Featured Project: Nokeng Fluorspar Mine

Description: Development of the proposed Nokeng fluorspar mine in the Gauteng Province. Sephaku plans to develop the Nokeng mine, immediately south of the Vergenoeg mine, to produce on average 130 000 t/y acid grade fluorspar. The mine complex will comprise an open cast mining operation, concentrator plant, tailings disposal facility (TDF) and associated infrastructure and services. The initial capital expenditure required for the Nokeng mine was estimated at R1.7 billion

Status: Underway

Industry: Infrastructure

Region: Gauteng 

Sector: Private

Value: R 100 million+

Timing: Contract period : 21 months

Notes: A joint venture comprising DRA Projects and Group 5 Construction has been awarded the EPC contract for the mine, which includes the concentrator, access roads and the “selfbuild” portion of a power supply agreement concluded with Eskom. Construction is expected to be concluded within 21 months, with commissioning in November 2018 and first production in January or February 2019.

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Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

Featured Project: Prieska Zinc-Copper Project, Northern Cape

Description: The project is located 270 kilometres south-west of Kimberley, the regional capital of the Northern Cape province. Importantly, the project has access to significant local and regional infrastructure, with mine infrastructure including a regional power grid feed, bitumen access roads, access to a bulk, treated water supply and a 1 900m landing strip. Several large commercial wind and solar generation projects are operational in the surrounding area and the mine is located just 48kms from a railway siding at Groveput with an open-access railway line connecting the site to the world-class export port of Saldanha Bay.

Status: Conceptual

Industry: Infrastructure

Region: Northern Cape

Sector: Private

Value: R 100 million+

Timing: 2017 onwards.

Notes: Orion Gold has started a major new phase of drilling at its Prieska Zinc-copper project where the first two holes of the programme are designed to test mineralisation in the north-west target area. The initial drilling will also provide technical information that will allow Orion to plan and complete a drill programme.

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Featured Project: Tjate Platinum, Limpopo

Description: Development of Tjate Platinum mine with associated infrastructure, smelter and refinery near Steelpoort in the Limpopo Province. Jubilee Platinum is planning a new $400m platinum mine producing about 262,000 oz/year from its Tjate prospect in South Africa’s western Bushveld. Project value: $510 million.

Status: Design

Industry: Infrastructure

Region: Limpopo

Sector: Private

Value: R 100 million+

Timing: 2017 onwards.

Notes: The Project is independently judged to contain arguably the world’s largest undeveloped defined block of platinum ore.

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About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

Featured Project: Thabametsi Coal-fired Power Station, Lephalale, Limpopo

Description: Proposed establishment of a coal-fired power station on located on Farm Onbelyk 257 LQ, 17 kms north-west of Lehalale in the Limpopo Province. The power station will have a capacity of up to 1200MW to be developed in two phases of 600MW each. The power station will make use of either conventional pulverised coal or circulating fluidized bed boiler technology depending on the quality of the coal source to be used. The identified site for the power station is near the Grootgeluk coal mine, Matimba Power Station and Medupi Power Station which is currently under construction on land owned by Exxaro.

Status: Awarded

Industry: Infrastructure

Region: Limpopo

Sector: Private

Value: R 100 million+

Timing: 2015 onwards

Notes: Marubeni has signed an engineering, procurement and construction agreement with Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, so that the civil partner will provide major equipment including boilers and turbines. Please see Awards.

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About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

Featured Project: Sultan Palace Beach Resort – Kenya, Apartments

Description: Construction of apartments for the Sultan Palace Beach Retreat in Kenya. Sultan Palace Development Ltd, a Chinese real estate group has launched a Sh5 billion beach resort in the Kenyan coastal county of Kilifi to cash in on the growing demand for holiday homes in the country. The beach resort sits on a 43 acre beach-front in Kikambala, 25kms from Mombasa in Kenya.

Status: Underway

Industry: Building

Region: Kenya

Sector: Public

Value: R100 million+

Timing: 2015 onwards.

Notes: The apartments are currently about 65% complete.

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About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

Featured Project: Setlabotsha Mine Project, Mpumalanga

Description: Anglo Operations proposes the development of the Setlabotsha Mine located near Standerton in the Lekwa Local Municipality and the Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga Province. The proposed Setlabotsha project will involve the extraction of coal by means of underground mining methods. The coal resource will be accessed by two new shafts and the coal will be transported via a new overland conveyor to the existing new Denmark Colliery. No processing will take place at the Setlabotsha shaft complexes.

Status: Procedural

Industry: Infrastructure

Region: Mpumalanga

Sector: Private

Value: R 100 million+

Timing: 2017 onwards

Notes: Anglo has appointed SRK Consulting as the Independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner to undertake the environmental authorisation process for the proposed project. The Scoping Report was submitted to the DMR in December 2016 and they are currently evaluating the Report. DMR Ref MP 30/5/1/2/2 1015 EM

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About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

Did you Know #DYK – SASSDS Life Cycle Costing App

SASSDS Life Cycle Costing App

SASSDA (Southern African Stainless Steel Development Association ) has a Life Cycle Costing App which can be downloaded free from the Google Playstore or the Apple App Store.

This useful app can be used by engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, end-users, specifiers and even members of the public, to determine the costs of using stainless steel in projects compared to alternatives based on realistic estimates of the total costs of products or structures across their full-service lives. The app requires minimal entry of key top-line data, before calculating a breakdown of the relevant costs and presenting the results in a convenient email format.

According to their website, http://sassda.co.za:

Stainless steels have traditionally been specified in applications where the primary requirement is corrosion resistance. However, since their invention over 100 years ago, stainless steels (of which there are more than 200 different types) have also been recognised for other attributes such as durability, versatility, quality, sustainability, hygiene, aesthetic appeal and, with the advent of Life Cycle Costing (LCC), economy!

LCC is a technique developed for identifying and quantifying all costs, initial and ongoing, associated with a project or installation over a given period. It uses the standard accounting principle of discounted cash flow, so that total costs incurred during a life cycle period are reduced to present day values. This allows a realistic comparison to be made of the available options. As far as material selection is concerned, LCC enables potential long-term benefits to be assessed against short-term expediency. Materials costs are assessed with their related implications, such as initial outlay, maintenance and its frequency, downtime effects and production losses, repair and replacement costs, and other operationally related costs such as manpower and energy consumption.

The total LCC can be broken down into components:

LCC      =          Acquisition Cost
+          Fabrication and Installation Cost
+          Maintenance Costs (periodic)
+          Replacement Costs (periodic)
+          Cost of Lost Production (periodic)
–           Residual (Scrap) Value.

Each of these terms must be known if a realistic result is to be calculated. The environment and scope of usage are, therefore, crucial in determining the LCC benefits when choosing materials.

A full Life Cycle Cost analysis thus enables the materials specifier to consider the implications of future cost in terms of both actual monetary value and inconvenience of future maintenance and replacements.

Stainless steels are 100% recyclable without any loss in quality no matter how many times the process is repeated. When products reach the end of their useful lives, over 80% of the stainless steel is collected and recycled. Stainless steels are durable and have low maintenance costs due to their corrosion resistance. There is no coating or painting requirement and normal maintenance would simply be occasional cleaning.
Stainless steel may not always be the cheapest candidate material for an application when considering upfront costs. However, its durability and ease of maintenance compensate for the sometimes higher initial purchasing costs and it is often the least expensive choice in a Life Cycle Cost comparison.

With the development of its own Life Cycle Costing programme in the 1990s, the Southern African Stainless Steel Development Association (SASSDA) was able to determine the costs of using stainless steel in projects compared to alternatives based on realistic estimates of the total costs of products or structures across their full-service lives.

Full details and links to download the App can be obtained on the SASSDA website at http://sassda.co.za/life-cycle-costing-campaign and for a full explanation of how Life Cycle Costing works, you can also view their latest SASSDA YouTube channel video.

Information sourced from http://sassda.co.za

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About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

Featured Project: Tunisia Economic City – Residential City

Description: Construction of a residential city for a new mixed-use development to be known as Tunisia Economic City in Tunisia, North Africa. The Residential City is to consist of 7.6% land area / 28 million m² GFA / 4.10 FAR, and will include high density, mid density, townhouses, family villas and luxury villas. This new city is located in Enfidha District in close proximity to the Enfidha Al-hammamat International airport which can help initially to speed up the building of the city. The 90 square kilometres project with an 18 kilometres beach front modern sustainable and eco-friendly metropolis will be the home of 500,000 inhabitants and will provide 250,000 jobs once completed within 15 years from now. Estimated project value: US$ 50 billion.

Status: Procedural

Industry: Building

Region: Tunisia

Sector: Private

Value: R 100 million+

Timing: 2015 onwards

Notes: Tunisia Economic City will house up to 500,000 residents when completed in 12 years from its launch and will create 250,000 jobs all over the Tunisian country. It has already attracted the participation of at least 120 international major corporations each in its respective field.

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About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

L2B Blog: Does Technology make us more or less productive in the workplace?

Does Technology make us more or less productive in the workplace?

 

Technology today puts us in contact with a constant stream of new information. Whether you are reading promotional emails, scanning the latest news and trends or connecting on social media, you are ingesting massive amounts of content. You never know where the inspiration for your next big idea might come from and engaging on such a large scale might just provide you with the right spark.

The Big Question is, however, is technology more of a distraction than a tool for productivity? The answer basically comes down to how you use technology and how you incorporate new tools to combat the effects of constant distractions.

After scouring the Net for inspiration and answers, I have come up with the following ways that we can use today’s technology to make us more productive:

Research shows there is a direct relationship between office design and productivity. It also plays an important role in employee job satisfaction and organisational performance. A well-designed office can also enhance knowledge shared among employees, which, in turn, boosts productivity.

Productivity thrives in an environment where employees are motivated to succeed. It is important to value people’s insights and involve them in setting goals for the organisation. It will not only motivate them to be more productive but also create a culture of innovation that will help your company adapt and grow as products, technology and markets evolve over time.

While technology is often viewed as a distraction, it’s one of the most important ways to enhance office productivity. One study done found that office productivity has increased by a whopping 84% over the last four decades, all thanks to advancements in digital technology. And it goes without saying that when it comes to internet speed, the faster the better!

Taking regular, short breaks throughout the day is also beneficial to productivity. A study by the University of Illinois found that even a brief interruption is enough to get back on track when you lose focus during a long or difficult task. Letting your mind wander is also a great way to stay productive, as your brain is relaxed and can focus solving tricky problems. Short breaks allow you to take a step back and evaluate your work, and ultimately leading to better performance and less burnout over the long term.

So, yes, it would appear that technology can be a distraction that can diminish productivity if not properly managed by the individual. However, technology has made the modern workplace more streamlined, efficient and accessible than ever before. The trick is, as with any double-edged sword, is to use it to your advantage and make it work for you, so that you don’t end up getting cut.

Information sourced from the following websites:

Does Technology Actually Make You More Productive?

http://www.businessrevieweurope.eu/technology/1146/3-ways-IoT-will-transform-your-office
http://www.axiomprojects.com.au/news/post/5-factors-that-influence-office-productivity/

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L2B Blog: Innovations In Smart Home Technology

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Innovations In Smart Home Technology

With advancement in technology, scores of cool gadgets are finding their way into more and more homes and changing the way people live. These gadgets are not just fancy, they are providing quick solutions to everyday problems, making our lives so much easier. The simple designs and improved functions reduce human effort and conserve space. I am always interested in new gadgets and gizmos that are being developed, to make our home lives easier and I regularly surf the net looking for cool gadgets.

So, what can we look forward to in 2017?

Here are 5 of the best (in my opinion) that are going to make our homes a little smarter and our lives a little easier…….

1. Best Cookware

Now this is smart – WeMo wireless smart home platform, Belkin’s Crock-Pot is the first smartphone controllable slow cooker. Via the WeMo iOS or Android smartphone app, you can adjust the crock pot’s settings from anywhere, receive reminders, change the cook time, adjust the cooking temperature, use the timer to calculate cook times and process, or even check the status of your dish so you can come home to a perfectly cooked meal. How smart is that? And who wouldn’t like one? Me.. me.. me!

2. Best Refrigerator

Samsung (who else!) Family Hub. 4-door Flex Smart French Door Refrigerator – this connected refrigerator has everything but the kitchen sink. Its large touchscreen on the front door lets you view family member’s schedules, leave notes for each other, order groceries, play music and even watch TV! In addition, the fridge has three cameras inside which take a picture and email it to you every time you close the door. No more guessing or trying to remember if you need to buy more milk! Pricey of course, but this is the most innovative fridge. Ever!

3. Best Smart Garage Door Opener

Searching or reaching for that elusive garage door remote while trying to navigate a dark street at night or around children’s discarded toys or even sometimes your children often proves awkward and dangerous, to say the least. Chamberlain’s garage door opener lets you tap your device’s screen to open or close your garage door. The company is also planning to add geofencing capabilities so it can sense when you are approaching your driveway and automatically open the garage door and then once your car is safely parked inside, to close your garage door. This gadget has been designed to be utilised on most existing garage doors.

4. Smart Lighting

Smart lighting is not new with many designs already having an app component for remote control. Believe it or not, though, a new smart lights system can actually sense when you (and your phone!) are on your way home and will react accordingly by turning the lights on or off, This type of automation is achieved by tying your lighting system into your phone’s geofencing features. Geofencing taps into the phone’s GPS system, in order to alter your lighting system when you’re in the area. If you are always carrying your phone, you may never have to enter into a dark driveway or doorway again, and all happens without programming, scheduling or actually touching any buttons. So smart!

5. Smart Faucet (tap)

This environmentally friendly faucet (tap) saves up to 57 litres per unit, per year. That’s a big smart saving! This innovative technology helps conserve water sources and also conserves energy with its intelligent design. By conserving water and energy, you leave behind a reduced carbon footprint. It can be used easily by everyone, including children, the elderly and the disabled.

There is so much new, interesting, useful and smart technology out there, that I found it hard to keep it to just 5, I just had to add this last one as this is something I would really want…

and…… (drumroll)…….. Smart Robot Vacuum Cleaners

Floor cleaning and vacuuming are now easier with a range of Deebots from Ecovacs, a pioneer in the field of engineering robotic vacuum cleaners. The D77, the latest Deebot is a 3-dimensional cleaning solution that has smart technology to detect and navigate obstacles! It even has the capability to automatically empty its own dustbin (so smart!). It has different modes for cleaning different types of flooring. And the best … even when you are not at home, you can pre-set it to clean your floors with its intelligent time scheduling feature. Smart, so very, very smart.

While most of this smart technology is already available and installed in homes overseas in the USA and UK, we, unfortunately, will have to wait a while longer for it to reach our shores. I am waiting in anticipation…….

Information sourced from the following sites:
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-smart-home-gadgets,review-2008.html

https://shisystems.com/blog?view=entry&id=45
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/20-smart-home-technology-gadgets-that-will-leave-you-spellbound.html

 

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