Kudu Gas Field

Kudu Gas Field

Namibia is considered to be one of Africa’s major developing economies. It is seen as an indicator of Africa’s growing economic clout in the world economy. To aid in its development comes the Kudu Gas Field, an offshore gas field, in Orange sub-basin. Discovered in 1974, the license to exploit these resources have been held by a number of companies including Royal Dutch Shell and Energy Africa. “The field's proven natural gas reserves are estimated at 1.3 trillion cubic feet and possible reserves at nine trillion cubic feet. The field's life is estimated to be 22 years” (Offshore technology).

“Another transformational energy development is Namibia’s Kudu Gas Field and Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Project, which is due to open by 2018. The country’s first large-scale power plant seeks to exploit domestic resources by developing the offshore Kudu field’s estimated 1.3 trillion cubic feet of gas. The 800 MW power plant will add much needed domestic generation capacity to limit imports and tackle a‑widening energy deficit. Gas will be delivered through a 170 kilometre pipeline, enabling Namibia to become a net exporter of energy and reduce its dependence upon South Africa. National power utility Nampower selected China’s Shanghai Electric as preferred bidder to finance 49‑percent of the US$1.1 billion project as well as provide international expertise” (KPMC).

Qatar Orbital Highway Project

Qatar Orbital Highway Project

“With the 2022 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, hosts Qatar’s new Orbital Highway is one of a number of critical infrastructure projects to be delivered ahead of the event. At 200 kilometers in length and 14 lanes wide, the US$1.7 billion motorway connects the new port at the Qatari capital Doha with Ras Laffan, the gas-producing industrial city in the north of the country” (KPMC). The project is the largest of four contracts which make up the New Orbital Highway – stretching from the existing Al Mesaieed interchange to Salwa Road. The project started in 2014 and is now expected to finish in 2017. It is expected to have services such as cross road, pedestrian & bicycle paths; service structures including underpasses, retaining walls, pump stations, substations, drainage structures and tanks as well as Intelligent Traffic System, Street lighting and bridge underpass lighting works.

Solana Power Station

Solana Power Station

“The Solana Generating Station is a solar power plant near Gila Bend, Arizona, about 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Phoenix, completed in 2013. When commissioned it was the largest parabolic trough plant in the world and the first U.S. solar plant with molten salt thermal energy storage. It has a total capacity of 280 megawatts (MW) gross, from two 140 MW gross (125 MW net) steam turbine generators, which is enough to power 70,000 homes while avoiding around 475,000 tons of CO2 every year.” (Wikipedia)

With its aim at producing power efficiently, the Solana Power Station is a CST-based station designed to provide six hours of energy storage. This will help it run more than a year, after it reaches capacity. 

This project “is a strong example of how the US has embraced green technologies alongside game-changing drilling techniques that allow the country to extract abundant tight oil and shale gas resources. Renewables have allowed the US‑to hedge its energy bet while remaining a prolific consumer – and producer – of traditional hydrocarbons.” (KPMG)

Importance of Green Building Certification

Importance of Green Building Certification

In the present world, the real estate industry continues to chuck on. But construction of new buildings which don’t meet certain standards have been proven to have a negative impact on the environment for many years. Hence, the society now leans on building certification bodies to 

design more environmentally conscious buildings, which in turn build communities.

But for that, buildings have to be made sustainable first. And, that’s where green buildings come into play. The U.S. EPA says “Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Green building is also known as a sustainable or high performance building.” 

One may ask what are the benefits of green buildings? These include reduction of operation costs/creating market for integrating renewable energy, reduced wastage of water/conserving natural resources as well as improving quality of live/maximizing potential of human resources.

One such certification board is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). LEED is considered to be the premier certification body in the world. ’’Between 2015 and 2018, LEED-certified buildings in the United States are estimated to have $1.2 billion in energy savings, $149.5 million in water savings, $715.2 million in maintenance savings and $54.2 million in waste savings’’ (USGBC).   

Beipanjiang Bridge

Beipanjiang Bridge

China continues to be the world’s fastest growing country in terms of infrastructure. Once again, China has marked its stamp on road infrastructure by opening the world’s highest bridge in Southwest China. 

This bridge has been raised 564 m above, validating its claim. Spanning over 1,364 meters over four lanes, it connects the provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan, and is expected to reduce journey time between the cities of Liupanshui and Xuianwei from five hours to just two. It is going to heavily benefit the truck owners/drivers. Obviously, a lot of time would go in planning & research. So, construction finally started in 2009.  

“The engineering and placement of the bridge was an enormous undertaking. The gorge the bridge crosses was so deep that the structure had to be able to withstand a “strong wind field,” according to a deputy chief engineer at CCCC Highway Consultants Co., LTD.” (IBTimes)

China is home to various other engineering marvels. In fact, even the previous two records for the highest bridge have been held by China. These bridges continue to refurbish the image of China as a modern, vibrant nation. 

(A picture of the bridge, image credits: The Telegraph)

Precast Concrete

Precast Concrete

Concrete is the foundation on which our society is built on. Literally. And, precast concrete, a form of concrete formation, has become the most accepted form of construction in recent years. Recently, Queensland, Australia has formed a $300 million State Infrastructure Plan where majority of its projects plan to employ precast concrete. How has this form been developed over years?

It was builders who realized that the building process would be expedited tremendously if they poured the concrete moulds. And hence, these ancient structures have stood the test of time. As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Well, it can’t be destroyed in a day too, due to precast concrete. In the modern age, it was John A. Brodie and Yannick Macken who developed precast panelled buildings in 1905, allowing them to be built quicker and cheaper than ever before.

(A picture of a bridge constructed using precast concrete)

Many industrial experts have hailed precast concrete as the most beneficial form of casting in the industry at present. A precast slab, when combined with an in situ concrete topping is said save thousands of dollars compared to the conventional method of slab concrete casting. Other advantages of using precast concrete is the increased quality of the material and the reduced cost of constructing large forms used with concrete poured on site. It is used mainly in the construction of buildings with repetitive design and elements, such as schools and apartments. Materials which have been built using high structural strength and rigidity, which have also been found to support heavy loads. This allows longer span in structural components and saves time too.

Yet, there are disadvantages in using precast concrete too. There exists a very small margin for error, hence very skilled workmanship is required in the application of the panel on site. The need for repetition of forms will affect creativity in building design. Yet, these challenges could be overcome. Significant efficiency in labour can be achieved through mass production techniques which could solve the hurdle of costly labour. With time, other problems could be resolved too. 

(The Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, Baku is going to be built using precast)

Jiuquan Wind Power Base

Jiuquan Wind Power Base

A group of large wind farms, the Jiunquan Wind Power Base, (construction started in 2009) is expected to provide 8GW power in total. It is located in barren areas near the city of Jiuquan. Described as the country's largest wind project, it is seen as a great initiative to increase China's drive in renewable energy sector. It is expected to provide power to most of Northwest China. More than 3,500 turbines have been erected with an installed capacity of 5.16 GW, and at present the turbines are generating 1.15 GW of power, said Wang Jianxin, director of Jiuquan Development and Reform Commission.

"The Jiuquan Wind Power Base is a key part of China’s plan to supply 15 percent of the country’s energy from alternative and renewable sources by 2020. Carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled in the past 10 years, taking China past the US as the world’s top emitter of greenhouse gases. Although critics have questioned its cost-effectiveness, the US$17.5 billion development will be the largest collective wind farm group in the world when completed." (KPMC)