Bechtel Corporation’s Post

Thinking outside the box The IM November-December 2023 kicks off with a leader from Editorial Director, Paul Moore, who highlights the 'true manufacturing capability' differentiator some OEMs are using as a competitive edge over rivals. The piece focuses on one example in particular, being Bell Equipment Mining & Construction's recent move to off specialist services - such as complex engineering, heavy fabrication and machining for its own range of material handling equipment - to all industries in South Africa through its newly formed division, Bell Heavy Industries (BHI). As Bell Equipment’s Group Business Development Director, Stephen Jones, says: “South Africa has seen a huge reduction in engineering companies, and, in response, we have strategically positioned our South African manufacturing facility to fill this void by providing project engineering and contract manufacturing through BHI.” To read more about this strategic move, click on the PDF below. #miningequipment #mobilemining #miningADTs #miningtrucks #SouthAfricanmining

This is a great boost to the Territory economy as we continue to prove to the world that we’re critical minerals heavyweights. Critical minerals are key to the net zero transition, both here at home and overseas. Exporting an in-demand resource, creating long-term local jobs and a sustainable Territory industry – we’re focused on unlocking our extraordinary potential.

State-owned Transnet reported a loss of R5.7-billion in 2022-23 and a decline of 23.6 million tonnes in rail freight, down to 149.5 million tonnes. “The impact of such underperformance is having a knock-on effect on the economy due to the constraints it is placing on major mining and logistics companies. Revenues are down, resulting in a reduction in potential tax collection. The government urgently requires the revenue to fund investment, economic growth and social development,” says Chris Britz, director: Transportation and leader of the Transportation Business Line in Africa at AECOM . https://lnkd.in/dNQ3S4dM . #AfricanMining #digitalsolutions #freightrailsystem #EconomicGrowth #transportation . 📷 - AECOM

Worth your attention if you are in the electric vehicle value chain like we are.

State-owned Transnet reported a loss of R5.7-billion in 2022-23 and a decline of 23.6 million tonnes in rail freight, down to 149.5 million tonnes. “The impact of such underperformance is having a knock-on effect on the economy due to the constraints it is placing on major mining and logistics companies. Revenues are down, resulting in a reduction in potential tax collection. The government urgently requires the revenue to fund investment, economic growth and social development,” says Chris Britz, director: Transportation and leader of the Transportation Business Line in Africa at AECOM . https://lnkd.in/ddzqKw-F . #AfricanMining #digitalsolutions #freightrailsystem #EconomicGrowth #transportation . 📷 - AECOM

Power Metal Resources PLC (AIM:POW) has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Investment of the Kingdom of #SaudiArabia (MISA). "The purpose of the MoU is to explore the possibility of joint collaboration efforts toward the identification and realisation of high-value-added investment opportunities utilising the Kingdom's natural resources," said the statement. #PowerMetalResources will offer technical support to potential exploration projects and MISA will provide project opportunities and potential support for such projects as applicable.  Sean Wade, #PowerMetal chief executive, said: "We are honoured to partner with the Ministry of Investment of #Saudi Arabia. “This MoU is indicative of our commitment to exploration in the Kingdom, and it paves the way for us to explore exciting opportunities in one of the world's most resource-rich countries." More at #Proactive #ProactiveInvestors #AIM #POW http://ow.ly/wwQk1058CAW

💡 Power Metal Acquisition of 75% Interest in GSA (Environmental) Limited 💡 Power Metal Resources PLC (#POW) announces that the Company has signed binding heads of terms with GSA (Environmental) Ltd ("GSAe") to conditionally acquire 75% of the entire issued share capital of GSAe. Read the full announcement here: https://bit.ly/42TPcbX ⚡️ What does GSAe do? ♦️ GSAe is a privately owned UK-headquartered engineering technology provider and process licensor, which specialises in the extraction of strategic metals from 'secondary sources' including power station ash, refinery waste, titanium dioxide waste and spent catalysts, while also producing much more environmentally friendly residue. ♦️ GSAe aspires to be the first-choice global provider of technological solutions to environmental problems posed by toxic metals in waste products. ⚡️ What is the consideration? ♦️ Power Metal will pay initial consideration of £75,000 through the issue of new ordinary shares, full details of which are set out in the announcement. ♦️ The maximum total consideration for the acquisition is £1 million, payable in cash and/or new ordinary shares in the Company with the maximum payment subject to GSAe achieving a number of performance milestones, including a year three annual profit of at least £1 million. 📢 Sean Wade, CEO of Power Metal Resources, commented: “I am very excited to announce this proposed strategic acquisition for Power Metal. We have ambitious plans for this innovative business and believe that the extraction of strategic metals from waste products fits well with our strategy of seeking exposure to the critical metals needed for the global energy transition. GSAe's proprietary technology has wide application, including in Saudi Arabia, with its plentiful supply of metal-rich power station ash. We believe this acquisition represents a significant step forward in our efforts to become a major operator in the region. Moreover, the Directors believe the acquisition will also create a substantial revenue opportunity for Power Metal shareholders, which if successful, will allow us to fund our activities with less recourse to dilutive equity financing. I look forward to announcing the completion of this transaction in due course.” #acquisition #POWMet #MetalExtraction #SaudiArabia

Since 2019, four energy mega-projects spawned or hosted in northern British Columbia – Site C dam, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink pipeline – have been under construction, boosting B.C.’s economy with thousands of construction jobs and billions spent on procurement and wages, reported Western Investor. "With a total capital spend estimated at $100 billion, these four projects alone provided up to 20,000 construction jobs in B.C. in 2022. But all projects are now in the home stretch, and construction will soon begin winding down." "The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) and Coastal GasLink pipeline (CGL) – are expected to be finished by the end of this year. LNG Canada and Site C have roughly another year to go. The burning question across northern B.C. is ‘what comes next.’" https://lnkd.in/gHXpEmSV #northernbc #britishcolumbia #industrial #infrastructure #development

German government to support major port expansion The German government is set to support the €300 million expansion of its North Sea port of Cuxhaven, with funds of approximately €100 million. Operations during the construction of Berth 4 at Cuxhaven Typically, harbour expansion falls under the jurisdiction of federal states, so the government’s decision is somewhat unusual, attesting to the perceived strategic significance of the project, with the port anticipating continued growth within the wind power sector. According to the Cuxhaven port association, Hafenwirtschaftsgemeinschaft Cuxhaven, the expanded facility will offer increased capacity – in the shape of three new berths – for receiving and transporting rotor blades, which constitute almost 80% of the approximately 15,000 large components for wind turbines that are transported via land and sea annually. With financing secured, including a prior commitment of €100 million euros from the authorities in Lower Saxony and an additional €100 million expected from the private sector via concession fees, preparations for the project can now move ahead. The next phase will see the publication of tender invitations to determine the operator for the new berths. For more information on the Construction, Mining Equipment and Allied Industries, please reach us at www.equipmenttimes.in Ramamurthy Mayavan Philip Varghese #maintenance #equipment #construction #infrastructure #manufacturing #constructionequipment #powersector #constructionmachinery

Production Sharing Agreements (or Contracts) have been the norm in many jurisdictions since Indonesia introduced them broadly in the current form in the 1960s. The degree of state control which they typically provide has made them attractive to the host NOC and host government. The risk-free exploration and appraisal phases, from the state’s perspective, are particularly welcome to cash-strapped governments uncertain of their hydrocarbon resources. In the past thirty years or more, states have held the whip hand as IOCs have searched the world for new resource to bolster their future earnings flow. We suggest that the pendulum has swung significantly the other way over the last five years, however, and in our experience the terms of PSAs on offer do not yet reflect this change in the balance of parties’ interests and negotiating power. The main drivers of this shift can be summarised, we believe, as “The need for speed” for both the hosts and the IOCs. In turn this is driven by a number of factors affecting both parties, which we will discuss at the workshops. From our observations in Africa, the Middle East and parts of the Far East, the PSA licensing regimes need to provide greater encouragement for IOCs to participate if governments are to accelerate exploration and appraisal. This, we feel, requires only a moderate increase in the expected IOC rates of return in the success case, but does require a significant decrease in the risks inherent in typical agreements. Specific examples of PSA risk reduction measures will be discussed in the workshops. Such changes as are required to speed the process will need careful PSA drafting or re-negotiation to ensure that each party’s interests are protected under a variety of possible outcomes. Finally, this re-drafting should be coupled with the building and maintenance of an economic model reflecting the existing and proposed PSA terms as closely as possible. Such detailed models should ideally be shared between the parties, but in any case should be used to quantify the effects of any proposed contract changes on each of the parties, in real time. In our experience, this shared economic understanding will greatly increase the chances of landing a mutually acceptable agreement.   The Energy Contract Company and Addleshaw Goddard are hosting a free workshop on future developments in PSCs at the Addleshaw Goddard London office* on the 7th November at 08.00. Numbers will be limited to 25 participants. For more details and to book a place use the following link [email protected] * Addleshaw Goddard 60 Chiswell St, London, EC1Y 4AG