ORAPA BOTSWANA

May 2011

Partnerships and track record weigh in for Wade Walker

Wade Walker has proved time and again that success achieved on contracts that required innovative solutions under trying conditions become an ace up the sleeve when competing for further projects.

Sean Egner, project manager on an electrical and instrumentation installation project for a new power plant built by Debswana at Orapa Mine in Botswana, says that Wade Walker’s relationship with Debswana and De Beers reaches back several years.

“We have developed excellent working relationships with various project managers and project teams on different initiatives and have established an exceptional track record with both De Beers and SMEI, who is the structural, mechanical and pipework contractor on this particular project. Teams from all three companies have a professional understanding of all the requirements for completion of such a project, and work closely together to confront any challenges in order to find solutions,” Egner says.

The new power plant at Orapa consists of two 45 MW simple cycle generators which connect to the national grid and constitute part of a longer term plan by the Botswana government to alleviate the power crisis in the country. Previously, South Africa sold power to Botswana, but this contract was recently terminated, so the power plant is intended to provide the shortfall.

“The project is critical to Botswana in terms of power, business and economic growth,” Egner points out. “Phase one of the project concerns the construction and commissioning of the plant to operate on diesel fuel. Ultimately, Phase two will enable it to be fuelled by natural gas, which is apparently situated within some 40 km of the plant itself. Once more power is available on the grid (Botswana is building a power station at Morepule, where Wade Walker is doing the E&I installation for the proposed expansions to the coal mine), Orapa will probably serve as a peaking power plant.”

Certain modifications had to be made to specifications drawn up by consultant IEG from Slovakia, which has extensive experience designing power stations in Europe but was cooperating with Wade Walker for the first time. "The proposed design had to be matched to Debswana specifications which meant Wade Walker and IEG had to optimise material and equipment selection, resulting in changes among others in the purchase of different and additional quantities of material than originally planned," Egner says.

Though this is the first significant power project that Wade Walker has been involved in for some time, it is but one of many other contracts the company has undertaken in Africa, where it has established an enviable reputation in the industry.

“We have been constructing a legacy in many countries on the continent,” Egner points out, “So we are intimately familiar with the many logistic and procurement issues that confront contractors. Remote locations, working with many recruits local to the project sites, indifferent communications and infrastructure networks, and language and legal barriers all create their own challenges.”

Botswana was no different. “If you failed to plan adequately for material, additional supplies would take at least a week to arrive.

“Fortunately, we have developed highly sophisticated systems and processes whereby we ensure that every possible item required for completion of our contracts is purchased and taken with us. In addition, our staff includes ex-patriots who are conversant with local languages, customs and conditions to facilitate communication and understanding.”

Wade Walker also brings core members of its project management team, as well as senior, specialist and semi-skilled artisans to site, in view of the widespread shortage of skills in most African countries.

“We also rely heavily on our highly experienced and professional site management teams who have in-depth knowledge of working in remote locations. They know exactly what must be done and what risks need to be mitigated on projects and they are empowered to make decisions to ensure the successful completion of projects.”

According to Egner, additional expertise gained during this project will put Wade Walker in good stead to handle similar initiatives on power plants throughout Africa. “This country had considerable expertise in this sector which was lost during the late 80s and 90s and which now has to be regained during the building of new power plants,” he points out. “We now have considerable value to bring to the table on E&I work on such projects.”