the Company.
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“However, our major contribution to employment in Johannesburg is better measured through various capital expenditure projects that the Company undertakes during pipe replacement projects as well as pipe extension projects through various construction companies,” Tyusha interjects. Geographically, Egoli Gas’ footprint had remained largely consistent throughout its work on either side of Johannesburg, but that is all about to change as the Company begins work in the aforementioned Sandton and Randburg areas. With the former identified as a major economic hub of Africa, the six kilometre pipeline construction that will bring natural gas to the doorstep of those looking for natural alternatives is set to have huge long-term ramifications for the growth of the energy sector in the region; especially when considering the peripheral advantages that natural gas brings in the future.
With piped natural gas there is no need for storage, a convenience that should not be underestimated, especially for a place like Sandton
“With piped natural gas there is no need for storage, a convenience that should not be underestimated, especially for a place like Sandton,” Tyusha explains. “Putting up storage reduces valuable land that could be used to generate more economic benefits for the owners that need to acquire land. And such storage is made redundant by piped natural gas. “At this point I’d even say, if tap water was a sign of civilisation, piped natural gas is civilisation to the energy sector: piped gas is gas on tap. Being
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from the villages and seeing women carry water buckets and containers always reminded me of the difficulties these women experienced, but piped water brought relief to them; so how about piped natural gas?” It is this level of innovation and sustainable, socially significant offering that sets Egoli apart from many of its competitors in South Africa, and the business has spent as much as R120 million to epitomise its commitment to pipe extensions and pipe replacement projects.
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From an internal technological perspective, to facilitate such unveilings, “the Company’s SCADA System have been installed to receive real-time date on customers’ gas utilisation; a huge advantage for our forecasting abilities and for billing purposes”, Tyusha says. “The Company is also in the middle of investigating a reliable ERP system for administrative purposes to move with the times and in regards to equipment, we have upgraded our leak detection systems and acquired new instruments to enhance leak detection and monitoring services.”
The natural alternative
The continuous monitoring of competing energies including solar, LPG and electricity ensures the Company’s alertness to various trends, consequently applying its flexibility and entrepreneurial flair to respond to such trends when the need arises. To successfully adopt this kind of
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structure though requires a loyal, wellretained and skilled workforce which Egoli Gas has worked hard to foster over the decades. “Egoli Gas prides itself on the ability to retain its employees and employee attrition at Egoli Gas is very low. It could be both good and bad as that cultures get entrenched and very difficult to change,” Tyusha details. “On the hiring and training, obviously we don’t go out and hire a lot of people because of this low attrition rate but training is high up there because of the product we work with. It is highly regulated and requires a well-trained employee to reduce safety incidents and risk to the public.” Commitment to personnel health and wellbeing extends further to incorporate a stringent corporate social responsibility strategy headed up by its one percent contribution to the Reatile Foundation, while its aforementioned employees complete
Contributing to cleaner carbon footprints and a greener future
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CLAASSEN AURET (PTY) LTD is a professional consulting electrical/electronic engineers company geared to serving the needs of a rapidly changing South Africa. Although based in Gauteng and Western Cape we undertake assignments throughout South Africa and Africa. The Company provides a comprehensive range of general electrical, electronic installations and ground breaking consulting engineering services in the alternative energy field, such as Quad and Tri-Gen as well as bio-fuels generation.
8 Handel Road, Ormonde, Johannesburg Telephone: +27 11 496 3101 Facsimile: +27 11 496 3120 E-mail: drawings@cai.co.za
the cycle by participating in the 67 minutes for Mandela Day by offering cleaning and decorating services to local charities. Combining these levels of social awareness, industry expertise and employee care - along with the evident proficiency in carrying out nationally significant works - Egoli Gas is in perfect stead for even more concerted growth in the future. “Over the next few years, I would be reporting that Egoli Gas has started to supply customers in Sandton certainly,” Tyusha concludes. “Just as importantly though, because our product is not readily accepted by the public through perception, it is through educating the public that we will change this perception. And the more people that connect, the more they realise how safe the product is; and the more they contribute to carbon footprint reduction and a greener future: the natural alternative.”
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EGOLI GAS 1 Annet Road Johannesburg 2092 South Africa T: +27 11 356 5000 E: info@egoligas.co.za www.egsite.co.za
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