Wade Walker’s recent contract award by Alstom for work packages on the Kusile Wet Flue Gas Desulphurisation project has given the company an opportunity to again put its ASGISA (Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa) principles into practice. Alstom is responsible for the entire WFGD installation on Kusile.

Wade Walker is responsible for three packages related to the WFGD, for Eskom’s most advanced coal-fired power plant. The Kusile Power Station will be the first of its kind in South Africa to install the state-of-the-art WFGD technology, which removes sulphur oxides from the exhaust flue gases.

ISO 9001-accredited Wade Walker has a 30 year track record, providing a comprehensive range of electrical and instrumentation construction services to a large number of customers. The project at Kusile involves the turnkey design, supply, installation and commissioning of the three work packages. In addition, the company is also responsible for verifying the electrical and instrumentation design undertaken by a third party.

The design of the earthing and lightning protection has been completed and submitted to the customer for review. All lightning designs comply with the international IEC 62305 standard as well as the locally developed SANS 10313 standard, ensuring the highest level lightning protection is in place. The lighting and power designs are also complete and are awaiting approval from the customer.

Site establishment is scheduled for the second quarter of 2014. The construction programme allows for simultaneous work in all areas pertinent to the project. “Our intention is to maintain a small, skilled and technically competent team on site for the duration of the construction programme. Wade Walker hand picks and carefully matches each team member to a specific project to ensure that we are able to offer best practice solutions in each instance,” Gordon Sneddon, general manager at Wade Walker, says.

In addition to the technical capacity and capabilities of Wade Walker, the company also fully complies with the ASGISA requirements. These factors, together with the company’s vast reference base of customers across a number of industries, are a primary driver for its selection for the electrical and instrumentation work at the Kusile FGD Plant.

“A core and fundamental operating philosophy of Wade Walker is to develop skills levels throughout the organisation. On the Kusile WFGD plant project this will include the training of four technicians and eight engineers, in line with ASGISA’s call for the enhancement of skills in the country,” Sneddon points out.

Continuous monitoring and assessment of each individual’s progress will be undertaken during formal training, to ensure that all requisite parameters are met. “Preference was given to individuals who reside within the Kusile area and we ensure that all candidates are registered with the appropriate professional bodies as either candidate professionals or professionals in training. Individual mentorship programmes are in place and these adhere to the prescriptions of each institute or association,” Sneddon continues.

“The construction of Kusile Power Station is having a major impact on the lives and the economy of the community of the Nkangala District. During the construction stages homes and social infrastructure are being developed to serve the thousands of contractors working on site. By upskilling and training members of the local community, Wade Walker is able to aid in the upliftment of the Nkangala District,” Sneddon concludes.

KUSILE WFGD PIC 01 : On the job coaching is considered very important at Wade Walker.

KUSILE WFGD PIC 02 : A core and fundamental operating philosophy of Wade Walker is to develop skills levels throughout the organisation.

KUSILE WFGD PIC 03 : Skills development and training ensures employees progress upwards.