WCA MAY 2015

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18 Wire & Cable ASIA – May/June 2015
news Industry
E-MARINE, a provider of submarine
cable installation and repair solutions
in the Middle East and sub-continent
region, has unveiled ambitious plans to
expand its fleet of cable ships in 2015,
with the first ship, the CS Maram,
beginning dock trials ahead of its
maiden voyage this year.
The CS Maram, which was built in Abu
Dhabi, UAE, has been designed to
manage the installation and
maintenance of all types of submarine
cables, including fibre optic
telecommunications cables and energy
cables. The ship is expected to
successfully complete dock trials and
be ready for launch within the coming
months.
E-marine’s planned fleet expansion will
see the addition of further
multi-purpose vessels in the coming
years, boosting its coverage across the
region, with a particular focus on East
Africa and the wider region. The
expansion will help strengthen the
firm’s presence in the high-growth
subsea cable market and undertake
activities to stem demand from
telecoms and energy sectors.
Omar Jassim Bin Kalban, managing
director and chief executive officer,
said: “Our commitment to increasing
market share in the region will see a
significant expansion to our fleet. By
increasing our number of vessels, we
are positioning E-marine to provide a
faster, wider and far reaching service to
cable owners through reduced transit
times and closer proximity to cable
systems.
“This investment in our fleet signifies a
renewed confidence and optimism in
the region’s digital future, and will
support the roll-out and maintenance
of submarine cables. The CS Maram is
a state-of-the-art cable ship that will
provide our customers with the latest
subsea cabling technology.”
The fully loaded maintenance and
installation vessel will incorporate a
submarine robot or ROV (remotely
operated vehicle) that will enable the
vessel to undertake pre-inspections
and surveys of the seabed and cut
trenches to bury the cable.
Once the CS Maram is fully operational,
it will generate direct employment
opportunities in the region.
The company already has a highly
skilled and diverse workforce of more
than 20 nationalities, and will be
seeking an international crew of
captains, seamen and technicians for
the new ship from across the region to
take up positions on board the vessel.
E-marine – UAE
Website:
Private equity firm Actis, and Mainstream Renewable Power,
have launched a pan-African renewable energy generation
platform, Lekela Power.
By 2018 Lekela Power will provide between 700MW and
900MW of wind and solar power across Africa.
Mainstream and Actis have two previous partnerships, in
South Africa and Chile. Lekela Power will operate in a
similar fashion to the existing partnerships, with Mainstream
taking responsibility for project management and plant
operation and maintenance.
Mainstream has announced the start of construction for
three wind farms in South Africa to form the core of the
Lekela platform.
The projects, with a combined capacity of 360MW, are
located in the country’s Northern Cape and were awarded to
Mainstream as part of the government’s renewable energy
procurement programme.
They are expected to reach commercial operation beginning
in 2016. Mainstream also has a pipeline of other projects
across Africa, including the 225MW Ayitepa wind project in
Ghana, which will transfer to the Lekela platform at financial
close.
Commenting on Lekela, Lucy Heintz, a partner, and head of
renewable energy at Actis, said: “With soaring demand and
funding constraints, Africa’s need for renewable energy is
pressing.
“In South Africa, for example, currently 95 per cent of the
country’s electricity is generated by coal-fired power
stations.
“While the region has significant natural and fossil fuel
resources, a lack of long-term investment has led to a
reliance on emergency and short-term diesel generation.”
Actis – UK
Website:
Mainstream Renewable Power – Ireland
Website:
New launch for E-marine
❍ The CS Maram during dock trials in Abu Dhabi
Addressing the power balance in Africa