Pumps Africa Digital Magazine

pumps-africa.com | ISSUE 2, 2020

Impact of Covid-19 on Industry Events Is this the beginning of the “new normal?”

In this issue...

Verder launches expansion of the Verderflex range with Rapide 5000 P07

Africa must prioritize on access to clean water post COVID-19 P20

East Africa’s Oil Industry: A New Story in the Making P36

Editor Brenda Kyle editor@pumps-africa.com Writers Elizabeth Mbithe, Siphiwe Newton, Herman K., Denuola Oscar, Aziz M. Nita Karume, Martina A., Sales and Marketing Pumps Africa Team marketing@pumps-africa.com S. Africa Advertising Executives Gladmore. N, Mandla M., Kholwani D.,

CONTENTS Pumps Africa Magazine | April - June | ISSUE 2, 2020

Water News Gabon, DRC pledges free water and electricity to help contain COVID-19.........2 Algeria plans the construction of three seawater desalination plants...............2 Lake Victoria water levels historically surge to the highest volume..................3 UNESCO Africa water envoy shares solutions to Africa’s water challenges........4

Energy News

Polite Mkhize, Victor N.

Wind farm advances Tunisia renewable energy action plan 2030.....................6

Graphic Design and Layout

Grant for Small-Scale Renewable Energy Projects across Africa........................6

Faith Irene Southern Africa Liaison Mailing Times Media (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 11 044 8986 Email: southafrica@pumps-africa.com Published By: AROCC Publishers P. O. Box 2922-0020 Nairobi Kenya Tel: +254 772 187334,

New Products Verder launches expansion of the Verderflex range with Rapide 5000..............7

Event News Experts discuss future of borehole water industry in Kenya – Webinar.............8

Corporate News

Email: info@arobia.co.ke

Tullow oil agrees to sale of assets to Total Uganda........................................10

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Japanese conglomerate acquires South Africa’s Celtech Pipe Systems............11

The editor accepts letters and manuscripts for publication from readers all over the world. Include your name and address as a sign of good faith although you may request your name to be withheld from publication. We reserve the right to edit any material submitted. Send your letters to: editor@pumps-africa.com ***************************** DISCLAIMER: AROCC Publishers makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the contents of

Technology SATO Innovative handwashing solution launched to help fight Covid-19.......12

Industry Tips Cheaper irrigation methods for profitable farming.........................................13 How Electric water heaters work...................................................................14

Coverstory Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Pump Industry Events.................................18

Feature

its publications, but no warranty is made

Africa must prioritize on access to clean water post COVID-19.......................20

as to such accuracy and no responsibility

Keeping the water flowing and lights burning................................................22

will be borne by the publisher for

Bmg provides critical engineering support during the covid-19 lockdown......30

the consequences of actions based on information so published. Further,

Dewatering Pump automation for maximum performance..............................32

opinions expr essed are not necessarily

S. African steel fabrication specialist to build tanks for RioZim mine..............34

shared by AROCC Publishers.

East Africa’s Oil Industry: A New Story in the Making......................................36

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How oil and gas is contributing to the global COVID-19 battle.......................39

*AROCC Publishers is trading in Kenya as Arobia Creative Consultancy

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www.pumps-africa.com

Water News» Gabon, DR Congo pledges free water and electricity to help contain COVID-19

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abon and the Democratic republic of Congo (DRC) have pledged to provide free water and electricity to poor populations in a bid to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

on the other hand will provide free water and electricity across the country for a period of two months – according to officials.

According to DRC deputy minister of hydraulic resources and electricity, Papy Pungu, the measure will help reduce household expenses during the COVID-19 period.

According to World Economic Forum, SubSaharan Africa needs a unique response to COVID-19 as the continent’s population and health systems make it different from other regions that have experienced COVID-19.

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the constant washing of hands with clean water and soap as a way to keep off the corona virus, poor populations in Africa have limited or no access to clean water. The Gabonese Energy and Water company (Seeg) has assented to provide free water and electricity to a population of about 400,000 people, in a bid to help fight covid-19.

Seeg CEO, Alain Patrick Kouma, made public the criteria for selecting the customers who will benefit from the exceptional measure. “This is one of the measures we have taken to support populations as the coronavirus pandemic is still prevalent in Gabon,” he said.

According to the government of Gabon, 398,934 subscribers of the energy and

The National Electricity Company (SNEL) and water supply Company Regie de Distribution d’Eau (REGIDESO) confirmed meeting with government officials and agreeing to the suggestion of providing free water and electricity across the country for the next two months.

water company will receive free water and electricity irrespective of bill payment arrears.

“The company, which has just signed up to this measure, will have to supply free water and electricity to the inhabitants eligible for the provision, including those who are in arrears with bill payments.”

Two months of free water and electricity The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Algeria plans the construction of three seawater desalination plants

Clement Mubiayi, the chief executive officer of REGIDESO confirmed the company’s commitment to do everything possible to supply water and electricity for free, stating that the government had promised to provide compensation for the services.

Among the beneficiaries of free water and electricity are households and small and medium-sized enterprises hit by the measures taken to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

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outh Africa has unveiled a US$61 billion plan for the next ten years to counter water shortages by improving its water-supply and storage infrastructure.

Algeria is planning to construct three seawater desalination plants in the Algiers, Annaba and Skikda provinces so as to increase the supply and access of drinking water to the residents.

The Algerian Minister of Water Resources, Arezki Berraki, confirmed the reports and stated the infrastructures will be installed on three sites, notably in the wilaya of Algiers, the smallest, but also the most populous of the 48 wilayas which make up Algeria, in Annaba, a town situated in the north-east of the country, 536 kilometres east of the capital Algiers, and in Skikda, a commune

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«Water News Lake Victoria water levels historically surge to the highest volume

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ake Victoria water levels have hit a record high of 13.42 metres, surpassing the 1964 highest mark of 13.41 metres. The surge in water levels is posing a threat to hydropower plants and populations living along the shores of the lake.

Experts from hydropower generation company – Eskom Uganda Limited, have attributed the high water levels to the ongoing heavy rains being experienced in East Africa, as well as environmental degradation and urbanization. Eskom said water spilling for both Nalubaale and Kiira hydropower stations started in March at 1000 cubic meters per second and has now reached 2,400 cubic meters per second.

President Yoweri Museveni visited the lake to observe its increasing shores and said Uganda has expanded the exit gates to spill water into River Nile to avert any further damage that could arise from the lake waters.

However, pundits have warned that the release of more water out of the lake will lead to flooding of other lakes downstream through the River Nile system.

Authority (WRA), all the dams in the country are full beyond capacity and spillage is being witnessed in mostMohamed Moulid Shurie, WRA chief executive, says water levels in rivers and dams across Kenya have risen to levels not witnessed in many years.

Lake Victoria has reclaimed the riparian land, displacing populations along its shores and submerging farms within the contour buffer.

The rising water levels of Lake Victoria have not only affected communities staying near the shores in Uganda but also in Kenya.

According to Kenya’s Water Resources

Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest fresh transboundary water body shared by three East African countries, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Algiers, Skikda, Mostaganem, Oran, Boumerdès, Tipaza and Ain Témouchent.

These plants produce only 17% of the total amount of drinking water consumed in the whole country.

According to the UN, water stress is expected to increase further and by 2030, 75 to 250 million people in Africa will be living in areas of high water scarcity. exacerbated due to funding shortfalls and a failure by municipalities and other users to pay for their supplies. A separate unit will be established to finance, manage and operate the national water infrastructure, while projects that are currently in the works will be expedited, Sisulu told reporters at the unveiling of the plan.

According to Uganda’s water and environment minister, Sam Cheptoris, hydropower is at risk as water levels cause dislodgement of papyrus mats… resulting into huge mass of floating islands, which are dangerous to hydropower infrastructure.

Already, Kenya and Uganda have been hit by nationwide power blackout early Saturday morning after what electricity distributor Kenya Power said was a system disturbance in the transmission grid. The two countries’ grids are interconnected.

situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, 471 km east of Algiers. “The three new plants are intended to reinforce the existing desalination structures as they are intended to have a capacity of 300,000 cubic meters a day,” he added.

The plants are very important projects to the country as they will not only supply drinking water but also help in the supply of desalinated water to the country’s coastal towns for irrigation and this initiative will help farmers especially during the dry seasons.

Other seawater desalination plants in Algeria 11 seawater desalination plants already exist in the country. They are spread over 9 provinces which include; Chlef, Tlemcen,

The 11 plants have reached 2,110,000 cubic metres per day, the equivalent of 770 cubic metres per year, providing drinking water throughout the country’s various wilayas.

While the heavy rains recorded in recent days have contributed to increasing the reserves of dams in Algeria, over utilization of surface and groundwater resources in some parts of Africa, has led to scarcity, and contributed greatly to the shift from conventional water resources to nonconventional water resources such as desalination in several African countries.

According to Energy Research Analyst – Laura Caetano, South Africa needs to invest in infrastructure that will provide a sustainable and secure water supply in the years to come, whether desalination or wastewater treatment plants, before a return of similar drought conditions.

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Water News» Outgoing UNESCO Africa water envoy shares solutions to Africa’s water challenges

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Reprocessing and tailings reduction.qxp_proof 29/04/2020 09:52 he Page 4

been so markedly underlined.”

Mr. Kibaki advises that lasting solutions to Africa’s waterrelated afflictions should be thoughtfully sought the earliest possible, observing that hundreds in Kenya have recently lost lives, homes and livelihoods to floods.

outgoing Unesco Envoy for Water in Africa and former President of Kenya – His Excellency Mwai Kibaki, has reminisced his two REPROCESSING AND TAILINGS REDUCTION term tenure at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), combination with thickeners, hydrocyclones and “Grinding energy increases dramatically as the his and solutions Africa’s other equipment to create an integrated system able sharing size decreases, over-grindingto creates to reprocess existing or legacy dams, to both generate water additional flotation efficiency challenges because challenges.

hydrological messages to political leaders and being an interlocutor between governments and UNESCO. Kibaki acknowledges learning immeasurable lessons and insights on how water could affect human existence and to effectively float sulphide particles up to 700 aspirations in flotation the foreseeable microns, upping the threshold.

The HydroFloat has already been used to future.

additional revenue and clean up the facilities.

scavenge sulphide tails and allow operations like “Water, ideally, is a blessing, Newcrest’s Cadia copper-gold mine in New South He observes that Africa is not a curse. We should Wales, Australia, to coarsen its grind size, particularly impeded in the encourage people right across according to Eriez. It is also helping the miner struggles, noting that at least Africa to join the solutionrecover gold and copper from the concentrator two billion tailings stream. people suffer “high seeking crusade. This is Wasmund explained: “While only a water stress” whilethis allows about particularly crucial in these marginal bump in the size distribution of their four billion experience “… days of aggressive rising water tails, it does allow the reduction of grinding severe water scarcity during energy and the recovery of payable metals in the levels in lakes and oceans,” he atwaste, least month of operability the advises. as wellone as proving the long-term year, as reported in theplatform Water of the HydroFloat as a technology for coarse particle flotation.”

Development Report 2019.

He offers solutions by

Upping the flotation threshold Eriez believes there is a different way to reduce the production of wet tailings at the same time as recovering more metals and minerals. That is

Outgoing Unesco Envoy for Water in Africa and former President As Eric Bain Wasmund, Global Managing of Kenya – His Excellency Mwai Director of Eriez Flotation, says, conventional Kibaki through re-engineering the flotation process.

sulphide flotation technology is not effective at floating particles greater than about 200 microns, leading to this threshold being the practical end point for grinding operations.

‘slimes’ do not float with high efficiency,” Wasmund said.

Mr. Kibaki expressed gratitude for “But the most serious consequence of current the privilege to have served for two grinding practise is that the entire volume of terms of istwo yearsreduced each tothat ended mined ore necessarily a slurry of fine inparticles, April,predominantly in an Op-Ed published in less than 200 microns.” handling and long-term storage of this the The Daily Nation. cumulative volume is a major cost and long-term risk management concern for mining companies

His role focused on raising and other stakeholders. awareness theparticle importance of This is whereon coarse flotation and the ® comes water and education HydroFloat in, Wasmundin said.national The commercially available solution uses fluidisation policies, relaying UNESCO

The next opportunity being developed for Eriez

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Coarse Particle Flotation is to use the HydroFloat advocating for two initiatives “During my tenure, I met water to allow coarse gangue to bypass conventional that may, according to him, ministers from across flotation, “acting analogously to anAfrica, ore-sorting improve the continent’s efforts discoursed with generating ambassadors application, and thereby a significant at overcoming water-related fraction ofhigh the total volume of tailings in a primary and commissioners challenges. size range two-to-three-times coarser thanon the fine accredited to Kenya tails produced by conventional flotation”, continental water issues, and Firstly, he proposes a central Wasmund said. metThe UN envoys representing accompanying block diagram (opposite) repository of water experts and Pan-African water-bound shows how the coarse gangue rejection a reservoir of shareable knowinitiatives. also assigned application works.I how. To ensure that Africa’s Wasmund said: “In a conventional mill circuit, delegations to key conferences. knowledge is the product of secondary grinding in a ball mill is water-bound Besides, being the patron fed to a sizing unit, typically a cyclone. The regularly updated, it would help ofcyclone theis configured Millennium Water – so that the overflow Africa (MWA) for closefor to a to presage, or better yet, mate produces the right size distribution Amcow’s (Africa’s Ministers’ decade has beenwhile a tremendous conventional flotation, the mainly coarsesized underflow, whichhe also contains eye opener,” wrote.someHe Council on Water) biennial ‘misplaced fines’, is returned directly to the mill.” “Water Week” with an Africa notes that under the special In this example, which illustrates the idea envoy’s docket, and beyond the water experts’ conference. behind coarse gangue rejection, the cyclone information researchers have underflow passes through a set of sizing unit Secondly, an annual continental shared, number the wateroperations,ahere shown asof a set of screens with media award focused on sharing 160-micronevents and 700-micron for related haveapertures ultimately on ingenious illustration purposes. borne worthwhile insights information said: “The screens split the cyclone water conservation and aquifer intoWasmund the future of water in the underflow into three sizes classes: a fine stream recharging methods. “This development of Africa. less than 160 micron, typically about 20% by can help to identify replicable mass, which can be added back to the innovations and appropriate Lasting solutions conventional flotation feed; a coarse stream knowledge in securing our greater than 700 micron, typically 20-30% by to Africa’s water mass which can be returned to the grinding mill; dwindling water towers and challenges and a mid-range stream between about 160 and “The challenge of rethinking capture and amplify homemade 700 microns, typically 50-60% by mass, which can solutions,” he states. water antheexistential be used in to feed HydroFloat.” context hasBecause beenthecompounded HydroFloat has veryby high the “The power to transform our recoveries in this size range comparable with prevailing worldwide onslaught conventional flotation at conventional grind on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Atsizes, water challenges in Africa may it can perform as a pre-rougher flotation unit on no time in my recollection has seem daunting, but it is within this mid-range material and generate a coarse the role of water in averting a sight, if we so purpose,” he barren tail permanently removed from the flotation potentially disaster circuit at an 80th sweeping percentile size typically between concludes.

500 and 600 microns, according to Wasmund.

“While fine grinding is still required for

Mining | MAY 2020 4 International

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«Advertorial

Geberit’s water-saving cisterns Geberit has a range of products that are regarded as sustainable sanitation solutions and which contribute to increased quality of life with low energy and water consumption and with ecologically friendly materials. Noise insulation or simple product disposal are also part of responsible product design. For decades Geberit’s products have been setting standards in terms of economical water consumption and their production plants practice active environmental management with impressive results.

Saving water is an issue of growing importance. One way of saving water in your bathroom is to use a dual-flush system in your toiletcistern. Geberit is offering such water-saving concealed cisterns for all sorts of installation situations.

The Geberit Kombifix is the ideal solution for solid constructions.

It is extremely reliable and is designed to carry up to 400 kg.

The Geberit Kombifix installation element is installed directly into the wall. The gaps around the Kombifix are filled with bricks to support the element.

The Geberit Duofix offers the fastest installation solution as in can be placed either inside of in front of a drywall. Due to its construction and to the fact that it is self-supporting, it offers highest stability. It is fastened to the wall where it remains firmly anchored, when covered with panels.

The dual-flush system offers adjustable settings between 3 and 7.5 litres and can be triggered bv numerous high-quality actuator plates.

The Geberit Kombifix and Duofix installation elements come in two different product lines:

The Geberit Alpha line comprises economically priced cisterns and a small variety of actuator plates, all of them with dual-flush pushbuttons. The make of the Alpha cisterns is reduced and lean, but still offering the lasting quality that Geberit is known for.

The Geberit DuoFresh is an oduor extractor that purifies the air.

The Geberit Sigma line sets the standards in the sanitary business.

There are Geberit Sigma cisterns for all sorts of application fields, offering a wide range of actuator plates, designed for single and dual-flush actuation, made of high-quality plastic, glass or metal.

For two actuator designs you have the possibility to customise the surface.

Getting rid of unpleasant odours For the Sigma concealed cisterns Geberit introduced a new odour extraction module: the Geberit DuoFresh. This module can be installed in all concealed cisterns from the Sigma range. In addition to an air filtration system, it also has an orientation light. Under certain conditions, existing toilet systems can also be retrofitted with the module. Installation is simple and well thought out. The only requirement is a connection to the 230 V power supply system.

Apart from a few exceptions, all actuator plates from the Sigma range can be combined with the Geberit DuoFresh module.

Geberit Kombifix with Sigma cistern (left) and Alpha cistern (right)

Find out more on: www.international.geberit.com

Geberit Duofix with Sigma cistern (left) and Alpha cistern (right)

Energy News» Sidi Mansour wind farm advances Tunisia renewable energy action plan 2030

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UPC has been developing the Project for more than a decade.

he development of Sidi Mansour wind farm has set Tunisia renewable energy action plan 2030 on track. This is after the multi-national UPC Renewables and Climate Fund Managers (CFM) came together to develop the 30MW wind farm in the country.

In the action plan, Tunisia aims to achieve a target of a 30% reliance on renewable energy by 2030. In 2016, Tunisia announced the launch of the Tunisian Solar Plan 2030 with the goal of increasing the share of renewables in the electricity generation mix from 3% to 30%.

The Sidi Mansour Project will assist Tunisia in meeting its renewable energy goal, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, and demonstrate that Tunisia is an attractive destination for renewable energy investments. The Project will be one of the first wind Independent Power Producers (IPP) in the country. Climate Fund Managers is participating as co-developer, sponsor, financial advisor and E&S advisor

Over its lifespan the Sidi Mansour Project is expected to lead to a reduction of 56,645-ton equivalent of carbon and create more than 100 jobs. The total investment size of the Project is expected to be approximately US$ 40 million. to the Project, through the development and construction financing facility under its management, Climate Investor One (CI1).

UPC will lead the development of the Project with its local team that will lead land securitisation, permitting, grid connection, wind resource assessment, and engineering and procurement contracts.

In January 2019, UPC was selected as one of the four awarded companies under the ‘Authorisation Scheme’ tender for the 30MW Sidi Mansour project in Northern Tunisia and subsequently signed a PPA with Société Tunisienne d’Electricité et du Gaz.

According to Brian Caffyn, the Chairman of the UPC Group, the construction of the Sidi Mansour wind farm can start before the end of 2020. The project, in respect to international environmental protection guidelines, will help stimulate the Tunisian economy, create local jobs and a social plan for local communities.

UPC-formed companies have developed more than 4,500 MW of now operating wind and solar projects globally while Climate Fund Managers (CFM) is a leading blended finance fund manager dedicated to securing a sustainable future through investing across global emerging markets.

AfDB approves grant for Small-Scale Renewable Energy Projects across Africa

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he African Development Bank (AfDB) – managed Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) has approved a US$760,000 grant for smallScale Renewable Energy Projects across Sub Saharan Africa. SEFA has approved the grant to Empower New Energy AS (EmNEW), to develop at least eight small renewable energy projects with capacity ranging from1-10 MW, towards bankability and construction.

The grant will support a broad range of project preparation and development activities, including technical feasibility studies, legal due diligence, environmental and social impact assessment, quality assurance and risk management.

Through its Empower Invest fund, EmNEW invests in small and medium-scale renewable energy projects in Africa, with a focus on solar power, hybrid, and hydro technologies.

Welcoming the approval, Terje Osmundsen,

EmNEW’s CEO, said, “We are very excited to be entering into a partnership with the AfDB and SEFA. There is a large number of strong small or medium scale projects across Africa that remain unrealised because they can’t access competitive financing. Our approach allows us to bridge this gap and working with SEFA, will help us to accelerate this process and support more high-quality projects. Together, we can bring impactful investment to Africa, while helping the continent to meet its electrification, carbonreduction, and sustainable development targets.”

The Bank’s support to EmNEW through SEFA is fully aligned with SEFA’s strategy to tackle challenges faced by smaller renewable energy projects in many African countries in accessing financing to cover their initial development costs, the Bank’s Acting Director for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Daniel Schroth noted.

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Drawing on high-quality local partnerships in Africa, EmNEW invests in renewable energy projects through competitive equity to small and medium scale projects which helps to reduce the time and resources required to finance projects while delivering environmental and social impact.

“Accelerated deployment of distributed solar power and small hydropower is one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to bridge the energy access gap, fight climate change and promote sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Wale Shonibare, the Bank’s Acting Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth.

EmNEW has regional offices in Kenya and Ghana, with projects expected to unlock up to $500 million in renewable energy investment, reduce CO2 emissions by 320,000 tons, create 20,000 new jobs, and eventually produce 585 GWh of clean electricity.

www.pumps-africa.com

«New Product Verder launches expansion of the Verderflex range with Rapide 5000

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erder Liquids, part of The Verder Group, a global leader in advanced industrial and niche market pump solutions, has announce the latest addition in the Group’s Verderflex range of peristaltic tube pumps, the Rapide 5000.

The Rapide 5000 has been developed to offer simple, reliable and cost-effective pumping solutions for industrial applications. The design combines the flexibility of the Vantage 5000 pump head with the simplicity of a single or three-phase powered industrial gearmotor.

Simplicity and flexibility The innovative pump head has been field proven on many successful installations of the more sophisticated, programmable Vantage 5000 dosing pump. Verderflex’s engineers have developed the Rapide 5000 peristaltic pump for users who require a simpler pump design with no local controls, or a pump that does not need a costly, external air supply.

The new Verderflex Rapide 5000 is ideal as a stand-alone single or double head pump or integrated into a system. This lubricantfree peristaltic pump can run dry without pump damage as, with the tube’s powerful recovery, it has excellent dry priming and

viscous product pumping capabilities. The pump is especially suitable to dose and transfer abrasive and corrosive liquids such as chemical additives, inks, paints and off gassing liquids.

Like all peristaltic pumps, the Rapide 5000’s gentle, low-shear working principle produces less foaming than other pump technologies improving delivered product quality and lowering reject rates. Additionally, the pump head has a higher flow per revolution than other comparable peristaltic pumps and with less tube compressions for a given pumped liquid volume produces a longer tube life.

Tradition of excellence As a family owned and run business, the Verder Group has a longstanding history of focus on innovation and technology. Its

growth is centred on strategic acquisitions of like-minded pump equipment manufacturers who’s philosophy and products are in keeping with this focus and the Group’s core values – as well as ongoing investment in its own research and development (R&D) as the Group continues its tradition of technical excellence.

“The Verder promise is to find innovative solutions to existing problems as well as to anticipate the problems and needs of the future – and the Group achieves this by delivering on high quality solutions that are fit-for-purpose. We are very excited by this new product and the application capability it will deliver for our clients across Africa,” said Darryl Macdougall, Managing Director, Verder Pumps South Africa.

www.pumps-africa.com 7

Event News»

Experts discuss future of borehole water industry in Kenya – Webinar

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orehole water Drillers in Kenya will soon be able to submit their application for registration with the ministry of water & sanitation and Irrigation at the comfort of their homes in a move aimed at easing the process for the borehole water industry in Kenya.

drilling in the country. Leading water and energy solutions company Davis & Shirtliff has raised concern over unplanned drilling of boreholes noting that it could affect the ground water resources in the country in the long-term.

Agatha Njuguna, a hydrogeologist from Water Resources Authority (WRA) said the development of an online platform for the submission of borehole drillers records is in progress. She also said the Covid-19 pandemic has not stopped the normal registration process. In a webinar organized

by Kipya Africa and sponsored by Doshi Group, participants in the borehole water industry in Kenya discussed several policy related issues under the theme: “The Future of The Borehole Water Industry in Kenya.”

The company has noted indifference to the legislation that governs drilling of boreholes could ultimately have adverse effects on the aquifers and the quality of water in them.

One of the issues discussed was around the cost of borehole drilling in Kenya.

Drillers said the cost of drilling has sky rocketed significantly in recent years. The cost of drilling a borehole in Nairobi and its environs starts at Ksh 6,300 to 6,500 per meter. Representing the Kenya Water Industry Association (KWIA) and JB Drilling company, Eng. Tom Armstrong noted that drillers were in a dilemma of whether to provide cheap drilling services at the expense of quality.

“Those who come to register with the ministry must have all the prerequisites like owning drilling rig and qualified personnel,” he offered.

“My company would rather offer services at standard rate while maintaining quality than provide cheap and substandard services to unsuspecting clients,’ he explained.

A major concern for the industry is the unregistered agents who only rely on hired rigs and personnel to drill boreholes, making accountability difficult in case of misconduct or dispute with the clients.

Registration and Licensing The issue of the registration and licensing of the drillers also emerged. Eng. Armstrong argued that the period for the registration of drillers was taking longer than necessary and urged the government to quicken the process.

“Several agencies are involved in the process of registering the borehole drillers making the process even longer,” he noted.

On his part, Mr. Crispin Juma, Director, National Water Resources Management, Ministry of Water & Sanitation and Irrigation said that drillers have a part to play when it comes to registration.

But for Armstrong, the greatest challenge is convincing members to embrace a new code of conduct developed by KWIA. The code of conduct was drafted to demystify the National Code of Practice and make guidance more accessible and/or understandable for both drillers and customers.

The role of national government and county governments in borehole drilling in regards to responsibilities arose but Eng. Festus Ngeno, Minister of Water, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources – Nakuru County, explained that the national and county governments have intergovernmental structures that work seamlessly.

“In Kenya water related functions are a shared responsibility between the national government and the county government,” noted Eng. Ngeno.

In recent years, experts have called for a more carefully planned approach to borehole

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Davis & Shirtliff Chief Executive Officer, David Gatende has called for the protection of surface and underground water resources effectively, sighting instances where boreholes are drilled within few meters of each other against the law requirement of at least 100 meters apart. Borehole drilling in Kenya is a process that involves hydrogeological survey and an Environmental Impact Assessment tests as standard procedures laid out by the Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) which is the supervising authority.

WRMA is mandated to develop policies that govern the conservation of groundwater by balancing sustainable use and national development. The authority issues permits required for abstraction of water from all machine drilled boreholes, that excludes hand dug shallow wells. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) on the other hand gives the nod after the submission of data from an Environmental Impact Assessment test.

Tom Armstrong explained that lack of due diligence before drilling a borehole often lead to depletion of the aquifer especially if the replenishing of the aquifer was not put into consideration and having a dry or low yielding borehole among others.

In the WRMA database, Nairobi county had 4,000 illegally dug boreholes in 2016.

Gatende warns that the sustainability of water resources in Kenya depends on proper planning and atrocious disregard for best practice would be disastrous for the country.

www.pumps-africa.com

Corporate»

Tullow oil agrees to sale of assets to Total Uganda

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Tullow is currently the operator of Block 2, Total Uganda of Block 1 and Block 1A and CNOOC Uganda Limited (CNOOC) is operator of Block 3A.

Tullow and Total E&P Uganda B.V. (Total Uganda) signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA), with an effective date of 1 January 2020 (the Effective Date), in which Tullow agreed to transfer its entire interests in Blocks 1, 1A, 2 and 3A in Uganda and the proposed East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) System (the Uganda Interests) to Total Uganda for cash consideration of US$575 million plus potential contingent payments after first oil (the Transaction).

Tullow is currently the operator of Block 2, Total Uganda of Block 1 and Block 1A and CNOOC Uganda Limited (CNOOC) is operator of Block 3A.

ultinational company, Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) announced that it agreed to the sale of its assets to Total Uganda for US$575 m with post first oil contingent payments.

The two companies have had fruitful discussions with the Government of Uganda and the URA to agree on the principles of the tax treatment of the mega transaction.

They discussed the position on Ugandan tax on capital gains, which is to be remitted by Total Uganda on behalf of Tullow Uganda, and which is expected to be US$14.6 m in respect of the Cash Consideration.

The two parties both intend to sign a binding tax agreement with the Government of Uganda and the URA that reflects these principles which will complete the transaction. CNOOC has rights of preemption to acquire 50% of the Uganda Interests on the same terms and conditions as Total Uganda.

Tullow’s financial strategy This move will strengthen Tullow’s financial strategy and aid it in moving to a more conservative capital structure.

Tullow’s capital expenditure in respect of the Uganda Interests between the Effective Date and completion of the Transaction will be recovered through the SPA completion adjustments. The Transaction will remove all future capital expenditure associated with the Lake Albert Development Project whilst retaining exposure via contingent consideration linked to production and the oil price through the contingent cash payments.

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«Corporate

Japanese conglomerate acquires South Africa’s Celtech Pipe Systems Asahi Yukizai’s acquisition of Celtech - a manufacturer purchasing a distributor - is the first of its kind in Southern Africa. Asahi Yukizai’s African outfit, registered under the brand name, Asahi Africa, trading as Celtech Pipe Systems, will reach a wider area in Southern African region, servicing a bigger clientele base.

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hermoplastic valves manufacturer, Asahi Yukizai, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of plastic Valves, Pipes & Gaskets, has acquired its Southern Africa distributor, Celtech Pipe Systems.

Celtech Pipe Systems has been promoting and servicing the Asahi range of products for over thirty years. Asahi Yukizai’s African outfit registered under the brand name, Asahi Africa, trading as Celtech Pipe Systems, will reach a wider area in Southern African region, servicing a bigger clientele base mainly in industrial, mining and water works.

Perfectly timed Asahi’s acquisition of Celtech has been concluded at a perfect time. Presently, corrosion of valves and pipes is a common challenge for organisations in the mining

and water treatment businesses, costing tens, if not hundreds, of million dollars in lost revenue due to downtime of critical processes. Asahi is confident that, Celtech, backed by Asahi Yukizai, is now better equipped to help industry mitigate the problem of pipe corrosion with a reliable supply of thermoplastic pipes and valves.

a medium-term view, optimistic about economic growth in the Southern African region beyond COVID-19, more especially in mining and water works. The management of Asahi Yukizai are very excited with the acquisition, they believe there will great progress made.

Thermoplastic materials are particularly suited to acid, effluent and water, which require very reliable non–corrosive fluid handling products.

Asahi Yukizai has been particularly successful in supplying large thermoplastic bore butterfly Valves (800 mm) to the Middle East for Desalination Plant operation. Asahi Africa will have main office and stock holding, situated in Boksburg to service the Southern African region, with distributors based in regional areas. There will be a dedicated team with extensive expertise in a wide range of areas and manufacturing a full range of products.

Medium-term view Asahi Yukizai’s acquisition of Celtech - a manufacturer purchasing a distributor - is the first of its kind in Southern Africa. At a time when some multinationals are divesting from the African region, Asahi Yukizai’s move is unprecedented. Obviously, the Japanese thermoplastic giant has taken

Technology»

SATO Innovative handwashing solution launched to help fight Covid-19 in Africa SATO tap is aimed at providing an affordable handwashing facility to disadvantaged households in Africa and globally.

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n innovative handwashing solution ‘SATO Tap’ has been launched to help fight Covid-19 in Africa. SATO tap is aimed at providing an affordable handwashing facility to disadvantaged households in Africa and globally.

The new innovation has been developed by SATO, LIXIL Group Corporation’s social business that aims to solve water, sanitation, and hygiene problems by providing affordable and easy-to-install sanitation systems to local communities around the world.

According to UNICEF, 40% of the world’s population still do not have access to basic handwashing facilities at home. To address this immense challenge, LIXIL has committed USD 1 million in line with its promise to support the commitments of development partners and others, which could impact 5 million people with improved handwashing.

“The COVID-19 situation underscores the vast inequities in access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for households in Africa and globally. We know that washing your hands with soap is one of the effective interventions against disease transmission.

By bringing SATO’s design and engineering expertise, combined with global LIXIL support, we aim to accelerate this new handwashing innovation to market, making it available to households to reinforce handwashing behaviour change and to refine it for long-term offering in the SATO product portfolio.” said Erin McCusker, Vice President & Head of SATO. SATO has worked with partners during the design process, receiving valuable technical inputs and helping to validate the efficacy of the SATO Tap design which consists of a plastic base with a nozzle that can be fitted with widely available plastic bottles.

It is compact and can be used both within the home and as a handwashing station at public facilities. The unique design ensures minimal contact between the user and the tap, thereby reducing the spread of disease,

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while the trickle action minimizes water use, meaning fewer refills, while maintaining a solid flow of water.

In addition to providing an affordable handwashing facility to disadvantaged households through the SATO Tap, LIXIL’s existing partnership with UNICEF will also expand activities in handwashing and sanitation in response to COVID-19.

These activities range from collection of commercial and behavioral insights to strengthen behavior change, joint advocacy to promote hygiene programming and maximizing existing public and private sector networks and supply chains to expand access to handwashing.

“We know that one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of diseases is to wash your hands. But for the poorest and most vulnerable children and families, the immediate risk of COVID-19 is compounded by a lack of basic handwashing facilities,” said Kelly Ann Naylor, UNICEF, Associate Director, WASH. “This global pandemic has made it more essential than ever to work closely with governments and private sector partners, like LIXIL, to ensure handwashing is possible for all.”

Speaking on the need for innovative hygiene solutions, Daigo Ishiyama, Chief Technology and Marketing Officer SATO, said, “We believe the SATO Tap will help advocate life changing behavior. It will promote hygiene and reinforce handwash behavior change by mitigating risks while conserving water. Our vision is well-aligned with most Governments vision and priorities for its people in promoting hygiene and advancing SDG 6 by 2030.”

The first SATO Taps will be manufactured in India, and will be made available for partners in September 2020, with ramp up of production and retail availability through early 2021. LIXIL is also working to establish other licensing partners to expand to other markets in Africa.

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ÂŤIndustry Tips

Cheaper irrigation methods for profitable farming

P

rofitable farming requires a reliable and affordable water supply for irrigation as water plays a crucial role in determining loss or profitable harvest.

The irrigation must be cost-effective and sustainable for profits to be realized.

Solutions Electric, petrol or diesel-powered pumps are the most used by farmers to pump water from sources such as rivers and boreholes into a tank or onto the farm directly. Most of the time, the cost of pumping water goes up due to the fluctuating price of electricity and petrol or diesel. Farmers spend a lot of money to pump water using electric

machine yet there are cheaper options of pumping water for irrigation, which include solar and windmills. Several farmers have however embraced solar pumps to pump irrigation water.

machine to pump water. The cost of setting up a solar system depends on the size of the gadget.

For instance, a 120-watt solar panel can pump 10,000 litres of water at five metres depth and 3,500 litres at 10 metres depth, which is adequate to irrigate half an acre.

Installation of electricity definitely costs higher depending on the distance from the transformer.

Reduces the tough task A solar pump thus offers the farmer longterm relief as one does not incur monthly bills. Submersible solar pumps can be installed below dams which collect rain water. The pump pushes the water to a maximum height of 20 metres. Surface pumps are placed above the ground and are primarily used to move water through the pipelines.

Solar pumps Solar pumps are economical because they can directly use a technology known as PV array (without a battery) to pump water into the tanks, which is then distributed to the farm by gravity.

Eco friendly Besides being low maintenance, solar water pumps are eco-friendly as they do not release any gases into the atmosphere. There are smaller solar water pumps for the smallscale farmer in the market, thus farmers have no excuse not to irrigate their farms affordably.

The solar system operates on the principle of photovoltaic (PV) technology, which converts sunlight to electricity for the

Having a water pump reduces the tough task of carrying water physically from the source to irrigate your crops.

RAWMEC 2020 Postponement To all exhibitors, visitors, delegates, speakers, media, suppliers and stakeholders of RAWMEC 2020: It is after careful consideration and in consultation with key stakeholders that Lebanon Expo is announcing the postponement of Recycling & Waste Management Exhibition & Conference (RAWMEC), originally scheduled from June 23-25, 2020, to a later date or until such time that things go back to normalcy.

We assure everyone that we are continuously and closely observing the updates and developments in relation to the CoVid-19 crisis; while working on the background to ensure that RAWMEC will

happen at a time when everything is safe. We are also working with the Ministry of Environment of Lebanon to reschedule the event for the later part of this year. We will update all parties as soon as dates are confirmed.

We believe that face-to-face events play a vital role in helping the growth of any economy and creating opportunities for industries. Our team is ready and available to respond to your inquiries at any time.

www.pumps-africa.com 13

Industry Tips»

How Electric water heaters work Simon Pogson, marketing director at Africa supplies Ltd explains how electric water heaters work and why they are cheap in the long run among other advantages.

Here is the excerpt:

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n electric water heater uses two heating elements to warm water inside the tank. When a designated water temperature is reached the heating element will cycle off. The electric water heater uses 240v of alternating current to operate two heating elements; one near the middle of the tank and another near the bottom. Each element is controlled by its own thermostat.

How is an electric water heater maintained and how do you help in maintenance?

Simon: One of the biggest advantages of electric water heaters is that they are simple to manage and shouldn’t need frequent checks or maintenance. However, there are two parts to the water heater that you do need to keep your eye on; All electric water heaters should have a removable anode rod in them. The anode rod is made from a different metal to the tank (usually magnesium, but sometimes aluminium or zinc) and, as strange as it may sound, is designed to rust.

If the water temperature and pressure rises above normal operating levels the temperature and pressure valves open to stabilize the system. A valve that leaks need to be replaced immediately.

If electric water heater is not working properly, first determine if a fuse has blown off. Also check the reset button and the high level thermostat. You can also check each element and thermostat for continuity.

Simon Pogson, marketing director at Africa supplies Ltd says that electric water heaters are cheap in the long run among other advantages. Here is the excerpt: What are the advantages of an electric water heater?

Simon: In addition to being low maintenance, electric water heaters have several advantages.The upfront cost of purchasing an EWH tends to be relatively low. It’s a competitive market, but you still need to be careful.

European brands are being driven hard by the EU to be as efficient as possible, so electric water heaters from, say Italy, tend to use less electricity. The less electric a water heater uses, the cheaper it is to run.

Safety is also a major plus. With water and electricity, you don’t want any unnecessary risks. This is where it pays to avoid the cheapest on the market. Again, midmarket water heaters like FlowPlumb score highly on safety with features like safety thermostats, shock proof casings, and high liquid intrusion protection.

With the biggest, established brands you’re often paying for the name rather than the technology and there can be question marks around whether you’re buying a genuine product or a fake.

At the other end of the scale products will rarely be reliable and will probably end up costing more in repairs and replacement.

However, great deals can be found in the middle of the market, where brands like FlowPlumb are trying hard to establish themselves. FlowPlumb water heaters are feature packed and are designed to be longlife solutions, representing great value for money.

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By sacrificing itself, the anode rod prevents rust from attacking the tank, thus prolonging the life of the water heater. Anode rods usually last about two years, so should be replaced by a plumber every other year.

Failure to replace the anode isn’t dangerous, but your water heater won’t last as long. It’s a lot cheaper to replace the anode every two years than the whole water heater!

The other part that causes problems is the heating element itself. Over time, limescale attaches itself to the heating element, blocking the heat from the element from transferring to the water. When this happens, the water heater becomes inefficient – it needs to use more electricity to produce heat and it takes longer to heat the water, both of which costs you more money.

To combat this, all FlowPlumb Electric Water Heaters feature a unique Blue Forever heating element, an advanced technology where the element is coated in an ultrasmooth ceramic finish to prevent limescale from being able to attach itself.

This means the element continues to work much longer than the normal elements in other brands, so the water heater remains efficient, and you save money by not having to replace the element as often. The Blue Forever heating element is so good that it’s included in our five-year warranty. When these items do need replacing it’s important to have a professional do it. Water and

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electricity is a lethal mix, so any electric water heater maintenance should be left to a trained professional. With our distributors, we have established training programs throughout Africa to train installers in the best, safest and most efficient way to install our products.

Elaborate about its power consumption Simon: FlowPlumb’s range of small capacity electric water heaters (10 – 30 litres) all have good energy efficiency, having an energy rating of “B”, while our mid capacity (50 – 150 litres) are “C” rated. FlowPlumb tends to have a lower energy consumption thanks to three features. In additional to a thick tank insulation, the interior of the tank is powder coated with our Forever Blue glass enamel, and our elements are all Forever Blue coated.

Energy efficiency on brands like FlowPlumb is an important feature and will only get better as technology is developed. Yet, fo the best energy efficiency, you can always turn to our Solar Hot Water Heaters. The FlowPlumb offer includes everything you need in one box: solar panel, tank, mounting kit and all connections. The panel has a 95% absorption rate, making it one of the most efficient systems available.

What are the other products that you produce?

Simon: Our Water Heater range includes instant hot water heaters, electric showers, solar and commercial solutions in addition to our Blue forever electric water heater range.

What we really do though is offer systems and solutions, so the wide FlowPlumb range consists of water delivery systems and waste water drainage.

Our potable water systems include MDPE and PPR and a really exciting system that utilises Polybutylene to make a flexible pipe so you don’t need to use many expensive fittings. It cuts installation time to about a quarter and eliminates opportunities for the system to leak. It’s the most perfect plumbing system for Africa that we’ve seen: reliable, fast and easy to install and a system that’s designed to lower the cost of installation.

For removing waste water we can supply the whole system, from internal drainage, to rainwater guttering, to underground drainage. We call it our “Roof to River” solution and again it includes certain products that make life in Africa a safer, more hygienic experience.

There are several flood defence products in the range and specialist systems like chemical drainage and acoustic drainage.

By far the most popular products are our manhole chambers that replace the old brick built ones with a smooth bore PVCu unit that simply drops into a hole, taking a fraction of the time to install and proving many more decades of use.

How is your footprint in Africa?

Simon: FlowPlumb is dedicated to the African market. We identify gaps in the market where customers are being let down by poor quality, high prices, or solutions that are not available locally and search the world for the best products or systems, supplying them though our local Distribution partners.

The conditions of us entering any market are that we will only supply high quality products and only if we can offer good value for money.

We have over twenty years’ experience of supplying the African market and have distribution in over twenty countries.

We are still expanding our Water Heater distribution, and actively looking for distributors.

Is this product being received well in Africa?

Simon:FlowPlumb is probably the fastest growing electric water heater brand in Africa right now. Although we knew we had a great product at a great price, the level of demand has surprised us. The Blue Forever element and tank glass coating is really unique and that promise of a longer life at a reasonable price gives customers a choice that wasn’t there before.

www.pumps-africa.com 15

Coverstory»

Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Pump Industry Events Just like the rest of the world, the virus is already affecting the events sector in Africa in various ways.

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s the world grapples with ways to contain the Covid-19 pandemic that has disrupted our normal way of life, several industries across the globe have recorded massive unprecedented losses owing to the outbreak of the disease.

One of the most affected sectors is the events industry. The virus has seen the cancellation of major exhibitions and seminars scheduled to take place in 2020, forcing some event organizers to postpone their events to much later dates or even to the next year.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in February 2020. Since then, the number

of people infected has risen significantly across the world with Africa transcending to the peak in the months of June and July as the recorded cases seem to be increasing each day.

Just like the rest of the world, the virus is already affecting the events sector in Africa

Flexibility and adaptability to change is the “new normal” that events professionals must adopt to survive.

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in various ways. Now let’s examine the real impact of Covid-19 pandemic in Pumps Industry Events: Watrex Expo Suspension The 5th Leading Trade Fair for Water & Wastewater Treatment, one of the biggest annual water industry events in Africa, has cancelled the event scheduled for 22-24th March in Egypt to a later date subject to the evolution of the virus. A statement released by the organisers reads: “WATREX EXPO would be postponed from its scheduled date to another alternative date in 2020 once things return to normal.”

Egypt, just like many countries across the world temporarily suspended all

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significant to the event’s success, may be unable to travel if restrictions in their home countries are upheld till the given event dates. The cancellations and postponement of events due to coronavirus concerns is a clear indication of the fact that the outbreak is affecting the events industry not only in Africa but also worldwide.

Some events however have opted to keep to the scheduled date but change the location to a safer area with controlled attendance.

Reduced participants The fear of the coronavirus is likely to impact attendance at the events that do take place now and in the future. For example, exhibitions will witness reduced number of visitors than in previous years, and some exhibitors will or have pulled out from events.

Financial implications The financial implications of the outbreak on the events industry has been drastic, as all stakeholders are affected in various ways. For many organizations, either attending or exhibiting in events and expos is an important part of business, providing the opportunity to generate leads and land new customers, and in some cases seal new business deals.

Event Organisers are also negatively affected by the last-minute cancellations, rescheduling, or other such changes. Venues providers and vendors working in the event sector are also likely to be impacted by the predicted decline in events, attendance, and bookings. major gatherings including exhibitions.

Governments however laid out public interaction measures and guidelines including social distancing and wearing of masks in anticipation that things will return to normal.

Will things ever return to normal? is a question lingering on many people’s minds but one for which there is no definite answer.

The Water Show Africa new dates The Water Show Africa on the other hand organized by Terrapinn and that was expected to take place in March 2020 has been pushed to 20 - 21 August 2020.

This is in spite of South Africa’s imposed travel ban on foreign nationals from highrisk countries, a factor that is likely to affect the attendance if not eased by November.

But majority of key participants who are

The “new normal” Pundits have argued that the corona virus is likely to stay longer than expected and that the human ways of doing things will be disrupted for life or at least for a very long time before things go back to normal.

The “new normal” referring to change in society, particularly in relation to business and economics, now dictates that people must adjust their ways of doing things, and businesses must adapt to the changes caused by the pandemic and adopt new strategies to survive.

Flexibility and adaptability to change is the “new normal” that events professionals must adopt to survive. Some measures for minimising the negative effect are flexible venue bookings and vendor arrangements, as well as establishing clear cancellation policies for exhibitors or attendees.

Virtual events With the advancement in technology, the development of virtual reality (VR) and Audio Visual (AV) technology has increased capabilities to enable the organization of more immersive remote attendance options.

Remote options will become increasingly important in the future, offering attendees the opportunity to experience events without the health concerns associated with travel and crowds.

Some event planners have already made it a priority to offer various virtual attendance options, now popularly known as Webinars to connote seminars held in the world wide web, as well as live streaming via the available social media platforms.

Safety precautions Safety should be the utmost priority for any events taking place during this period, and event planners have a crucial role to play.

Some safety measures include: • Mandatory temperature screening for the event attendees and exhibitors, as well as regular temperature checks for staff and volunteers.

• Hand sanitisers and face masks available, this may include installing sanitization booths at the main entrance • Offering educational sheets, making sure attendees & exhibitors are familiar with the WHO guidelines for protecting themselves and others • Creating a medical unit, with medical supplies, available doctors, and isolated spaces for anyone who is potentially infected • Establishing clear communication between attendees and organisers, implementing strategies for informing attendees of any concerns or issues, as well as ensuring they know whom to contact if they are worried, they might be infected • Taking additional sanitation and disinfection measures: enhanced cleaning, more washing points etc.

Even as the event industry tries to contend with the new normal, experts think that people will still need physical interaction.

“We want to be part of a tribe of other humans. That is baked into our neuroscience.

Our brains thrive around people,” says David Neerman, Best-selling Author and Public speaker.

www.pumps-africa.com 19

Water & Sanitation»

Africa must prioritize on access to clean water post COVID-19 One of the main steps put in place by The World Health Organization (WHO) to help curb the spread of the corona virus is washing hands with soap and clean-running water

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frica will need to prioritize on access to clean water after COVID-19, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in its interim emergency guidance. One of the main steps put in place by The World Health Organization (WHO) to help curb the spread of the corona virus is washing hands with soap and clean-running water yet in SubSaharan Africa, nearly 63% of populations in town areas find it challenging to access basic water services.

Hence, many cannot wash their hands regularly as required, further, an estimated 70% to 80% of the region’s diseases like typhoid, cholera and dysentery are attributed to unavailability of clean water; this is according to a recent report by WHO and UNICEF.

In recent years, most African cities have had to take drastic measures to help reduce the frequent water shortages experienced in their regions. A good example is Cape Town’s extraordinary water shortage in 2018 where South African authorities avoided disaster by a flicker by rationing drinking water to 50 liters per inhabitant per day in a city that was used to consuming lots of water.

In the same year, Bouaké in Côte d’Ivoire received emergency financing of US$8.5 million from the World Bank to cope with a serious water shortage. As a result, two compact water treatment plants and 20 new wells were constructed , 82 hand pumps in the villages were rehabilitated which has helped connect to the city’s water system, and frequent distribution of safe water by water tankers.

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Strategies to be put in place Rapid strategies should be put in place

by African governments that will ensure availability of clean water, sanitation and hygiene services for all citizens both in urban and rural areas. Also, the governments should guarantee the financial viability of water utilities: According to a recent World Bank study on the performance of water supply services in Africa, it revealed that half of the region’s utilities do not have the revenues to cover their operation and maintenance costs, therefore leading to immense water shortages.

Most African countries should urgently build up the operational capacities of both public and private utilities to be able to supply clean water adequately. However, they need to do this at an acceptable tariff while remaining financially viable.

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Profile»

KSB Pumps and Valves also retrofits and rejuvenates old pumps and steam valves

Keeping the water flowing and lights burning “Although the company’s day-to-day operations have ceased in accordance with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s shutdown directives, it is our duty to provide robust technical and support services to mission critical services and industries,” David Jones, KSB Pumps & Valves’ Regional Sales Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa

C

ritical pumps in the provision of water and sanitation services, as well as pumps used in the generation of electricity are being fully supported during the nationwide Covid-19 lock down period.

Major supplier, KSB Pumps and Valves, has far-reaching contingency plans in place to ensure that any of its mission-critical pumps and other pumping infrastructure across industries will be properly supported.

Company spokesman, David Jones, regional sales manager for sub-Saharan Africa, says the company supplies large-scale pumps

for the distribution of potable water to the entire southern African region. “During this time of crisis, we will do everything in our power to support our water utilities and municipalities water infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted supply of clean water to all communities.

“The same applies to sanitation services where wastewater and sewerage handling is equally important to fight diseases and infection. Our workmen, technicians and engineers are on round-the-clock standby to ensure that pumps in these services run smoothly.”

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Jones adds that KSB Pumps and Valves has also played a crucial role in retrofitting and rejuvenating old pumps and steam valves in Eskom’s power station fleet in order to keep the country’s lights burning. Along with its modern equipment in newer power stations the company’s full support and vast expertise will be critical to ensure uninterrupted power during the shutdown.

Pumping infrastructure for other mission critical operations such as supporting the country’s vast petrochemical operations, dewatering mines, pollution mitigation, agricultural and other operations will also receive technical assistance from the company.

“Although the company’s day-to-day operations have ceased in accordance with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s shutdown directives, it is our duty to provide robust technical and support services to mission critical services and industries,” concludes Jones.

KSB Pumps and Valves, Annett Kriel, Tel: (011) 876 5600, Fax: (011) 822 1746, Email: Annett.Kriel@ksb.com, Web: www.ksbpumps.co.za

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Sustainability is in Our Sights.

KSB has been providing pumps and valves for more than 50 years to the farming community and other industries in South Africa. Our pumps and valves help farmers to get the water where it is needed. Whatever the agricultural application, KSB has the answer.

Irragtion pumps are used to pump water from a lower to a higher level from which the water then flows through channels to the fields requiring irrigation (lift operation) or to raise it to the required pressure head so that it can be sprayed on the fields via piping systems (sprinkling). The heads involved range from approximately 1 m for normal lift operation to 40 m for sprinkling. In special cases, heads exceeding 100 m may be required.

KSB Pumps and Valves (Pty) Ltd www.ksbpumps.co.za tel: +27-11-876-5600

> Our technology. Your success.

Pumps• Valves• Service

Advertorial»

VEGA PUMPS - CUTTING TO THE CHASE

T

he term “Slurry Pumping” is as undefined as perhaps the term “Human Race”?

As for the latter, some are big, brute, bouncer types that are hardcore and able to clear out nightclub in seconds. Others are precise sculptor types that are able to chisel charming statues from solid rock.

Yet others are the intermediaries that drive the taxis to get these people to and from work; pick up the fallout on the pavement outside the bar and wash away the stains; clean the stone chips from the studio floor and dust off the furniture.

AQS Liquid Transfer is proudly part of the crew that keep both the big brutes and the sculptors alive and supported. Among our abilities in the broader slurry pumping industry, we take pride of place in some niche segments such as:

1. VEGA GLAND SERVICE water

supply systems are precise and modular. Managed by cascade-able Vega VSD controllers, they have proven themselves in all facets of mining.

Series installation and precise pressure monitoring ensures that your train stays on the tracks.

2. VEGA SUBMERSIBLE SLURRY

and dirty water pump ranges are available from 1.5kW to 110kW and able to achieve vertical discharge heads of up to 180m (water) and delivering the best in terms of: • Improved Life Cycle Value

(testament from the bouncers

and the sculptors in mining) • Flexibility and adaptability

for modifications to align with

specifications in different

mining segments.

• Material choices which include

metal wear parts with 28%

Chrome content

3. SANDPIPER AIR OPERATED

DOUBLE DIAPHRAGM PUMPS for slurry pumping:

(i) HEAVY DUTY FLAP VALVE PUMPS (Delivering up to 15 000G/h)

• Pumps up to line size solids

• Bottom discharge porting to

prevent settling of pumped media

• Easiest AODD Pump to

maintain with quick access to

serviceable components

• Superior suction lift for dry

prime up to 24 feet, in water;

which is 5% greater than ball

•

•

•

valve type AODDP’s Thick Manifold and Chamber Walls, providing greater wear resistance when pumping solids and solid laden slurries All Bolted Construction ensures sealing forces are applied evenly Robust Diaphragm Connecting Rod guaranteed not to bend or break

(ii) HEAVY DUTY BALL VALVE PUMPS

• Top Ported Option for

fluids containing

floating solids, suspended

solids, or entrained gases.

• Weighted Check Valve Balls

feature a metallic core that is

30-60% heavier than a solid

rubber check ball, helping

to improve performance with

viscous fluids.

• Proven application in

processes with SG of up to 1.8 AQS Liquid Transfer is part of the Axflow Group and have supply and support capability in West-, Central- and Southern Africa. We obsess over ATTITUDE, QUALITY & SERVICE.

Written by Leon Fourie leonfourie@aqslt.co.za AQS Liquid Transfer 012 548 7204 aqsmontana@aqslt.co.za 24

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Contact: fpasimeni@phoenixcontact.com www.phoenixcontact.com

Automation solutions for water and wastewater Phoenix Contact is the worldwide market leader of components, systems and solutions in the area of electrical engineering, electronics and automation. With a team that is networked across the world and collaborations with industry partners, Phoenix Contact is a reliable partner for water management. We provide automation, communication and remote control technology for drinking water and wastewater systems, as well as process automation in water and wastewater treatment plants. The tailor-made solutions rely on open interfaces, from the control room, to the network and control levels, to the ďŹ eld level.

With the new and unique PLCnext technology ecosystem, we provide all developers and operators the possibility to use an open platform to create and find new solutions for their own application. In this way PLCnext Technology opens the door into the future.

Advertorial»

Machinery Supply:

Supporting the market with timely machines and equipment acquisition

The mission IMLO International has been to attract and consolidated customers with products and services of excellent quality and value.

IMLO International Ltd an affiliate of IMLO Group is a reliable importer, exporter Company based in Cameroon with its headquarter in Douala aimed at providing high quality products and services in a strick respect of international standard with issue related to sustainable development.

We distribute the best brands nationwide and to all markets segment from large institutions, organization, to hypermarket, supermarket, wholesalers, along with hotel & tourism industry, mining industry, oil & gas industry, general industries and some range of our key products offering include “Agricultural equipment and chemical, apparel and textile machines, building material machines, food & beverage products & machines, energy and mineral equipment, engineering and construction machines, air treatment equipment, petrolequipment, fuel dispenser equipment, mining machines, crusher machines, general

industrial machines, packaging machines, paper production machines, plastic and rubber machines, printing machines, refrigeration and heat exchange equipment, power & distribution transformers, various kind of cables, satellite communication equipment, woodworking machines, water treatment system machines and storage equipment, packaging and medical

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protective machines, lighting equipment & accessories, material handling, crushing & screening equipment, security & protection equipment, automotive equipment & spare part, pump & valves, pipe & plastic, mine site accommodation, mobile home & toilet, prefab houses, earth moving equipment, Tyre manipulator, wheel & tires, wear & acid resistant equipment, loaders trucks & haulage, fuel manage system & tank gauge system, mobile Eco tank fuel storage, PE pipe & PVC pipe, PE fittings & PVC fittings, PE valves & PVC valves, pipe laying machines, fire protection system & firefighting equipment, mining software, logistic, drone application, mining chemical used for different mining application, electronic products, hybrid power equipment which combine cost effective & renewable energy & battery storage being a solution for a miner’s diesel consumption, energy cost as well as carbon footprint which is the go-tochoice for mining companies seeking safe &

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stable electricity, especially in remote area, high efficiency & low energy consumption and we can supply, install and maintain silent power generation at government buildings, airports, institutions, medical facilities and major public buildings.

Our aims are to support potential manufacturers in the acquisition and or in the renewal of their manufacturing machines and equipment and to encourage importers to acquire their goods in a regular time frame. We are involved in selling & marketing of multi-commodities especially base metal, coal, cobalt, copper, diamond, gemstone, gold & silver, graphite, iron ore, platinum, quartz, refined & crude oil, uranium and we are also engaged in the mineral exploration, water treatment, storage & distribution activities.

We are committed to delivering the highest complete mobile satellite communication solution wherever you are either in the air, on the land or at sea and excellent satellite internet connectivity services to our customers and our experienced team of technical experts ensure business continuity and the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Our Suricate Pro is the revolutionary communication solution that provide people underground and other closed facilities with the ability to communicate over standard satellite phone without having to leave their secure surrounding. Suricate Pro coverage extension for Iridium satellite phone using wireless capabilities that extend your signal up to 6 km even underground without losing the signal quality.

Having a team of excellent qualified workforce and ensuring good team work, excellent quality control system, good business practice, particularly integrity and honest, keeping up with latest technology by acquiring new machinery and equipment and regular training program for our employees are key factors to enable us to be one of the leader in the industries.

We aim to earn the trust of our investors with the objective of ensuring the profitability of their investments and the sustainability of our business and regularly provide them with precise, complete and transparent information. We undertake to respect the fundamental principles with our suppliers and our service providers and take care to take into account the interests of each, in clarity and respect for contractual terms. We respect the cultures of the countries where we operate and contribute through our www.pumps-africa.com 27

AdvertorialÂť activities to the economic and social development of these countries through our activities.

Over the past five years, Group has built strong business relationship with leading companies throughout the world especially with edible food production and manufacturing industries and currently act as a supply chain partner of a leading groups in India, China, Middle-east, Europe and more.

We assure our commitment toward our professional services to our customers and our customer’s satisfactions is our top priority. Our services are in line with international quality management standard. We lead the development of the Group with respect for fundamental human and social rights and respect for the environment wherever we operate.

We comply with all applicable laws, regulations and agreements as well as international conventions and commitments.

We offer our customer a wide range of pumps & valves from drinking water to treatment system, from refineries to chemical plants and our pumps & valves are conceived for several types of plants and described to meet any technical requirements.

Our pumps used for transferring liquid such as clean water, waste water, fuel oil, cooking oil, cheese, yogurt, wine, and other food grade liquid, cosmetic, pitch, chemical liquid, and so on. In short our pumps can transfer almost all liquid and can be apply for agriculture irrigation, high rise construction, firefighting, food factory, chemical industry, oil refining, paving.

We also provide comprehensive technical solutions for assembly, cleaning, lubrication and protection in all industrial markets, and we can source and supply conveyor & parts such as Rollers, Idlers, Pulley, SMSR Gear Box, Wire mesh, Pins & Bushes for earth moving machine to various industrial sectors, be it cement plant, crusher plant, fertilizer plant, mining conveyor, port conveyor, power plant conveyor, transport conveyor.

The mission of the company has been to attract and consolidated customers with products and services of excellent quality and value.

Our vision is to build a world class organization that is supported by knowledge, technology and an understanding of the social and economic framework of market at global and local level.

TO HAVE YOUR COMPANY, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES FEATURED IN THIS PUBLICATION, KINDLY WRITE AN EMAIL TO : MARKETING@PUMPS-AFRICA.COM SOUTHAFRICA@PUMPS-AFRICA.COM 28

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Agriculture»

BMG works closely with the food and beverage sectors to raise hygiene standards throughout the food and logistics chain – from farmers, processors, manufacturers and packagers, to distributors, retailers and consumers.

Bmg provides critical engineering support to ensure safe and efficient food and beverage production and handling during the covid-19 lockdown in South Africa

B

MG – leading engineering solutions specialists - has been authorised to provide engineering components and support services to essential service providers, during the country’s COVID-19 lockdown period.

Apart from the supply of necessary engineering consumables and components, industry requires ongoing maintenance and refurbishment services, to ensure efficient productivity, particularly as lockdown levels start to shift towards level 1.

“The BMG team, remains committed to making sure industry is able to continue operating as safely and efficiently as possible during this challenging time. It is absolutely critical - while we are all vulnerable - that extra care is taken by companies to maintain pristine hygiene standards during food and beverage manufacture, storage, packaging and transportation,” says Mark Barbour, Group Product and Sales Manager, BMG.

food and beverage industry, to ensure that each plant is well-prepared to resume full production, as soon as the Government allows this. According to authorities, this virus is going to be with us for a very long time, so we all need to be prepared for new, stricter operating conditions. Even small faults in design, operation and maintenance can have huge negative impacts on the quality and safety of food products.

“We are currently working closely with our customers in all sectors, including the

“BMG’s solutions for the food and beverage sector extend from processing, where raw

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ingredients are transformed, to packaging, where products are enclosed and protected for safe distribution.

Our engineering solution services help our customers deliver on food safety and environmental and energy-efficient initiatives, through the supply and support of components for light materials handling, belting products, gearboxes, motors and variable speed drives (VSDs), bearings, seals and gaskets, power transmission components, valves, tools and equipment, as well as fasteners, food-grade lubricants and maintenance chemicals.

“Added to this, BMG – through its ‘Boer Slim’/Smart Farming initiative - offers local farmers sustainability solutions that focus on effective food production, to ensure there are adequate supplies of fresh foods for an anxious and vulnerable population, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This agricultural programme – which involves assisting farmers with the correct use of quality-branded equipment and the importance of investing in

advanced technologies - has never been more important. Our people rely on the dependable supply of fresh food, which our farmers are under enormous pressure to keep producing.”

BMG’s distribution centre in Droste Park, Johannesburg, is operational and fullystocked during the lockdown period, to help and support customers around the country and into Africa. A comprehensive range of equipment and components comprises bearings, seals and gaskets; power transmission; hydraulics and pneumatics; fluid technology and filtration; drives, motors and controllers; materials handling; fasteners and tools.

Assessment of equipment and plant procedures A cornerstone of BMG’s service to the food and beverage sector is reliability engineering - starting with an assessment of a plant’s operating processes and budgetary parameters. BMG’s initial design concept is enhanced by technical expertise for product specification, custom-design capabilities for improved productivity,

timeous delivery of components, installation and commissioning, as well as support and maintenance of equipment. BMG also offers extensive customer training.

Selection of the appropriate FDA-complaint equipment Through BMG’s assistance with careful and accurate product selection, correct installation methods and appropriate care of equipment, substantial savings can be made in reduced maintenance costs and minimal downtime.

The BMG team is also currently assisting essential service customers in other sectors, including water and waste water treatment facilities, coal mines and petrochemical plants. The company also works closely with service providers to power generation and pharmaceutical plants, as well as in ports, rail and road facilities.

Essential service providers requiring assistance are invited to contact BMG at this emergency number 0800022224.

BMG-AGR23102019 - Farmers Review www.pumps-africa.com 31 Wednesday, 23 October 2019 2:03:19 PM

Mining»

Dewatering Pump automation for maximum performance Pump automation enables predictive maintenance, which is integral to increasing pump uptime, translating into high productivity.

University, T Smith points out that automated systems can help mines realise cost savings with efficient faultfinding instrumentation, issue reporting efficiency, effective maintenance, as well as electricity cost savings by performing load shifting.

With regard to load shifting, he says, the desired method is to fully automate the pumping system to remotely control pumps for load shifting. Automation can help the client monitor the pumping system to ensure system sustainability and optimal operation.”

In addition, Smith underscores that automated system reduces human intervention, which is prone to errors, in addition to reducing labour costs. “Automated systems help the mine to employ fewer employees.

Personnel only need to monitor the pumps as the programmed server will control them.

Labour costs can then be lowered, which will see the mine realise labour cost savings.

With instrumentation being the core of pump automation, opportunities are created for technicians.”

A

pumping system is central to the control of pump operations, hence it has to perform optimally at all times. This is because the transportation of water and slurry has to be done efficiently.

Currently, ensuring pump efficiency is more relevant than ever, not least in mining and allied industries, where operators are working hard to make up for lost production and revenue loss incurred during the COVD19 lockdown. For this reason, adopting ways through which pump efficiency can be increased is the way to go. Automation of the pumping system is the surefire way through pumping system performance can be improved. Manual control of the pumping system, which requires human intervention is inherent with its limitations, which can have a huge bearing on productivity.

The relevance of automating pumping system control becomes clearer when one considers the liability of manual pump control.

Manual pumping systems fall short Manual pump control comes with its attendant limitations. According to C. Cilliers, author of the article Cost savings on mine dewatering pumps by reducing preparation- and comeback loads, these include inadequate monitoring of vibrations and temperatures, delayed maintenance due to poor fault finding, delayed discharge valve opening, causing pump damage or failure, high maintenance costs, and possibility of mine flooding when communication to and from underground fails. Ultimately, this can result in downtime to key processes which can translate in loss of productivity.

Pump automation an ideal solution Dewatering pumps require regular and consistent monitoring and maintenance to function optimally. In his dissertation submitted for the degree Masters in Mechanical Engineering, North-West

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The system layout and configuration will determine the instrumentation needed for automation. Typically, mine dewatering pumps will have temperature transmitters, vibration transmitters, pressure transmitters, flow meters, actuators, balance disk flow switches and programmable logic controller installed when automated. Control room operators monitor the control systems for possible risks when alarms incorporated into the system warns them of an issue that has to be addressed.

Predictive maintenance, high pump productivity Pump automation enables predictive maintenance, which is integral to increasing pump uptime, translating into high productivity. Due to poor maintenance planning, mines may experience spare parts shortages, increased overtime and callouts, poorer quality repairs and documentation due to limited planning time. Automation can improve the efficiency of pumping systems by recognising the acceptable and unacceptable operating conditions using monitoring for vibration and neural network pattern recognition techniques. In this way, pump downtime time can be reduced.

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Mining»

South African steel fabrication specialist to build tanks for RioZim mine The tanks - of which the largest measure 12 m in diameter and 12.7 m in height - are part of an expansion of the gold processing plant at the mine.

“We are proud of the ‘Team Africa’ nature of the RioZim project, which is being delivered by a South African team of suppliers to an African project,” says Managing Director of Betterect, Nicolette Skjoldhammer.

She adds that – particularly in light of how the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed widespread economic dependence on Asian products – the RioZim collaboration is an example of one of the ways in which local industrial supply chains can drive African growth.

“This happens when companies focusing on the supply, processing, fabrication and erection of steel structures join forces to deliver pan-African infrastructure projects in the mining, power generation, petrochemical and other industries,” she asserts.

B

etterect, a South African specialist in steel fabrication and erection of mining, petrochemical and other industrial structures, is drawing on its extensive experience of successfully delivering steel projects locally and across Africa to fabricate and install ten large steel tanks for RioZim, at its Cam and Motor gold mine in Zimbabwe.

The tanks – of which the largest measure 12 m in diameter and 12.7 m in height – are part of an expansion of the gold processing plant at the mine.

Betterect has also been appointed as the only structural mechanical piping and platework (SMPP) contractor on the project; and, as such, will be fabricating and installing all structural steel, piping, mechanical and process equipment accordingly.

On completion of the expansion project, the Cam and Motor mine’s monthly production

will increase from 80kg to 167kg, making it the largest gold mine in Zimbabwe – as well as the only refractory gold ore treatment plant in the entire country.

The front end of the refractory gold ore treatment plant will have a nameplate capacity of 2 500 tons per day, and the BIOX tanks will treat 100 tons of flotation concentrate per day.

BIOX is a robust, easy to operate and sustainable technology for the treatment of refractory gold concentrates, developed and owned by project designers Outotec.

Betterect is fabricating the tanks with locally-sourced South African steel, which has reduced the overall project lead time by six to eight weeks. Columbus Stainless has supplied 250 tons of grade 2304 duplex steel for the project; while South African steel and aluminium supplier Stalcor is responsible for the processing of the material.

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The RioZim steel tank fabrication project, which includes structural mechanical piping and platework (SMPP) components – kicked off in July 2019 and is making excellent progress, taking the industry-wide and unavoidable Covid-19 pandemic-related delays into account.

Betterect is fabricating two types of tanks in this project, namely bulk standard and OKTOP reactor units from carbon and duplex stainless steel, including design integration of the original BIOX technology from project designers Outotec.

Skjoldhammer says the company is fabricating a number of the tanks at its facility here in Johannesburg, before transporting and installing them at the RioZim operation; while only the largest are being built on site.

She explains that this approach reduces the safety risks inherent in on-site work; as well as the logistical risk factors which come with cross-border, in-country work: “For example, we have ensured that as much of the so-called ‘hot’ work (such as welding) has been done at our facility in Johannesburg.”

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“The challenges typically involved in delivering steel projects pan-Africa include – amongst many others – logistical issues such as obtaining the required in-country work permits, managing of export and customs requirements, the issuing of bonds and cross-border site establishment.

Notwithstanding these – and as well as delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemicrelated challenges – Betterect has once again proved its adeptness at successfully overcoming challenges and is on track to complete the project within the original planned project duration,” she explains.

Skjoldhammer adds that the smooth supply of the steel material by Betterect’s South African partners Columbus and Stalcor contributed to the overall project success: “The project underlines that Betterect and our partners have a competitive advantage in undertaking projects in Africa for both local and international clients.”

ning h thicke Pre-leac thickening h c g and/ Post-lea thickenin Final tails on or filtrati ence in x e e peri Extensiv alt b and co copper . projects

• • •

Betterect has a sound track record of supplying pan-African mining and energy projects with large steel equipment and infrastructure. Its milestone projects include the delivery of seven stainless steel thickeners for a project in Congo(DRC); the fabrication and installation of thickeners for the Swakopmund uranium mine in Namibia; and the fabrication and installation of structural steel and tanks for a gas-fired power plant in Mozambique.

Slurry Thickening and Filtration Solutions

Manit Shah, Group Chief Operations Officer at RioZim Limited commends Betterect and its ‘Team Africa’ partners Columbus Steel and Stalcor for their contributions to and participation in this milestone project: “The RioZim BIOX project serves as a great example and reference point in promoting African steel products and fabrication services to the pan-African market – and is a showcase for what ‘Team Africa’ can collectively achieve,” he remarks.

Water Conditioning

“The success of this project is not only attributable to Betterect’s substantial experience of working in the steel sector locally and in Africa for over four decades; but also to our partnership with local steel suppliers, whom we would like to sincerely thank for their contribution and team work.

The sterling-quality material and processing capabilities which are available in South Africa – together with Betterect’s expertise in manufacturing large equipment and steel structures for the mining sector – has formed a productive partnership, to the ultimate benefit of our client,” Skjoldhammer concludes.

• • • • • • • •

Slurry characterisation Lab and Pilot Studies Design data generation Equipment sizing Dewatering circuit design Site audits Technical adjudication of dewatering equipment tenders Thickener control

ClariVie44® is a water conditioning reagent developed inhouse for the improvement of overflow clarity and reducing flocculant costs particularly in problematic clay slurries or any other dispersive slurries.

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Understanding slurry means designing the process to suit the properties of the slurry

www.pumps-africa.com 35

Oil & Gas»

East Africa’s Oil Industry: A New Story in the Making

The moving forward of the Lake Albert Development Project, and its export pipeline, is a major step forward de-risking other potential oil & gas projects in East Africa

Eng. Elizabeth Rogo, Founder & CEO of TSAVO Oilfield Services and President of East Africa at the African Energy Chamber.

Source: African Energy Chamber

H

ose tracking is at the bottom in the pecking order of priorities in the sphere of increasing efficiency in mining. But if mining companies are really hell-bent on realising value across-the-board in their operations, every available avenue to accomplish this has to be fully exploited.

the beginning of a new chapter for East Africa’s energy industry. To dissect the deal and discuss its wider implications for the region, the African Energy Chamber (EnergyChamber.org) organised a webinar with leading regional industry experts, held under the Chatham House Rule.

Good or bad deal?

Under the agreement announced, the overall consideration paid by Total to Tullow will be $575m, with an initial cash payment of $500m at closing and $75m when the partners take the Final Investment Decision (FID) to launch the project.

To this end, vast opportunities lie in the management of hydraulic hose and fittings.

Featuring key officials and representatives from Stanbic Bank, Standard Bank, Shell, Baker Hughes and the Kenya National Oil Company, the webinar was hosted by Eng. Elizabeth Rogo, Founder & CEO of TSAVO Oilfield Services and President of East Africa at the African Energy Chamber.

Under the terms of the deal, Total will acquire all of Tullow’s existing 33.3334% stake in each of the Lake Albert project licenses EA1, EA1A, EA2 and EA3A and the proposed East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) System. The Lake Albert project, also called the Tilenga Project, has a

The recent acquisition by Total of Tullow Oil’s entire interests in the Lake Albert Development Project in Uganda, including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, marks

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production capacity of up to 230,000 bopd, which would propel Uganda in the top 5 of sub-Saharan Africa’s oil producers. In addition, the proposed 60,000 bopd refinery and some of the overarching issues were mentioned.

The deal is a win-win for all stakeholders involved. First, for Total, who ends up acquiring Tullow Oil’s entire interests in the Lake Albert development project for less than $2/barrel. Then, for Tullow Oil, whose debt is rising and who is looking at raising $1bn by selling some of its key assets. The company’s shares rose on the announcement of the deal.

Finally, it is a win for Uganda’s oil industry and local jobs. After years of deliberations and debate, the closing of the sale allows the country and oil companies to move the conversation towards FID and practical project’s development. It also sends strong signals to the rest of the region, and Kenya in particular, to do everything possible to unlock their own oil & gas potential.

While visibility on the FID’s timeline remains unclear, the project is very competitive even in a depressed low oil prices environment.

The cost per barrel of the integrated Lake Albert Development Project is indeed

estimated at around $50. This is explained in part because the country’s hydrocarbons are within shallow deposits which are less drilling intensive and do not need as much casing, tubing and completion work.

While Total is following a global trend of drastically cutting expenses in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of oil demand and oil prices, the project’s economics make it one of the most likely to get FID in the near future.

A key unanswered question for now is whether CNOOC will exercise its preemption rights under the joint operating agreements it has with Tullow Oil and Total as a joint venture partner, like it did in the failed 2019 sale. A scenario under which the Chinese major does exercise once again its pre-emption rights is very likely, and will in fine depend on China’s overall strategy for the wider East Africa region.

Pipeline matters The moving forward of the Lake Albert Development Project, and its export pipeline, is a major step forward de-risking other potential oil & gas projects in East Africa and making them attractive for investments and financing.

Given the current industry dynamics and potential liquidity constraints, participants agreed that a scenario under which two regional pipelines would be laid was becoming more challenging. The size of Uganda and Kenya’s discovered reserves along with the capital and financial muscles of their operators will be factors weighing in which pipeline gets executed.

The EACOP was, however, a matter which participants thought could become contentious for the execution of the overall Lake Albert project, and the development of the region’s oil sector. Key questions remain to be answered, chief amongst them being Tanzania’s business environment and the country’s ability to provide policy certainty on the execution of such a major infrastructure venture.

Whether Tanzania decides to stick to an enabling business environment and demonstrate its willingness to comprise with international investors after years of natural resources nationalism remains another unanswered question.

The way the execution of the pipeline evolves will determine a lot of East Africa’s oil industry future. While the original northern route through Kenya was deemed

www.pumps-africa.com 37

Oil & Gas» less favourable, a scenario under which Total would consider buying out Tullow Oil’s assets in Kenya, where several significant oil discoveries were made, could potentially re-roll the dice in the region.

within local communities and ensuring that Uganda’s oil benefits the development of a strong local sector, the region as a whole needs to come together to support regional ventures.

Regional content, now Finally, and more importantly, the expected first oil from Uganda in the coming years should urgently lead to local content preparations not on a national, but a regional level.

Unless companies across East Africa come together and leverage on their respective expertise and experience to work together, there is a fear that upcoming oil and gas projects will ultimately go to foreign contractors and deprive local businesses from tremendous growth opportunities.

Between the two upstream projects of Tilenga (Total) and Kingfisher (CNOOC), the pipeline project and the Uganda oil refinery project, the scale of upcoming projects in Uganda and the neighbouring countries represents billions of dollars of opportunities for local companies.

However, given the under-developed nature of the local hydrocarbons services industry in East Africa, only regional partnerships and joint-ventures can result in maximising such opportunities. As the conversation in Uganda moves towards employability

In this regard, the development of an African regional content is one of the top 10 measures that form Africa’s Common-sense Energy Agenda, released by the African Energy Chamber.

In this context, the need to invest in education, training and skills transfer is greater than ever. The success of the region’s oil sector will depend on all stakeholders coming together to bring the East African energy story to investors

Nigeria’s largest gas pipeline project completion date pushed to 2021 The Completion date of Nigeria’s largest gas transmission pipeline, the Oben – Obiafu – Obrikom (OB3) gas pipeline project, has been pushed to 2021.This is due to a crucial part of the construction being handed over to a new contractor who has now been caught up in the global pandemic mix up.

The old contractor’s inability to run a 48 inch pipeline in a 60 inch hole under a riverbed spanning 2.8 kilometers, compelled the state owned Nigerian Gas Transmission Company (NGTC) to hand over that aspect of the operations to Chinese firm – China Petroleum Pipeline Construction Company (CPPCC) and Pipes manufacturer – Brentex Petroleum Services.

The equipment imported by CPPCC for the operation have been held up in the Lagos Port for over three weeks, with Port officials unwilling to allow evacuation of the material citing Coronavirus concerns. Delays have seen the project’s completion dates being pushed severally from 2018 to September 2019 and now to 2021. The Oben – Obiafu – Obrikom (OB3) pipeline is Nigeria’s largest gas transmission pipeline and its completion will create the first semblance of a gas grid in the country.

The pipeline system is a critical component of the Nigeria Gas Master Plan meant to ferry gas from the huge reservoirs in Rivers State, eastern Niger Delta to the established industrial markets in the West of the country.

Upon completion, the pipeline being sponsored by the Nigerian government through NGTC will have the capacity to pump 2 Billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

It’s construction is in line with Nigeria’s goal of meeting the gas demand for power generation and industrial concerns (methanol, cement, manufacturing etc.) with emphasis on operational safety, efficiency and flexibility with a view to providing industry standard, remote supervision and control.

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«Oil & Gas

How oil and gas is contributing to the global COVID-19 battle Hydrocarbons companies have also been doing their part to flatten the curve of infections worldwide and relieve hardship for affected communities.

Compiled by: AOW

T

he effect of COVID-19 – combined with a price war between China and Saudi Arabia – on the oil price during the past weeks has had a sobering effect on industry veterans and general consumers alike. However, whilst making difficult decisions and sweeping cutbacks, hydrocarbons companies have also been doing their part to flatten the curve of infections worldwide and relieve hardship for affected communities.

To celebrate this, here is compilation of the most inspiring stories seen from the sector: INEOS builds hand sanitizer plant in just ten days INEOS, one of the world’s largest oil, gas and petrochemicals companies, gave itself just ten days to build a hand sanitiser plant near Middlesbrough, UK and has started producing 1 million hand sanitisers per month. Two further plants are already being planned in France and Germany with similarly rapid start-up timeframes.

INEOS is the leading European producer of the two key raw materials needed for sanitisers – isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and ethanol. The company is already running these plants flat out and have been diverting more of this product to essential medical use including in the new INEOS factories.

Oil and gas-derived products are essential to the production of essential healthcare products from rubber gloves, to PVC saline drips, syringes, ventilators and medical tubing. Petrochemicals produce the raw materials for soap, phenol for medicines such as aspirin and paracetamol, and acetonitrile is being used in pharmaceutical analysis essential in procedures necessary to find a vaccine.

Kenya distributes free hand sanitizer Ins Africa, the oil and gas sector has too begun to use its resources for the production and distribution of hand sanitizer. The Kenya

Pipeline Company (KPC) has partnered with several private and public sector players to donate 130,000 litres of free hand sanitizer to citizens.

ExxonMobil develops multi-use PPE for clinical settings ExxonMobil is applying its deep knowledge and experience with polymer-based technologies to facilitate development and production of innovative safety equipment that can be sterilized and worn multiple times.

Together with the Global Center for Medical Innovation, the supermajor has initiated multi-sector and joint development projects to rapidly redesign and manufacture reusable personal protection equipment for health care workers, such as face shields and masks, of which there is currently a global shortage.

BP delivers water to Mauritanian town The Mauritanian river island of Ndiago normally relies on clean water brought daily from Senegal. After COVID-19 forced the Mauritanian government to shut its border with Senegal, BP and its partners identified a temporary solution. The team repaired an old water tank nearby, then organised canoes to transport water from the tank across the river to Ndiago and made sure the water reached communities in need.

This is just one of many positive initiatives BP has put in place worldwide recently.

From 21st March until the end of April, BP has offered to supply free fuel to the UK emergency vehicles.

Total supplies French hospitals with fuel vouchers In a similar move to BP, Total has decided to support French healthcare staff by supplying them with fuel for their personal travel. In consultation with France’s health authorities, Total will provide hospitals with gasoline vouchers worth up to €50 million that can be used at Total stations.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO, commented, “In this period of crisis, Total’s teams remain mobilized to enable French people to make all their necessary travel arrangements. With its nationwide network, Total is working alongside those who are fighting the epidemic everywhere. Which is why the Group has decided to make this practical gesture of support for our hospital staff, who are working to ensure the health of patients.”

Chevron opens its chequebook to help those affected by the crisis In recent week, the US Operator has contributed over $7 million to response efforts with direct donations to food banks, education and health services. It has also pledged to match qualifying donations to nonprofits made by employees and retirees two-to-one during the month of April.

Donations made so far by the company have included: • $500,000 to DonorsChoose to help teachers in the high-need schools • $430,000 to food banks in California and Texas • $70,000 to the United Way – a charity dedicated to improving the lives of families – in New Mexico Baker Hughes uses idled 3D printers to make protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers Oilfield service company and Africa Oil Week sponsor Baker Hughes has joined other manufacturers in using spare or idled machinery to make protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers.

The initiative spans the Texas-based company’s global operations. Printers are hard at work in Houston, Oklahoma City, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.

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Pumps Africa is a quarterly magazine for the pump industry incorporating; events, projects, products and news in the sectors of Water and sanitation, Agriculture, Oil & Gas, Construction, Mining, Industrial Power generation, Automotive markets and more, as well as emerging trends and innovation in tthe industry, in Africa and around the globe.

PUMPS AFRICA MAGAZINE is published 4 times per annum: Jan/March, Apr/June, Jul/Sept, Oct/Dec.

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There’s nothing worse than an unknown variable and there’s nothing more variable than water. Floods, torrential downpours, moving water from A to B – it can very quickly get out of control. That’s why the Weir Minerals team works tirelessly with sites to design tailored dewatering solutions. We use our expertise in both process and products to maximise efficiency and help you take control of your water.

Learn more at dewateringsolutions.weir

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