Page 16 - Energize November 2021

NEWS

Driving sustainable infrastructure in Africa

Unique combination of engineering excellence and project funding partnerships underpins new company

he African Development Bank (ADB) the issues that affect both communities
estimates that Africa will require and economies on the continent. What
Tinfrastructure funding of up to makes OEG unique is that we back up
US$170-billion a year by 2025, with an engineering solutions with funding
estimated shortfall of around $100-billion solutions. Without the necessary funding,
a year. This is against the background of it is impractical to implement engineering
the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the solutions in Africa, even if these represent
continent’s GDP contract by 2,1% in 2020, the best technology available globally,”
its first recession in half a century. highlights Dr Igboamalu.
“Dealing with this problem is OEG operates on the basis of
a complex issue that requires a collaborating with funders and financial,
combination of engineering excellence legal and environmental experts and
and readily available funding,” comments others who prepare projects to financial
Dr Frank Igboamalu, CEO of the newly close. This typically includes large-scale
established Osmotic Engineering Group infrastructure projects that are developed
(OEG), which envisions itself as a driving by means of public-private partnerships
force behind sustainable infrastructure (PPPs) or other forms of project finance.
on the continent. The ADB highlights that total investment in
The firm’s key focus areas are water, PPP infrastructure increased nearly sixfold
energy and telecommunications, with from $1,2-billion in 2004 to $6,9-billion in
offices in South Africa and Nigeria 2019, while the number of PPP projects
at present. The directors have deep almost doubled from 16 to 30. Dr Frank Igboamalu
experience, each being a specialist in one Business Development Director Ronnie
or more of these fields, and having worked Khoza describes OEG as a multidisciplinary with our funding and strategic partners,
for corporate and utility institutions engineering firm with a technical advisory we are able to improve infrastructure
in Africa. The team is highly skilled in and consulting capability. “We perceive service delivery,” highlights Khoza. “It
project and business development, and ourselves as engineers who understand is an exciting approach to engineering
also has expertise in managing various infrastructure development with the advisory and consulting, and one that is
infrastructure projects across Africa. option to provide any project funding that not traditionally adopted by the industry.
“All infrastructure is ultimately related, is required,” explains Khoza. We do believe that this will prove to be
as water, energy and telecommunications OEG provides innovative solutions a key differentiator for us in the market,”
are essential for growth. We also have to national and provincial government stresses Khoza.
the opportunity to ensure that our departments, together with their utilities However, OEG also collaborates with
infrastructure is future-proofed and and based on their mandates, as well other key players in the field as well
capable of ushering in a new era of growth as local and district municipalities and as research institutions. “Partnerships
in Africa,” adds Dr Igboamalu. “By 2040, their own specialised service delivery are crucial to us, as we often find that
we want to see a continent where every entities. On a broader industry front, the work undertaken by the industry is
person has access to potable water, OEG is also involved in the mining complementary, which means there is
electricity and connectivity.” These are and manufacturing sectors, where its room for such collaboration.”
crucial due to the fact that, for example, water and energy delivery units offer To this end, OEG plans a special
half of the world lacks internet access, innovative solutions. Another niche area business launch event for both clients and
with 70% of that figure in Africa alone, and is telecommunications and network partners in early November, where the
a similar situation in water and electricity. providers who are currently responding management team will outline the firm’s
Hence OEG came about as a grouping of to the advent of high-speed 5G networks business case and unique approach.
highly experienced engineers looking at and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
novel ways to resolve the infrastructure “We are expanding in Africa and Contact Dr Frank Igboamalu,
deficit on the continent. currently have strategic partnerships Osmotic Engineering Group,
“We are African engineers who can in several countries in order to assist Phone 010 009-5383,
solve complex infrastructure problems in us in addressing the lack of basic frank.igboamalu@oegplc.com,
Africa, as we have ground-level insight into infrastructure in particular. Together www.oegplc.com

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