transmission - Kharafi National

Y O U R W AY O F S TAY I N G I N T O U C H

Issue 23 2009

TRANSMISSION

1

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

OPERATIONS NEWS 2 5 6 9 10 14 16 17

Facilities Management Lebanon IM&P Operations Egypt National Construction (Oil & Gas) EPCM-MEP KN Industrial City Equipment Division

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS 18 Tendering for Success 20 The SPM Scorecard

Sanjeev Chandrakanthbhai Shah has joined ABJ as business development manager. He has a BEng in chemical engineering from Gujarat (India) and more than 25 years experience in oil and gas, petrochemical and fertilizer projects. Sanjeev joins from Hitech Services Supplies in Oman, where be was the business development manager. John Joseph McErlain has joined KN’s Project Controls Department as a senior contract administrator. He has a BSc in quantity surveying from the University of Ulster (Ireland) and more than 16 years experience in quantity surveying in Ireland and Nigeria. John joins from Kevinsfort Ltd, Ireland, where he was a senior quantity surveyor.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT 21 E-Learning – Today’s Golden Opportunity 21 NEBOSH Certifies Safety Officers 23 E-Learning Competition Winners

HEALTH AND SAFETY 24 Safe Working at Height 24 Safety Always Pays 25 Men of the Month – at OL2K

EVENTS 26 MEED Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference 2008 28 Working Building Middle East Exhibition 29 KN Achieves International Recognition

OUR PEOPLE 32 International Women’s Day at KN 34 Employees of the quarter 37 New faces at KN

CONTACT US Transmission is the corporate magazine of Kharafi National. It is issued quarterly and distributed internally. The editor, Paul D Kennedy, may be contacted on [email protected] to which comments and contributions should also be sent. KUWAIT

ABU DHABI

DUBAI

EGYPT

LEBANON

BAHRAIN

PO Box 24081 Safat 13101 Kuwait Tel: +965-22259000 Fax: +965-22259999

11th Floor, Al-Ferdous Bldg Al-Salam Street Abu Dhabi Tel: +9712-6775800 Fax: +9712-6778688

PO Box 25693 Dubai Tel: +9714-3476662 Fax: +9714-3479400

2 AbdulMoneim Riyadh St Al Thawra Square Al Mohendessen Giza Tel: +202-33367688 Fax: +202-37609264

MAK Centre, 2nd Floor Al-Sham Road PO Box 182 Hazmieh Beirut Tel: +961-5-950480/81 Fax:+961-5-950988

Office 52, Sabha Building #338, Road 1705 Block 317Diplomatic Area Manama Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 (1) 751-6474 Fax: +973 (1) 753-1714

www.kharafinational.com

New Faces at KN

Paolo Crovato has joined the O&M staff at Sulaibiya WWT&R Plant as plant technical manager. He has a BEng in electrical engineering from the G Giorgi Institute of Genoa (Italy) and 40 years experience in the erection, maintenance and operation of civil and electrical works. Paolo joins from GE Kuwait, where he was the plant manager. Khaled Tubaileh has joined as operations manager in Facilities Management Industrial Maintenance (HV systems). He has a BSc in electrical engineering from Kuwait University and 20 years experience in electrical maintenance and transmission. Khaled joins from Al Rashed Sons, Kuwait, where he was the engineering services manager.

Staff Achievements PMP Certificate Holders Congratulations to Jehad Selwadi and Mohamed El Gayar for achieving project management professional status by passing the examinations of the Project Management Institute, Pennsylvania, USA. Jehad Selwadi joined KN as a senior project engineer in September 2005 and is currently a project manager with EPCM-MEP. During 2007 he took various project management e-learning courses with KN’s Learning & Development Unit. After further studies on his own he passed the PMI examinations on the 23rd February 2009. Mohamed El Gayar joined KN in July 2004 as a project engineer and is currently CAD unit head with Egypt National. He has a BSc in electrical engineering from Cairo University (1996). Mohamed studied for the PMI qualification on his own and passed that institute’s examinations on the 18th January 2009.

OUR PEOPLE

CONTENTS

Contents

Message from the Vice Chairman & Managing Director All of us at Kharafi National are extremely proud that our Company was recognized as the Most Impressive Water Company in the Middle East at the Global Water Awards in Zurich last month. The full story is on page 29 of this issue. We were one of four companies short-listed for the Water Company of the Year award. Our rivals were extremely large and well known international corporations in the water industry and we lost in the final vote. However, just getting on the short-list was a mighty achievement in itself. Our nomination and recognition shows that KN has taken its rightfully-earned place among the major international water companies. Our potential partners are now really taking notice of us, our capabilities, and our ability to deliver on large prestigious water projects.

presented our certificate for being shortlisted for the Water Company of the Year award – ensuring that our company is now known to some of the most influential people in the world. Our recognition as the Most Impressive Water Company in the Middle East is a direct result of the hard work of all of you in KN. Your dedication to the highest levels

Our success at the Global Water Awards

of professionalism has raised international

vindicates the 50:50 strategy we decided to

awareness of Kharafi National and positioned

pursue in 2007. Under this strategy we aim

us among the largest and most distinguished

to balance our projects between short-term

global water companies.

contracts and infrastructural development projects that generate income over 25 or

Samer G Younis

30 years. For this reason we declined the Concourse 3 project at Dubai International Airport. It was not the right deal for us and we are now free to pursue more sewage and water-related jobs on a BOT, BOOT or PPP

Vice Chairman & Managing Director

basis. At the awards, Al Gore, the former US vice president and international environmentalist,

APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

OPERATIONS NEWS

Operations News Kharafi National’s reputation for timely high-quality execution is continuing to bring in both repeat business and first-time contracts with new clients. The extreme importance attached to safeworking by KN and its partners is also paying handsome dividends – the Facilities Upgrade project is finishing up with 24,000,000 man-hours without a lost time incident.

Facilities Management KN Facilities Management recently obtained two significant three-year contracts in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi Police Premises Kharafi National has been awarded a threeyear facilities management contract for all police facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate in the UAE, making up 84% of the land area, and the contract covers facilities spread widely throughout the emirate – in Abu Dhabi, Al-Ain and the Western Region.

A grand signing ceremony was held on the 26th November 2008 at which General Khalil Badran, Director of Administration Affairs & Finance, signed the contract on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Police Department and Mr Marzouk Al-Kharafi signed on behalf of Kharafi National, in the presence of HH Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed, the Minister of Interior

Signing ceremony for facility management of Abu Dhabi Police Premises: General Khalil Badran and Mr Marzouk Al-Kharafi in the presence of the UAE Minister of the Interior HH Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed and Kharafi National Managing Director Mr Samer Younis on the 26th November 2008


The contract arose out of a policy directive by HH the Minister of Interior that all works relating to the operation and maintenance of police facilities and minor construction jobs in Abu Dhabi be privatized in order to raise their functional efficiency to 95% within three years. Outsourcing non-core police activities will provide the police with the time to concentrate on their core business, ie, the security of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. During the first six months of the contract, beginning January 2009, KN Facilities Management will survey the condition of all police premises in the emirate – a minimum of 800 buildings on 242 sites – and capture all existing assets. Field findings will then be assessed and recommendations presented to the police department for appropriate action. KN FM will also establish a central command control centre or help-desk which will be automated using appropriate software. The help-desk will operate 24 hours a day throughout the year. As well as issuing routine pre-planned and scheduled preventive and predictive maintenance work orders on a daily basis, the help-desk will also receive urgent requests by telephone and immediately issue related maintenance orders for a prompt response in the field. Material control, fabrication workshops, subcontracts administration, training and the transfer of knowledge are also major targets of the privatization programme. An FM-UAE management team has been mobilized to re-engineer the operating procedures of the entire maintenance process and integrate them into a state-of-the-art facilities management system. The contract

also includes the engineering, execution and management of minor construction projects and it is expected that a significant number of construction jobs will need to be executed and managed simultaneously.

KN to Interview Redundant Staff The award of the contract to manage the facilities of the Abu Dhabi Police Department to Kharafi National means that the police employees who were taking care of these facilities will be made redundant. As KN is committed to contributing to the well-being of the communities in which it operates, each of these workers will be considered for employment with KN.

OPERATIONS NEWS

of the UAE, and top-ranking officials from the Abu Dhabi Police Department. The signing ceremony was broadcast on Abu Dhabi TV and was featured in all local newspapers.

As the first step, KN’s Human Resources and Health & Safety Departments in the UAE developed a suitable presentation in both Arabic and Urdu. This overview of Kharafi National was delivered to about 300 redundant workers on the 21st and 28th February 2009 at the Police Officers’ Club in Abu Dhabi, and on the 7th March 2009 at the Police Officers’ Club in Al Ain. The presentations in Abu Dhabi were followed by a bus tour of KN’s ADWEA STP at Al-Wathba, after which a luncheon was enjoyed at KN’s camp in Al-Wathba. The next step will be to interview all 300 ADP workers. All those who pass their interviews will be offered employment in accordance with KN’s corporate norms.


OPERATIONS NEWS

Al Yasmina School Kharafi National was recently awarded a three-year contract by Aldar Academies for the operation and maintenance of Al-Yasmina School in Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi.

of a number of special systems for a limited period. This relatively low-value contract is significant as it represents Kharafi National’s first step into the facility management of educational

Construction of this state-of-the-art school was completed last year by Aldar Properties. Incorporating recent technological advances in the educational process, the school delivers primary and secondary level education and is the first in a series of such schools which will be established by Aldar Academies over the next few years.

institutions in the Emirates. A skeleton crew was assigned to the school in December 2008 for a one-month mobilization period and execution of the contract itself commenced in January 2009.

KN’s scope of services includes the day-today maintenance of all class-rooms, offices, auditoria, laboratories, workshops and sports facilities including the swimming pools. FMUAE will also be administering warranty issues relating to all the sub-contractors involved in the construction and, in addition, will be undertaking the periodic maintenance


Advanced educational facilities at Yasmina School, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi under KN Facility Management

Despite the difficulties of operating in Lebanon, Kharafi National has been carrying out the facility management of the President Rafic Hariri University Campus in Hadath, Beirut, for the last three years and the contract was recently renewed for another three years. The client is the Council for Development and Reconstruction, represented by LACECO Architects & Engineers.

Lebanese University Campus The campus of the Lebanese University at Hadath aims to become the country’s pedagogic centre, catering to a student population of 33,000, by the year 2017. It is situated on 750,000 square metres of land containing landscaped grounds, paved walkways, roads, bicycle paths and 374,000 square metres of built-up areas. The campus has ten faculties, each with its own purpose-built building. Though there is

an emphasis on engineering, science, public health and medicine, there are also faculties of fine arts, business administration, law and political science. Supporting facilities include an industrial research institute, dormitories, a conference center and a sports complex. The campus is expected to become a very import centre of education in the Middle East. Under its scope of work, Kharafi National is providing the daily management, operation and maintenance of all the faculty and services buildings, as well as the grounds, on the campus. KN is responsible for a wide variety of sophisticated electro-mechanical systems, including the HVAC, plumbing and fire-fighting systems, all electrical and emergency power generation systems, the building management systems, telephone systems, fire alarm systems, audio visual systems and lifts. The company is also providing cleaning services, security services, landscaping and civil works.

OPERATIONS NEWS

Lebanon

Main south entrance at the Engineering Faculty, Rafic Hariri Campus, Hadath, Lebanon APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

OPERATIONS NEWS

IM&P Operations Kharafi National’s reputation for timely delivery without compromising on quality, even for the most technologically advanced projects, continues to secure repeat business for Industrial Maintenance & Power Operations.

UPS Systems Approved IM&P Operations began work on a fouryear project to upgrade or replace the AC and DC uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems in Mina Abdullah refinery in Kuwait in December 2007. The project involves the detailed design, engineering, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of new redundant UPS systems and battery banks as well as related works. The project is progressing exceptionally well. After extensive detailed engineering and several design review meetings with KNPC and the vendor, the UPS system design has been finalized and approved. The vendor has started manufacturing the systems and factory acceptance tests for the first batch of production are expected to be conducted in mid-April 2009. The site survey, approval for underground power cables, power modules and other related materials have been completed and procurement orders are in progress. The underground power cables have already been delivered to the site, and the civil works, as well as the installation of conduits and cablelaying activities, are now starting. Once the site is ready, IM&P Operations will carry out the installation of the UPS systems in accordance with an approved schedule based on KNPC’s planned and unplanned


shutdowns of its refinery units and a jointly developed online change-over philosophy. The online change-over philosophy requires a high level of technical expertise and will be the first experience of its kind for KN. Because of the non-availability of shutdowns, IM&P Operations will execute online changeovers for most of the UPS systems using a mobile UPS system. This will involve transferring critical loads to the mobile system, carrying out the installation, and then transferring the loads back to the new UPS system.

Plant Paging Upgrade Two years ago IM&P Operations, working as ABJ, successfully installed an advanced digital refinery paging system (known as a smart-series paging system) covering all areas within KNPC’s Mina Abdullah refinery in Kuwait. The purpose of the project was to overcome communication difficulties between the control rooms and refinery as detailed in Transmission, Issue 19, 2007. It required the installation and upgrading of 760 field stations, and the laying of new cable, cable terminals and related civil works, as well as the installation of new master control units and 29 operator stations, and the training of KNPC employees. As a result of the successful completion of the refinery paging system ahead of schedule, ABJ was recently awarded, on a single-source basis, a project to upgrade the existing local paging system in Sea Island, the export terminal in Kuwait for refined products, and interface it with the smart-series paging system IM&P Operations installed in Mina Abdullah refinery in 2007.

for the interface with the existing system in the refinery. Currently IM&P Operations is carrying out a technical evaluation and review of submissions by vendors of the advanced equipment involved, and the project is tentatively set to begin in April 2009 with scheduled completion in March 2010.

The work involves replacing the existing field stations with new smart series stations and speakers, installing conduits and cable, testing and commissioning the radiocommunication link between Sea Island and Mina Abdullah refinery, and installing the line extenders and fiber connectivity

was awarded for an initial period of three

Fuel Line Rehabilitation ABJ has been maintaining, repairing and rehabilitating the fuel (oil and gas) pipelines from Kuwait’s oil refineries to its power stations since January 2004. This contract years and had already been extended twice by one year each time when, in January 2009, ABJ began its third one-year extension. The clients are KOC and the MEW in Kuwait. Under this project (see Transmission, Issue

OPERATIONS NEWS

The main purpose of the new project is to overcome communication difficulties between the central control room at the refinery and Sea Island. This will be done by providing new field stations and speakers and the implementation of advanced supervisory monitoring via full duplex radio communications and point-to-point data transmission. The scope of this single-source project covers the design, engineering, procurement, and installation of the new systems in Sea Island and the interfacing of these upgraded systems with the paging system in Mina Abdullah refinery.

Underground fuel pipeline being replaced by KN Industrial Maintenance–Power Operations APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

OPERATIONS NEWS

21, 2008), ABJ has to carry out maintenance

subject to periodic maintenance.

and overhauling works in two phases, winter and summer.

During the year ended January 2009, ABJ faced additional challenges in execution.

The winter shutdowns allow sections of the

These included modifying the pipelines for a

cross-country pipelines to be replaced, valves

dry gas seal retrofit in booster stations #140

to be overhauled, and valve pit facilities to be

and 150 to enable the timely commissioning

modified. The shutdowns also enable the lines

of the two stations. ABJ also rehabilitated the

to be pigged with nitrogen which eliminates

condensate lines by replacing sections of the

hydrocarbons and makes for a safer working

pipe and landscaping the gas manifolds.

environment. Since 2004 ABJ has raised standards in the The summer maintenance is the most critical

maintenance of fuel pipelines in Kuwait and

phase since the rehabilitation must be carried

the satisfaction of the client is reflected in

out on live lines, ie while the fuel is running

the third extension of its maintenance, repair

through them. This is done by the application

and rehabilitation contract. During 2009

of high-strength composite sleeve technology

ABJ will face additional challenges; these

from Clock Spring of the USA. Clock Spring

include repairs to 30 and 42 inch gas lines,

techniques regenerate the pipelines and

rehabilitating pipelines that cross asphalted

extend their life by an additional 50 years or

road using Clock Spring technology, and

more. This is no mean feat because, when

carrying out insulation repairs on pre-

ABJ began work in 2004, these assets were

insulated pipe for twin 16 inch HFO lines

already 20 to 25 years old and had never been

while these are in operation.

Clock Spring technology being applied by KN Industrial Maintenance–Power Operations


Egypt National has just begun work on the Marassi project, an exciting mixed-use development of 6.25 million square metres on the north coast of Egypt.

Marassi Project Marassi is a ‘master-planned’ community intended to offer residents all the amenities they require or desire in their living environment. It is being developed by Emaar Misr for Development SAE, a subsidiary of Emaar, the well-known property developer in the UAE which introduced the concept of master-planned communities in Dubai – Emaar built the Dubai Marina, the first ever waterfront project of its kind in the Middle East, and is currently finishing the Burj Dubai, the tallest tower in the world. Marassi will fuse beaches, greenery, and lagoons with seven self-contained neighbourhoods of apartments, villas and hotels. Each residential district will be visually distinct, each area drawing the inspiration for its design from one of the many architectural styles found in the countries that border the Mediterranean – Greece, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Egypt itself.

This diversity of styles will make each neighbourhood unique. Residents of the developments exclusive apartments and villas will enjoy holistic spas, lively beach clubs, Jacuzzis, pools, and gourmet restaurants. Marassi will also contain magnificent 5-star and boutique hotels, creating a cosmopolitan ambience. With over 14km of lagoons and beachfront, the mixed-use development will also include a port and a marina, and a traditional Arabic suq. Egypt National is creating much of the infrastructure of this master-planned community. The company’s scope of work includes the infrastructure of the main 10km long ring road and the first two neighbourhoods, the only two districts that, out of seven neighbourhoods, have been put out to tender so far.

OPERATIONS NEWS

Egypt National

Work began on the 18th January 2009. KN will have more than 1,000 personnel on the Marassi project at its peak, and the main works are scheduled to finish in May 2010. By then Egypt National expects to be participating in the development of the five remaining neighbourhoods.

Artist’s impression of the Marassi master-planned community APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

OPERATIONS NEWS

Construction (Oil & Gas) While several projects are winding down, Construction (Oil & Gas) is in the mobilization stage of two new major projects, the construction of Booster Station #160 and a 40” gas pipe line. As resources are demobilized from completing projects, operations are being reviewed to mobilize resources to the new projects.

Aromatics Complex & Pygas Facilities With overall progress at 97%, the project to build an Aromatics Complex (see Transmission, Issue 16, 2006) in Shuaiba, Kuwait, is drawing to a close. An additional contract awarded by the client, Tecnimont of Italy, for the construction of Pygas facilities reports an overall progress of 41% and is on schedule for completion by 30th October, 2009.

market by handling more than 125,000sq m of insulation for the plant in a joint venture with GIS (Gulf Insulation Systems). The Insulation Unit also executed 16 tanks within the Aromatics Complex, the equivalent of 18,000sq m, on behalf of Paresa SpA of Italy, an internationally renowned specialist in steel constructions, which has sent KN a letter of appreciation praising the excellence of the Insulation Unit’s work.

Polyethylene Expansion The team work, perseverance and sense of ownership that ensured that KN’s project team successfully completed the Ethylene Glycol 2 project on time is once again being displayed on the Polyethylene Expansion project (see Transmission, Issue 22, 2008).

Currently the entire project team is striving hard to achieve its goal of mechanical completion by the 31st March 2009 by working extended hours and double shifts, even on holidays. The entire focus is in closing out piping systems, testing and progressively handing over areas to pre-commissioning and commissioning teams. To achieve the end of March deadline, the project team has been beefed up with resources from other KN projects. The need for scaffolding on this project has been massive and the proficiency and timely mobilization displayed by KN’s Scaffolding Unit has been much appreciated by Tecnimont and the project owner, Kuwait Paraxylene Production Company. KN’s Insulation Unit has also proved its abilities to the international

10


Night-time view of the works at the polyeethylene expansion project being underttaken by KN

Despite all the work involved, as of the 23rd February 2009, the Polyethylene Expansion project had completed 5,000,000 man-hours without a lost time accident, a superb safety performance.

Facilities Upgrade The Facilities Upgrade or Amalgamation Project is spread over nine operating facilities in Kuwait, covering the country’s oil fields from the north to the south. It is being executed on behalf of Petrofac for KOC.

end of March 2009. However KN is supplying manpower to Petrofac for commissioning assistance which will remain until final performance testing has been completed.

Main pipe rack from new separator and desalter area to existing facilities at Gathering Center #7

As well as being the largest project executed to date by KN in the oil and gas sector, the project has achieved an astounding total of 24,000,000 man-hours without a lost-time incident, a truly magnificent achievement.

OPERATIONS NEWS

KN has overall responsibility for the construction management for the new facilities, as well as direct construction responsibility for part of the plant. Eight months after this challenging and fast-track project began in June 2008 it was already 94% finished and is well on schedule for ontime completion by March 2009. The project has been divided into 95 turn-over systems, of which 72% have been already turned over to the client.

Large Scale Steam Flood Project More than 90% of the work on KN’s EPC contract with Joint Operations to design,

Desalter heater at Gathering Center #8 in KOC Burgan area

Currently the project is in the demobilization stage, having finished at the end of February, and the only remaining works are the final punch-list which will be completed by the

Main pipe rack and evaporator being erected at KN’s large-scale steam flood project


11

OPERATIONS NEWS

supply and install water treatment plant facilities for the large-scale pilot steam flood project (see Transmission, Issue 19, 2007) has been completed without a lost-time incident. The fabrication of modules, tanks and vessels is already 91% complete, while all the field erected tanks have been made. Insulation for the raw water tanks and evaporator feed

pump module have been progressing well; so too has the installation of the interconnecting cable trays between the tanks, pipe racks and the modules. Meanwhile assembly of the 12.5kv transformer is on going and awaiting the supplier’s representative for final inspection, commissioning and hand-over to Joint Operations.

Evaporator being erected at KN’s large-scale steam flood project 12


As

the

major

sub-contractor

on

overall, and will be followed by a 12-month maintenance period.

this

prestigious project for the construction of

Kharafi National’s scope of work, which is

a new booster station in south-east Kuwait

completely on a re-measured basis, includes

(see Transmission, Issue 22, 2008), KN’s

the execution of the entire construction

scope of work includes all the civil, building,

works. KN will be undertaking the project

structural

management covering civil and earth works,

steel,

mechanical,

electrical

and instrumentation works, the erection of

fabrication,

construction,

installation,

equipment, painting, and insulation works,

mechanical completion, pre-commissioning

and pre-commissioning assistance. KN will

completion, and commissioning assistance.

also be supplying all resources required for

The company will create the construction

execution, including project management,

engineering and shop drawings, and will be

manpower and construction equipment.

procuring and managing all project materials and equipment. KN will also be undertaking

The preliminary civil works are progressing

the construction, fabrication, erection, testing

well. These include the excavation of normal

and pre-commissioning of the civil and earth

soil, the excavation of the sloping site at

works, the structural steel works (pipe

the west side of the plant area, filing and

racks, platforms, ladders, walkways, etc)

compacting the plant area, the disposal

and skid packages, as well as the shelters

of unsuitable soil to redundant gratch

and buildings which it will fire-proof.

OPERATIONS NEWS

KOC Booster Station 160

pits, survey works in the plant area, the construction of a prayer room in the labour

KN will also fabricate and erect the pipe

facility area, redesigning and replacing KN’s

works and fittings, including 140km of 40

portable cabins, the installation of split units,

inch pipeline from the booster station to the

compaction tests, and the construction of

LPG plant. The company will also supply and

the fabrication workshop. Other temporary

fit all rotating and static equipment, and will

facilities and the mobilization of preliminary

undertake the hydro-testing and flushing

resources and gate pass formalities are

and nitrogen purging of the pipeline. KN will

proceeding as planned.

also be responsible for the electrical and instrumentation works.

New 40” Gas Pipeline An EPC contract to build a 40 inch gas pipeline from Booster Station #131 to the LPG plant in Mina Al-Ahmadi was signed between

Site location approval has been obtained from KOC and mobilization of the site offices has begun. Site activities are expected to begin during the first week of May 2009.

Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) and Petrofac of Italy in December 2008. AMEC is the project management consultant on behalf of KOC, while KN is the construction sub-contractor for Petrofac. The project will take 616 days


13

OPERATIONS NEWS

EPCM-MEP Work on the new Amiri Terminal Building at Kuwait International Airport is proceeding well and the terminal building and hangar are expected to be completed by September this year.

Amiri Terminal Building The project is being executed by Ahmadiah Contracting and Trading Company on behalf of the Ministry of Public works in Kuwait.

the electro-mechanical works for the project including the fountains and water features. Work began in mid-September 2007. The new terminal building will be used by HH the Amir of the State of Kuwait to welcome state visitors and other VVIPs. The building has been designed to provide ultra-luxurious facilities in a manner that strongly reflects the richness of modern Islamic and Kuwaiti culture.

Kharafi National’s scope of work includes all

Artist’s impression of the new Amiri Terminal Building at Kuwait International Airport for which KN’s EPCM-MEP is 14


conference halls, press rooms, offices, suits and bedrooms, all finished to a very high standard and all equipped with state-of-theart facilities. The aircraft hangar will have a total area of 17,100sq m and will be large enough to house two Airbus A-380s.

The Amiri terminal building will have a total area of 14,000sq m on three floors. It will contain a national anthem hall, a series of reception halls, dining halls, meeting rooms, Amiri Terminal under construction

OPERATIONS NEWS

The Amiri terminal includes an exclusive aircraft hangar, satellite building, a central plant, a baggage handling building, multistorey car park, drivers’ rest room building, entrance and exit gatehouses, road, extensive landscaping and a parking facility. A two-lane ramp will reach the terminal at the first floor and will provide the main gate area with a canopy.

executing all the electro-mechanical works APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

15

OPERATIONS NEWS

KN Industrial City Despite the global economic crisis and the down-turn in projects in the region, the construction of KN’s hi-tech facilities in Mina Abdullah in Kuwait is continuing. Several additional facilities were completed recently and are now fully operational. These include the paint material and abrasive store, the steel structure platform, and the scrap area, as well as the drivers’ rest cabin and additional toilet facilities. In addition, the PWC generator shed and the Equipment Division’s standby generator room, which will provide emergency power to that division’s canteen and facilities, have also been completed. Several facilities are also in the finishing stages and will be operational within the next few months. Building K, which is to be shared by IMTE and the Scaffolding Unit, should be operational in a few months time. The emergency standby generator room, which will supply emergency power in case of disruption to Buildings G, FM, V and other external facilities within the ABJ - II lay down

area, is nearing completion and will be fully functional once the diesel generator has been installed. The extension of the twostorey building G, in which the ground floor will be used for theoretical training by the welding school and the first floor by the third party inspection unit, is expected to be fully functional by the time this newsletter appears, as will the Fisia evaporator block yard crane, which is being commissioned by ABJ. However, in order to reduce KN’s capital expenditure temporarily, the construction of several new buildings under the strategic Phase II projects has been deferred for the time being. These include Building J, the industrial and mechanical maintenance workshop, Building I, the scaffolding repair and repainting building, Building Y, the OPQ offices, Building A1, the extended ABJ offices, and Building B1, ABJ’s additional vessel fabrication workshop. These facilities are still at the design stage.

Construction of KN Industrial City in Mina Abdullah, Kuwait, is proceeding well 16


In line with the exponential growth in the number and scope of KN’s projects, the Equipment Division’s fleets of vehicles and equipment have expanded enormously in the last few years. As a result the division opened a technical office a year ago within its premises in KN Industrial City. The office has several main functions.

The ED Technical Office As well as monitoring costs and budgets in line with corporate policy, the technical office oversees the purchase of new assets, ensuring that purchasing decisions adhere to KN’s requirements as regards the standardization of parts, spares and consumables and its approved list of brands of equipment. The office also monitors vendor managed inventories to ensure stock levels are adjusted to their optimum levels in accordance with predicted work-loads.

The VMI and spares team – Harinarayanan, Ahmed Shahbur, Ethiraju Manohar & Biju Kumar – in the ED’s technical office. within the division. The office also undertakes special assignments; these include applying Six Sigma management techniques to reduce operating errors and defects, organizing technical training, and carrying out other tasks required to satisfy the special needs of particular projects.

OPERATIONS NEWS

Equipment Division

Over the last year the team in the technical office has contributed very successfully to the smooth operation of the Equipment Division.

The technical office is tasked with keeping up-to-date on new technologies relating to construction equipment and vehicles, and in disseminating the latest news about these

The equipment yard at KN Industrial City in southern Kuwait APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

17

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS

Tendering for Success Creating viable proposals is the first stage in the project cycle. The ability of the Tenders & Proposals Department’s ability to create competitive, profitable proposals is the foundation upon which Kharafi National’s commercial success has been built. ….. by Corporate Proposals Department Manager S Jeevanantham Kharafi National submits somewhat over 200 bids for contracts a year, the equivalent of two bids every three days on average. KN’s Tenders & Proposal Department is responsible for the

A project being discussed at the tendering stage

entire proposal process – from the review of tender documents, through offer preparation, to the submission of tenders. It takes a leading role in negotiations with the client. After a contract has been signed, the department organizes the transition to the operational phase. In addition to preparing and submitting these proposals, the Tenders & Proposals Departm-

Though Kharafi National has tender offices in Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Egypt, control is

centralized

and

the

department

Kuwait manages the proposal cycle for all operational areas. Commercial approval of all tenders is required from the Tenders & Proposals Department in Kuwait before bids are submitted.

ment responds to post-bid clarifications. And,

KN undertakes projects as a main contractor,

when required, it revises bids, which may be

as a sub-contractor, and as a member of a

necessary for a variety of reasons, such as

consortium or joint venture. The company bids

variations in the scope of work, additions or

for several types of contracts, though usually

deletions to bills of quantity, changes in the

for re-measurable or lump-sum contracts or

type of contract, and budget limitations imp-

a mixture of these two types of agreement.

posed by clients.

All require the professional preparation of

The department has a team of just 74 staff

realistic proposals.

including proposal managers, proposal co-

The range of Kharafi National’s activities

ordinators, estimation engineers, secretarial,

is extremely wide and all proposals by the

and document control staff, a very lean

Tenders & Proposals Department are prepared

manning level given the volume of work. Indeed

in coordination with the business line that will

the staff work extensive hours – including late

undertake the project should the contract be

nights, Fridays, and even national holidays

awarded. These business lines include EPCM,

– in order to meet the strict deadlines under

Construction (O&G), MEP Services, Facilities

which bids must be submitted.

Management, Industrial Maintenance and Industrial Maintenance (Power).

18

in


much involved in the proposal process, right from the time an invitation to tender is received and a decision as to whether KN should bid has to be made. This involvement extends through to finalizing the method of execution, commercial approval and during post-award negotiations with clients. Having operatives, such as project managers or senior project engineers, involved in bid preparation means that the proposal team benefits from their experience in the field. As these individuals are likely to be deployed on the project should a bid be successful, their participation also ensures that they are thoroughly familiar with the project when execution begins. As well as coordinating with the operational unit concerned, the proposal team also coordinates with the Contracts Department in respect of the contractual and commercial aspects of the proposal, and with the Insurance Department as regards insurance matters. Input is also sought from other service departments within KN, such as Quality Assurance, Health and Safety, and

A bid document being finalized for submisssion for all disciplines – civil, structural steel, piping, equipment, electrical, instrumentation, painting and insulation. These norms are updated periodically based on input from the operating units and they ensure that pricing is uniform even when proposals are handled by different team members. Until recently cash-flow forecasts were only prepared for major contracts. However, due to the recent tightening of credit in the region, the department now analyses and reviews

Human Resources.

the cash-flow implications of each proposal

To ensure that its proposals are competitive

terms in every bid submitted.

and profitable, the Tenders & Proposals Department has comprehensive procedures covering all the steps involved in the preparation of a proposal. For each bid these procedures are carried out by a dedicated proposal team within the Tenders & Proposals Department.

it prepares and includes proposed payment

Continuous improvements in performance


Teams from these business lines are very

have enable Kharafi National to expand rapidly in recent years. These improvements are based on an on-going analysis of past performance. For example, where a contract is awarded to another bidder and the offer

The tendering process begins with an analysis

submitted by KN is 20 per cent greater than the

of the key elements and risks of a project. Cost

successful tender, the Tenders & Proposals

estimations for materials, labour and direct

Department performs a detailed examination

and indirect costs are then drawn up. For

in order to improve Kharafi National’s chances

construction and installation type activities,

of success in subsequent tenders.

the department has standard man-hour norms


19


The SPM Scorecard Sophisticated

and

structured

supplier

evaluation procedures provide KN with another distinctive edge, as discussed by Corporate Manager of Procurement Ali Sakkijha. Globalization, low-cost country sourcing, continuous cost pressures, outsourcing, and other forces have combined to make supply value more important than ever to business success. Supplier performance management (SPM) is the process of measuring, analyzing and managing supplier performance to improve quality, reduce costs, mitigate supply risk and

awarded with purchase orders each year, and

drive continuous improvement in the supply

32% of these suppliers contribute more than

base.

90% of purchases. These suppliers are known as ‘Critical Mass’ or ‘A’ Class Suppliers.

It has been noted from recent research that enterprises with formal SPM programmes

As regards supplier performance management,

enjoy improved supplier performance levels

it has been observed at KN that only a few

in various performance categories, compared

organizations are equipped with the right set

to enterprises with no formal programme.

of enabling technologies to standardize and

However only 50% of enterprises across

scale their efforts to get the best possible

the globe have developed and implemented

results. KN’s new ERP system with intelligent

structured SPM procedures.

reporting has provided the procurement team with the ability to access, organize and

KN has been adopting structured supplier

analyze supplier performance data. KN has

evaluation

years.

developed key performance indicators (KPIs)

Currently it has more than 5,000 suppliers

for suppliers based on criteria such as quality,

on its approved vendor list, one-third of

deliverability and pricing.

procedures

over

the

whom are from overseas. The Procurement Department conducts periodic procurement

Suppliers who provide quality products and

spend analysis and supplier spend analysis

timely delivery are considered to be partners in

(see Transmission, Issue 22, 2008) to identify

the growth of Kharafi National. By consistently

key suppliers for KN.

monitoring supplier performance indicators, KN reduces supply chain risks and improves

20

Though there are 5,000 suppliers on KN’s

the overall quality of the projects delivered to

approved vendor list, only 1,100 of these are

its clients.


The staff development ethos at Kharafi National is simple: proper training upgrades the quality and efficiency of personnel and maintains KN’s competitiveness. Four KN safety officers in the UAE recently obtained the NEBOSH International General Certificate. NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is a UKbased independent examining board, which offers a comprehensive range of qualifications designed to meet the health, safety, environmental and risk management needs of private and public sector workplaces. Each year about 30,000 candidates for NEBOSH qualification attend courses offered by more than 400 providers in 80 countries. The Board’s examinations are set by qualified staff, most of whom are Chartered Safety and Health Practitioners, and its qualifications are recognised by professional bodies that

include the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management. The NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Safety & Health enables health and safety staff to identify, document, control, and manage hazards in the workplace and apply their knowledge in practical situations, giving them the ability to effectively discharge their health and safety responsibilities. Four KN safety officers attended a ten-day course in the UAE conducted by Emirates ERM, which began on the 9th November 2008, and obtained their NEBOSH certificates.

Congratulations to: Yousef Iqbal Mohammed Naushad Azhar Ramaiah Anbalagan Muhamhad Iqbal Gondal

E-Learning – Today’s Golden Opportunity As the global slowdown continues to affect businesses, new challenges are being raised for organizations and especially for learning and development professionals in the GCC region, all of whom are anticipating a change of focus in 2009. UAE Learning & Development Unit Head Ibrahim Al-Masri explains.

effective, particularly now that more than 42% of employers in the GCC have implemented cut-backs in training expenses.

KN’s learning and development strategy, which relies mainly on internal resources and in-house delivery, is proving successful and

Many employees are now taking training and development opportunities seriously as a way of remaining competent and developing their

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

NEBOSH Certifies Safety Officers

Our employees appreciate the free learning resources – such as e–learning, in-house classroom training, and on-the-job training – available in Kharafi National.


21


careers. Indeed, in the UAE, we have witnessed an increase in demand for e-learning courses during the 1st quarter of 2009 of at least 20%. We have also observed a significant increase in requests for scheduled classroom training; moreover we have started to receive training requests for topics which were not included in the published training calendar this year. To make our strategy even more powerful, the Learning and Development Unit has begun identifying qualified internal trainers to deliver technical competencies in areas such as project management and safety. However we are continuing to encourage memberships of professional societies as these organisations, by connecting staff with other members of

their professions around the world, help keep them updated about best practices and new developments in their professions. Nevertheless our learning and development strategy will remain focused on e-learning and in-house delivery with an emphasis on topics such as motivation, leadership, stress management, crises management, and innovation. Now is the best time for staff at KN to take advantage of our huge e-learning library, which contains over 480 topics covering business and professional development, management skills, IT skills, and desktop applications.

From left in Kuwait: Winners Mohammed Abduseyed, Albert Chacko, Mina Hakim and Mohamed Ibrahim Barakat being congratulated by Learning & Performance Management Unit Head Rob Fogelman 22


The first e-learning competition for the year 2009 has been concluded. The managers and senior staff in each department were given the honour of drawing the winners in a raffle of everyone who finished their courses on time. Five winners were selected for Kuwait, two for the UAE, two for Egypt and one for Lebanon.

The UAE: 91889 - Manoj Babu K 45653 - Mylene Gamab Egypt

Congratulations: Kuwait 10388 - Albert Paragakunnel Chacko 25409 - Mina Hakim Kelada Abadir 31390 - Mohamed Ibrahim Barakat 35094 - Hisham Salah Shadid 11845 - Mohammed Abdulseyed Aboud Abdulrahman

Lebanon: 40137 - Imad El Abed

27837 - Mohamed A Abo Alnaga 50061 - Ashraf Mohamed Mohmoud El Sayed

Despite their busy work schedules, KN employees are still finding time to enhance their personal and professional development by upgrading their knowledge and skills through FREE e-learning courses.

482 courses at your fingertips! Learn more! Advance more! Be the NEXT winner!


E-Learning Winners

From left in the UAE: Hani Khaled, Manoj Babu (winner), Susann Abouhassan-Behnke, Wael Jaroudi, Mylene Gamab (winner) and Alyson Harris APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

23

HEALTH & SAFETY

Safe Working at Height In the construction industry, a fall from a height is the most common cause of death in the workplace and one of the main causes of major injuries. Here at Kharafi National we are absolutely committed to safe working at all times and our state-of-the-art Work at Height system is an integral part of that commitment. by Corporate H&S Manager Don Brown Many job activities involve working at height. Carrying out tasks from ladders, scaffolds and platforms are obvious examples, but there are many more activities where people are required to work at heights, such as working over tanks and other steel structures. Even changing a ceiling light in an office involves working at a height. Thus working at height cannot be avoided and it is, by its very nature, dangerous. Therefore it is imperative to ensure that those who carry out this form of work are aware of the risks involved and related preventive measures. To avoid serious accidents, they must also have the skills necessary to do their work safely. Many workers in maintenance and construction, and many other people in a variety of jobs, are at risk of falling from a height at work. These persons-at-risk include welders, pipe fitters, painters, scaffolders, and roof workers. Those who undertake jobs at a height without proper training, planning or equipment are especially at risk. This risk must be reduced as much as possible, which is what we do with KN’s Work at Height system. In Kharafi National, before any work at a height is undertaken, a risk assessment must be carried out to highlight the measures that must be taken to ensure that people are not at risk of a fall. We also consider the type of equipment to be used and whether the persons involved are competent to handle it. This equipment includes: • Ladders – which are only acceptable for access or for work of short duration and must be appropriate and of the correct grade for the intended use; • Access equipment; • Mobile elevated platforms; and • Scaffold towers with proper edge protection. Under KN’s Work at Height system, the supervisor in charge of a particular job

24


is obliged to give his workers a detailed explanation of the scope of the work and to provide specific safety instructions concerning the accident-prevention actions that must be followed. The supervisor must also ensure that each employee has been issued with all necessary personal-protection equipment (PPE), such as full-body harnesses, before work commences. Once the work begins it must be supervised closely. In addition to providing its employees with full-body harness kits, KN ensures that its work platforms are safe and that its employees use all other relevant safety equipment. These measures collectively deliver a fail-safe work system designed to keep our workers as safe as possible while executing tasks at heights – all part of our commitment to ensuring that, when the work-day is over, each one of our employees arrives home safely.

Safety Always Pays Kharafi National is proud of its commitment to safe-working, a commitment that once again has achieved very impressive results.

Congratulations to: Project #1293 – the O&M of the Steam Flood Facilities in the PNZ – which has received a certificate of appreciation from Joint Operations for successfully completing three years without a lost time accident. Project #1041 – KNPC Standby Project Services – which has received a letter of appreciation from KNPC for ABJ’s contribution to the achievement of 10 million man-hours without a lost time accident.

A full-body harness is the key to safe workiing at height

A full-body harness is the key to safe working at height

Supervisor of the Month Vasu Poojary

A full-body harness kit consists of connectors, lanyard, anchorage point, deceleration device and a body harness. Sometimes a lifeline is used in conjunction with the kit depending on the circumstances of the work.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Men of the Month – at OL2K

A full-body harness protection system: • limits the arresting force on an employee; • brings an employee to a complete stop, limiting the maximum deceleration distance on an employee to 3.5 feet; and • has sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee, should a fall occur.

Employee of the Month P Pathorse Raphael

To Work Safely at a Height Every KN employee must:

Vasu Poojary, P Pathorse Raphael

• Look out for any potential fall hazards before starting work and take appropriate preventive action; • Look for fall hazards such as unprotected floor openings, edges, shafts, skylights, edges, etc; • Inspect the full body harness kit for any defects or wear and tear; • Wear the full body harness properly; and • Secure the lanyard to a rigid structure.

Congratulations to

Equate, the owner of the OL2K project, has selected Vasu Poojary as Supervisor of the Month and P Pathorse Raphael as Employee of the Month for January 2009. Both are KN employees and having their professionalism recognized and highlighted by the owner of the OL2K project brings immense prestige to Kharafi National.


25

EVENTS

Privatization of Wastewater Treatment in the Gulf Region Case studies on the privatization of wastewater treatment in Kuwait and the UAE were presented by Dr Ibrahim Alghusain at the recent MEED Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference 2008. Dr Ibrahim is the General Manager of Utilities Development Company and the Director of Business Development for Infrastructure Project Development, a division of Kharafi National. Building a long-term and environmentally sustainable future was the theme of the MEED Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference

2008, which took place on the 24th and 25th of November 2008 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The conference emphasized that reusing wastewater makes environmental and economic sense. This is because the desalination of sea-water, the main method of producing potable water in the region, is energy intensive, while expanding populations have led to an increase in demand for both power and potable water. Dr Ibrahim began his presentation with a review of privately-financed development

The Kharafi National stand at the MEED Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference 2008 26


projects on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. Under a BOT project, the investor has a 25 to 30 year concession during which he builds a facility and operates it, and then transfers it back to the owner at the end of the concession. This benefits the owner, usually a government, and the investor, a consortium of private contractors, in several ways. During the concession period, the owner makes considerable savings as his investment is minimal and he has guaranteed revenues. He also gets quality service without any performance risk and at the end of the period obtains a fully-functioning wastewater treatment plant and the inward transfer of advanced technology. Meanwhile, the owner’s end-users, ie, the general public and local businesses, enjoy highly efficient and dependable water services at competitive prices. In turn, the investor has a stable long-term contract which enables him to raise finance, which he can pay back using the cash inflows generated by the project. He has a guaranteed off-take for his output of treated water, enabling him to make profits during the concession and a fair return on investment. Local banks, service provides and industries also benefit by servicing the project. The cost of wastewater treatment is much cheaper than desalination. In Kuwait, Dr

EVENTS

Dr Ibrahim Alghusain presented case studies on privatization at the MEED Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference 2008

Ibrahim stated, desalinating sea-water costs KD0.620 per cubic metre, while the treated water from the local Sulaibiya Wastewater Treatment & Reclamation Plant is sold for only KD0.180 per cubic metre, a saving of KD0.440 per cubic metre. Sulaibiya produces 350,000cu m of reclaimed water per day and thus saves the government of Kuwait KD56.2 million (US$213m) per year. Indeed, over the 30-year life-time of the Sulaibiya concession, the savings will amount to US$5.8 billion. Dr Ibrahim described the partnership structure that has been successfully used by Kharafi National and its associates for BOT projects in Kuwait and the UAE. At its core is a ‘special purpose company’ in which the plant constructors, the technology provider and the facility management and operator companies each have a share. The owner too may be a member of this partnership; for example, ADWEA (Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority) has a 60% share in the special purpose company for the Wathba and Saad wastewater plants in the UAE. After reviewing in detail the Sulaibiya wastewater treatment plant and the plants currently under construction at Wathba and Saad, Dr Ibrahim concluded his presentation by stating that these kinds of development projects represent the future of Gulf contracting. By helping to expand local infrastructure, they relieve overburdened governments and municipalities. They stimulate local businesses by using the vast financial and technical potential of the private and banking sectors. For investors, these long-term concessions are a hedge against economic down-turns. In his closing remarks, Dr Ibrahim highlighted the 50/50 strategy adopted by Kharafi National in 2005, whereby the development of infrastructure projects is protecting KN during the current global recession.


27

EVENTS

Working Building Middle East Exhibition Kharafi National recently showcased its capabilities in Construction and Facilities Management at the Working Building Middle East Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The exhibition, which took place at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre on the 17th and 18th November 2008, explored the latest products, services and best practices relating to the life-cycle of a building, and demonstrated methods to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. The need for energy conservation is particularly crucial in the GCC, where oil-boom-fuelled economic growth, fast-growing populations and subsidy-driven consumer habits have made the Gulf States some of the largest per-capita consumers of energy in the world.

The massive number of real estate projects currently under construction in the Middle East represents an opportunity to add energyconserving solutions during construction and gain very positive pay-backs throughout the life-cycles of these buildings. Kharafi National Facilities Management took the opportunity to display its comprehensive services, including electro-mechanical, civil, general maintenance and other complimentary soft services management at the exhibition, and to familiarize potential customers with its capabilities in buildings management. The KN FM stand was well attended and the company’s experienced Facilities Management division is now well positioned to exploit this growing market and is looking forward to the prospect of increased business throughout the Middle East.

Showcasing KN’s construction and facility management capabilities at the Working Building Middle East Exhibition in November 2008 28


EVENTS

KN Achieves International Recognition Kharafi National has been recognized as

people, companies, projects, technologies

the Most Impressive Water Company in

and contracts that made the most significant

the Middle East, at the prestigious Global

contributions to the industry during the

Water Awards organized by Global Water

previous year.

Intelligence. The Global Water Awards are organised into Global Water Intelligence is a monthly

several categories. A panel of industry experts

magazine that provides in-depth analysis of

reduces nominations to a shortlist of four for

the international water industry and, each

each category. The winners are then voted for

year, organises the Global Water Awards.

by subscribers to Global Water Intelligence

The purpose of the awards is to recognise

and Water Desalination Report, as well as

excellence in the global water industry – the

members of the International Desalination

Ark Pang (right) with Juan Torrent of GE in the KN booth at the GWI Conference in Zurich 27th & 28th April 2009 APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

29

two other short-listed candidates were the infrastructure business division of Mitsui & Co and Suez Environnement, a global water and waste specialist listed on the Euronext stock exchange. However, KN was recognized as the Most Impressive Water Company in the Middle East. According to Global Water Intelligence, Former US VP Al Gore delivering thekeynote address at the GWI 2009 conference

participation in the ADWEA project in Abu Dhabi, its bid to increase daily throughput

Association and the International Private

at Sulaibiya WWT&R plant in Kuwait to

Water Association. This selection process

600,000 cubic metres per day, its long-term

ensures that the awards represent what

commitment to regional water reclamation

the water industry itself sees as the most

projects, and the skills of its formidable team

important achievements of the past year.

in infrastructure project development.

Though Kharafi National had been short-listed

The awards were announced at the Global

for the award of Water Company of the Year –

Water Awards dinner at the Zurich Marriott

which is bestowed on the enterprise that has

Hotel in Switzerland on the 27th April, 2009.

made the most significant contribution to the

More than 350 leaders from the international

development of the international water sector

water and finance sectors attended the

during the previous year – these laurels were

event at which former US vice-president Al

won by American Water, the largest investor-

Gore, the internationally renowned political

owned water and wastewater utility company

environmentalist, made the keynote speech.

in the USA and a formidable competitor. The

30

this recognition was based on the company’s


KN was represented at the awards by Chief Development Officer Ark W Pang and Senior Project Developer Latif Amara. KN also had an exhibit at the Zurich Marriott which attracted a lot of interest and enquires from companies wishing to join with KN in future projects. Being recognized as the Most Impressive Water Company in the Middle East was a magnificent achievement for KN – especially in competition with major international water companies such as American Water, Mitsui and Suez – and anchors Kharafi National firmly in the market for international water projects.

Senior Project Developer Latif Amara (right) receiving KN’s certificate from former US VP Al Gore at the GWI 2009 conference


31

OUR PEOPLE

International Women’s Day at KN This year is the centenary of the first

Kharafi

National

has

several

female

celebration of International Women’s Day

employees at management level, including

– in the USA in 1909. Under United Nations

department heads, senior engineers and

sponsorship since 1975, the Day is now an

accountants, whose decisions have an effect

official holiday in 27 countries.

on the company’s progress. On the 8th March, 2009, KN marked International Women’s Day

The role of women in decision-making

with a company-wide acknowledgement of the

was the theme of this year’s International

increasingly important contribution women

Women’s Day. Indeed, the full participation

are making to its success.

of women in access to power and decisionmaking is considered by the UN as essential

Employee Relations organized gifts and emails

to global progress and fundamental for the

of appreciation for all female employees in

achievement of equality, development and

all operational areas. In the UAE, the ladies

peace throughout the world.

received a bouquet of roses and a box of

International Women’s Day in the UAE (from left): Mylene Gamab, Evangeline Villa, Anaflor Kimhoko, Arlene Lansang, Berenice Gaviola, Amelita Regino, Susann Aboulhassan-Behnke, Dalia Hashem, Lizette Patawaran, Priya Nambiar and Nivine Zahran 32


bouquet of roses was accompanied by a bottle of perfume. The ladies in KN Kuwait received gift hampers from the Body Shop, while those in Lebanon were given cosmetic sets from Yves Roche. Employee Relations also organised small gatherings, wherever possible, to celebrate the occasion and hand out the gifts. However, due to work commitments and the remote locations in which some ladies work, not

International Women’s Day in KN Lebanon (from left): Sanaa Bazzi, Rene Najm, Nadine Franji, Ghena Sbayie, Maya Kassabieh and Taimaa Hassanieh

everyone was able to attend these functions. the ladies, in particular, were delighted to have The gesture, nevertheless, was very much

their contribution to KN’s success recognized

appreciated by everyone in the company and

by senior management.

OUR PEOPLE

chocolates each. In Egypt National, each

International Women’s Day in Egypt National (from left): Hanan Samy, Heba El Omrany, Doaa El Mowafy, Rasha Youssif, Noha El Khashab and Marwa Sayed APRIL 2009-ISSUE NO-23

33

OUR PEOPLE

Employees of the Quarter The winners of the employees of the quarter awards for the fourth quarter of 2008 were:

Shehata Saber, a HVAC supervisor in cost centre 1315, for his experience in solving site issues, for coming to work 30 minutes early each day to prepare the day’s tasks, for maintaining good relations with his co-workers and the main contractor, for monitoring his electricians’ overtime, and for responding to emergencies without complaint.

Moslem Mohamed Al-Hastany, a project specific supervisor in cost centre 1281, for being hard working and sincere, for enthusiastically leading his team, for coordinating well with the client, and for working well under all circumstances despite the pressures of his job.

The runners-up were:

following safety procedures in full, and for his timely submission of client check-lists.

Non-manual employees: Syed Ghouseuddin, a human resources assistant in cost centre 9123, for his contribution to the creation of KN workforce statistics, his efforts in developing the ‘HR Competency Tool’, upgrading the HR system, active involvement in Six Sigma exercises and turnover analysis, and for leading the pool secretaries in developing the CV databank. Hesham Ahmed El-Gazzar, a senior systems engineer in cost centre 9310, for his role in finalizing the ‘unified domain’ project and, especially, for demonstrating excellent leadership by going to rectify server problems at a late hour despite personal distress. Mohamed Ali Ahmed Moustafa, a site civil engineer in cost centre 1344, for starting jobs as soon as he receives work orders and then finishing them as early as possible while 34


K P Krishnadasan, a safety officer in cost centre 1293, for his positive contribution to maintaining his project’s overall health and safety awareness and to achieving its goal of zero lost-time incidents, and for communicating KN’s safety culture to Joint Operations. Madras Syed Babu, the camp boss in cost centre 9134, for his honest, dedicated service since 1991, for being on top of his job and, especially, for closely monitoring the needs of Bayan Camp and his follow-up with Bayan project management on maintenance issues. Wafek Mohamed Abdel Hamed Elhassan, a supervisor in cost centre 1612, for his sincerity, hard work and innovative thinking, who consistently motivates his staff to work accurately while adhering to safety procedures, and for using his fine communication skills to

Emad Sefeldin Abdulah, an administrative officer in cost centre 9115, for designing an ‘Arabic typing program’ in Oracle which is being used for typing up forms for the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Social Affairs and for maintaining all required employee data in Arabic. Kirubanandhan, an assistant applications administrator in cost centre 9310, for being a hard-working, reliable employee with a professional attitude, knowledge and technical skills, who accepts challenge, supports and trains IT staff, and for the productivity and quality of his work, and for being well organised. Benny Kurian, an electrical supervisor in cost centre 1307, for being sincere and efficient in the execution of his duties, for his sense of discipline, and for always maintaining excellent relations with all personnel on site. Rangaraj Umaraj, a mechanical superintendent in cost centre 1389, for motivating people, for his problem solving skills in piping and structural activities, for adhering to quality and safety standards, and for his dedication and very strong sense of ownership which enables him to get jobs done on schedule and within budget. Ekramy Abdellatf, a mechanical project engineer in cost centre 1041, for being a hard worker who performs his duties with commendable accuracy, for working extended hours, for his excellent relations with clients, and for always being a well organised leader. Sami Jassim Al-Ahmad, a public relations officer in cost centre 1346, for playing a vital role in the collection of payments from Ministries by using his relationships within Ministry offices to avoid unwanted obstructions in the flow of paperwork. Sherif Saber Wahba, a supervisor in cost centre 1613, for his ability to analyse work

challenges into ‘what to do’ and ‘why to do’, for his counselling skills, for aiding clients understanding of the work and for getting work orders executed on time by obtaining clearance from client’s site engineers. Moh’d M Hekal, a secretary in cost centre 1369, for being well-experienced in his work, for preparing all client forms, and for obtaining a formal qualification in Arabic typing. Tinu Varghese Mathew, a CADD operator in cost centre 9125, for using his sound knowledge and able guidance to train his fellow CADD operators to the use of TEKLA Structures Software (X-Steel) for structural detailing, even though he only joined KN recently.

OUR PEOPLE

maintain excellent relations with co-workers and client supervisors.

Sayed Yusaf, an instrument and control supervisor in cost centre 1334, for being a dedicated, honest employee who assists others, for being diligent in his duties regarding communications concerning the installation of cabling works, and for always finishing jobs on time. Salah Mitwalli, an equipment administrator in cost centre 1914, for properly organising the actions and follow-up required for the periodic traffic registration of KN vehicles and equipment so that delays are avoided, and for his good response to his other assignments. Anantaram Khatiwada, a supervisor in cost centre 9171, for working long hours and turning in a good performance with high standards of quality and safety, for maintaining good relations with his co-workers, for his leadership, and for training other foremen and scaffolders.

Manual employees: Noushad Madathil, a CCTV operator in cost centre 1344, for always doing his best to do his work on site in accordance with safety procedures and for insisting that this crew members do the same, and for maintaining good relations with the client and project staff.


35

OUR PEOPLE

Selva Ganapathy V, a senior control technician in cost centre 1293, for being a highly cooperative, efficient, skilled employee whose positive outlook maintains overall morale and team spirit, and for executing his assigned electrical works meticulously and on time. Esrar Ahmad, a senior plant operator in cost centre 1285, for his commendable performance of his duties, since 2002, in the operation and maintenance of the pumping station. Faisal Ahmed Abdul Azoes, a janitor in cost centre 9134, for being an honest and dedicated employee who is currently taking care of the cleaning and other daily needs of non-manual accommodation in Fintas and for the excellence of his long service with KN. Paul P Antony, a BMS/SCADA operator in cost centre 1307, for his hard working, cooperative style and ability to take quick corrective action while monitoring work through the SCADA system, which has encouraged his colleagues to achieve the same high performance levels. Mohamed Nawab Rafiuddin, a rigging foreman in cost centre 1389, for being a sincere, hard-working employee with an excellent knowledge of his work, for his performance which is always exemplary, and for showing an excellent awareness of safety and quality procedures. Abdul Raheem Siddiqui Mohammed, an electrician in cost centre 1341, for being a hard worker who always responds to emergency works no matter what the circumstances or time, for his productivity and quality work, and for finishing jobs on time while adhering to safe working methods. Praveen K, an electrical foreman in cost centre 1323, for his sincerity and hard work, his excellent performance and attendance record, his good communication skills, and for maintaining effective working relations with his superiors and clients. Mohamed Lamei, a pipe fitter in cost centre 1346, for performing a good job recording

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water pressures and for detecting and reporting leaks, in addition to his normal duties as a pipe fitter. Kamal Hossain, a flusher operator in cost centre 1613, for creating an excellent working environment through his solid understanding of both his work and the work site, for his competence in helping the entire team to succeed, and for his good attendance, efficiency and cooperation with client staff and co-workers. Farag Saber, a pipe and vessel foreman in cost centre 1369, for his experience and leadership of technical and manual employees, for his planning and scheduling abilities, for his insistence on adherence to KN’s health and safety systems, and for helping maintain client satisfaction. Mohamed El-Sayed Moh’d, a labourer in cost centre 1281, for his complete dedication to his work, for following safety procedures, for maintaining good relations with his coworkers, and for carrying out his duties efficiently and effectively. K A Varghese, an electrical foreman in cost centre 1315, for being well organised, for always reporting the status of site installations and safety issues, for his dependability and ability to work unsupervised, for finding the mistakes of sub-contractors, for his loyalty, and for his willingness to learn and develop. Soji Allesu, an electrical foreman in cost centre 1334, for the quality and productivity of his work, his knowledge of the network components of communication works, his ability to lay and terminate network cables, and for being a hard worker and quick learner. Ahmed Eweis Hozain Eweis, a scaffolder in cost centre 9171, for being a sincere, hard worker, for taking on additional responsibilities, for being a team player who maintains good relations with his co-workers, and for being disciplined, systematic and pro-active in coordinating work on site.

1

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

OPERATIONS NEWS 2 5 6 9 10 14 16 17

Facilities Management Lebanon IM&P Operations Egypt National Construction (Oil & Gas) EPCM-MEP KN Industrial City Equipment Division

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS 18 Tendering for Success 20 The SPM Scorecard

Sanjeev Chandrakanthbhai Shah has joined ABJ as business development manager. He has a BEng in chemical engineering from Gujarat (India) and more than 25 years experience in oil and gas, petrochemical and fertilizer projects. Sanjeev joins from Hitech Services Supplies in Oman, where be was the business development manager. John Joseph McErlain has joined KN’s Project Controls Department as a senior contract administrator. He has a BSc in quantity surveying from the University of Ulster (Ireland) and more than 16 years experience in quantity surveying in Ireland and Nigeria. John joins from Kevinsfort Ltd, Ireland, where he was a senior quantity surveyor.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT 21 E-Learning – Today’s Golden Opportunity 21 NEBOSH Certifies Safety Officers 23 E-Learning Competition Winners

HEALTH AND SAFETY 24 Safe Working at Height 24 Safety Always Pays 25 Men of the Month – at OL2K

EVENTS 26 MEED Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Conference 2008 28 Working Building Middle East Exhibition 29 KN Achieves International Recognition

OUR PEOPLE 32 International Women’s Day at KN 34 Employees of the quarter 37 New faces at KN

CONTACT US Transmission is the corporate magazine of Kharafi National. It is issued quarterly and distributed internally. The editor, Paul D Kennedy, may be contacted on [email protected] to which comments and contributions should also be sent. KUWAIT

ABU DHABI

DUBAI

EGYPT

LEBANON

BAHRAIN

PO Box 24081 Safat 13101 Kuwait Tel: +965-22259000 Fax: +965-22259999

11th Floor, Al-Ferdous Bldg Al-Salam Street Abu Dhabi Tel: +9712-6775800 Fax: +9712-6778688

PO Box 25693 Dubai Tel: +9714-3476662 Fax: +9714-3479400

2 AbdulMoneim Riyadh St Al Thawra Square Al Mohendessen Giza Tel: +202-33367688 Fax: +202-37609264

MAK Centre, 2nd Floor Al-Sham Road PO Box 182 Hazmieh Beirut Tel: +961-5-950480/81 Fax:+961-5-950988

Office 52, Sabha Building #338, Road 1705 Block 317Diplomatic Area Manama Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 (1) 751-6474 Fax: +973 (1) 753-1714

www.kharafinational.com

New Faces at KN

Paolo Crovato has joined the O&M staff at Sulaibiya WWT&R Plant as plant technical manager. He has a BEng in electrical engineering from the G Giorgi Institute of Genoa (Italy) and 40 years experience in the erection, maintenance and operation of civil and electrical works. Paolo joins from GE Kuwait, where he was the plant manager. Khaled Tubaileh has joined as operations manager in Facilities Management Industrial Maintenance (HV systems). He has a BSc in electrical engineering from Kuwait University and 20 years experience in electrical maintenance and transmission. Khaled joins from Al Rashed Sons, Kuwait, where he was the engineering services manager.

Staff Achievements PMP Certificate Holders Congratulations to Jehad Selwadi and Mohamed El Gayar for achieving project management professional status by passing the examinations of the Project Management Institute, Pennsylvania, USA. Jehad Selwadi joined KN as a senior project engineer in September 2005 and is currently a project manager with EPCM-MEP. During 2007 he took various project management e-learning courses with KN’s Learning & Development Unit. After further studies on his own he passed the PMI examinations on the 23rd February 2009. Mohamed El Gayar joined KN in July 2004 as a project engineer and is currently CAD unit head with Egypt National. He has a BSc in electrical engineering from Cairo University (1996). Mohamed studied for the PMI qualification on his own and passed that institute’s examinations on the 18th January 2009.

OUR PEOPLE

CONTENTS

Contents

Y O U R W AY O F S TAY I N G I N T O U C H

Issue 23 2009

TRANSMISSION

transmission - Kharafi National

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