Kenya Engineer - Journal of the institution of Engineers of Kenya

The Summary of this Month's Edition

2007-09-21

RVR commissions a Kshs 114million Information

Kenya-Uganda Rail service concessionaire Rift Valley Railways (RVR) has moved a notch higher in its ongoing corporate efficiency enhancement process with the unveiling of a Kshs 114 million Information Technology framework.

Uganda oil exploration update

As reported in the November/December 2006 issue of Kenya Engineer three oil wells had been drilled on the shores of Lake Albert in North West Uganda and that all three were successful. The wells were drilled by Australian oil exploration company Hardman Resources who have since been bought by Tullow Oil Company of UK.

China returns 4 oil blocks

Following Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Kenya in early 2006, the Kenya Government gave the state owned China National Overseas Corporation (CNOC) exclusive rights over six blocks spanning 115,343 square kilometres under a Production Sharing Contract agreement.

KPC line enhancement project on course

The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) is taking measures to double the pumping capacity of the Mombasa-Nairobi oil pipeline from 440 cubic metres per hour to 880 cubic metres per hour.

Olkaria IV well drilling starts

At a “ground breaking” ceremony at Olkaria on 18 June 2007 Energy Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri kicked off the construction of Olkaria IV, 70 MW geothermal power project when he witnessed the commencement of the drilling of 6 appraisal wells that will produce the steam to power the generators.

East African Portland to install new mill

East African Portland Cement Company has launched a Sh 1.8 billion project that will double its milling capacity in the next one year. A ground breaking ceremony for the new facility was presided over by Trade and Industry Minister, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi on 14 August 2007.

Tamoil group awarded Eldoret-Kampala pipeline contract

The Ministers of Energy of Kenya and Uganda, Hon Kiraitu Murungi and Hon Daudi Migereko, met in Nairobi on 21 December 2006 to review progress of implementation of the Eldoret to Kampala oil products pipeline and noted with satisfaction the progress made on implementation of the project and in particular the negotiations with the Tamoil Group.

View of the completed Masalani Bridge

The construction of Masalani suspension bridge on road E873, across the Tana River, 30 km South of Hola town is now complete.

Dredging and widening of the main shipping

Mombasa port channel will be deepened and widened beginning this year to allow larger vessels to call.

Lake Natron soda ash plant proposed

Lake Natron Resources Ltd, a joint venture between the National Development Corporation of Tanzania and Tata Chemicals Ltd of India, who own Magadi Soda Company, plan to construct a soda ash factory near Tanzania’s Lake Natron with a capacity of producing 500,000 metric tonnes of soda annually.

Fenced game corridor proposed

A wildlife conservation project has the objective of creating a wildlife corridor to enable wildlife (especially elephant) to move safely between the Ngare Ndare Forest Reserve and the Mount Kenya National Reserve. The Project is motivated by the Bill Woodley Mount Kenya Trust

KenGen to use carbon credits in financing geothermal and other power projects

Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) will channel earnings from the carbon credit market towards realizing the full potential of the country’s geothermal energy resources in addressing the growing demand for power.

KPLC transformers vandalised

Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) is describing as economic sabotage the escalating vandalism of transformers in the electricity network, which appears to be the work of a well organised syndicate, and which is leaving thousands of customers without electricity for long periods.

Teams contract to be awarded shortly

The successful bidder to construct the East Africa Marine System (Teams) project is expected to be known shortly.

Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has embarked on an ambitious expansion programme involving creation of additional sub-stations in different parts of the country under the $153 million Energy Sector Recovery Project (ESRP).

Mabati scoops Coya awards

Company of the Year (Coya) awards is an annual Kenya Institute of Management programme that seeks to identify and recognize companies that demonstrate excellence and integrity in their management practices.

KenGen sign contract for new Olkaria 11 plant

KenGen has signed an Engineer, Procure and Construct contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Joint Venture for the construction of a new 35 MW machine at Olkaria II geothermal power plant.

Aga Khan inaugurates Bujagali hydro project

The long awaited building of the Bujagali hydro-power project in Uganda finally started on 21 August 2007 when the Aga Khan officially inaugurated the project at a ground breaking ceremony at the dam site. The ceremony was attended by President Yoweri Museveni and by state and national officials.

Chinese firm wins oil pipeline tender

A Chinese consortium has won the contract to advise Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) on its Western Kenya Pipeline capacity enhancement project at a cost of Sh 263 million.

Bamburi Cement Launches new product

Bamburi Cement Limited is East Africa’s leading cement producer and part of the Lafarge Group – the world leader in building materials. The company is one of the most technologically advanced, yet environmentally responsible cement producers in Africa.

Mombasa Port container traffic

The container traffic through the port of Mombasa has been steadily growing at a rate of 12.3% per annum and in 2006 the port handled 479,355 TEUs which was well above its designed capacity of 250,000 TEUs.

Profile: Eng Patrick E O Obath

In his working career, Eng Patrick Obath has risen from an assistant engineer on joining Kenya Petroleum Refinery Ltd (KPRL) in 1976 to his appointment as Kenya Shell Country Chairman and Managing Director in May 2005.

Montreal Seminar on Leadership and Project Team Management

Six people from Kenya were among eighteen international participants who attended a seminar on Leadership and Project Team Management held in Montreal from 2nd to 13th July 2007.

Introduction

Of late there has been a paradigm shift from emphasis on only functionality of the passenger car to emphasis on agility, dexterity, fuel economy, comfort and safety.

Introduction

Of late there has been a paradigm shift from emphasis on only functionality of the passenger car to emphasis on agility, dexterity, fuel economy, comfort and safety.

Regulating the Engineering Industry through

Eng Sam Mambo presented a paper on this topic at a recent GAMA conference in Botswana in which he explained how engineering services play a pivotal role in our everyday lives and it is essential that the engineering industry is regulated to ensure that the services offered are of the highest possible standards. Extracts from his paper are reproduced below.

Regulating the Engineering Industry through

Bamburi’s Mombasa plant Kiln 2 shell replacement

The Kiln is the equipment in the burning section where the raw meal is transformed into Clinker by burning at a maximum temperature of 1450 degrees Celsius.

The Engineer in a Liberalized Market

This year’s annual conference of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya was held at the Hotel InterContinental from 25 to 27 April 2007. A report on part of the proceedings was contained in the May/June 2007 issue of Kenya Engineer. A further report is given below:

At a ceremony at the University of Nairobi on 8 June 2007 the following new officials were sworn in:


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