Lesedi, a multi-disciplinary engineering firm that evolved from Intens Engineering, founded in the mid-1980s, is today a leading engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company that has successfully completed key projects in the nuclear, industrial power, mining and oil and gas environments. The company has been involved with maintenance and services at South Africa’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station from its inception. Since 2001, Lesedi has executed over 150 modifications at Koeberg and is currently engaged with the plant life extension (+20 years) through the replacement of steam generators and the water storage tanks as well as other modifications.
Engineering firm Lesedi, active in diverse energy generation sectors, has a long history with Koeberg nuclear power station and is currently engaged in plant life extension modifications there.
For the 7th consecutive year, Lesedi Nuclear Services participated on a number of platforms at the Africa Energy Indaba which took place last week, 2-4 March 2020, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. As well as exhibiting at the event, the company was the Host Partner for the CEOs’ Roundtable on Energy Efficiency Measures in the production sector, where CEO Francis Carruthers participated, and Greg Nichollas, who is spearheading Lesedi’s growth in the oil and gas sector, was a speaker at the Africa Gas event.
Shane Pereira, Business Development Executive for the company, said: “Lesedi is one of South Africa’s best kept secrets. We are well positioned to share our expertise and knowledge in providing solutions for South Africa’s energy crisis and we offer solutions for emissions control in existing coal power plants and for the mining industry.
“Lesedi has diversified its business and is now active in multiple energy generation sectors, in the mining industry and with products and projects in the oil and gas industries. We are proud of our long history at Koeberg nuclear power station. The future of Koeberg itself is critical for energy stability in the country and particularly for the Western Cape. We believe nuclear power is a stable, cost-effective and clean source of power and that it should play a role in the future energy mix for South Africa.
“For new nuclear to come online after 2030, we need to start the process as soon as possible, to retain critical nuclear skills and to contribute to energy stability, industrialisation and economic growth in South Africa. We have a strong nuclear industry in the country, as is evidenced by the successful operation of Koeberg for over 30 years and the 20 MW tank-in-pool-type nuclear research reactor Safari 1 at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria, for over 50 years.”
In order to retain critical nuclear skills, Lesedi continues to pursue international nuclear opportunities. The company highlights the emergence and advance of new technologies such as small modular reactors which are under development in several countries and are reshaping the future nuclear energy landscape.
Pereira notes: “The World Nuclear Organisation recently reported that ‘the interest in small and medium nuclear power reactors is driven by a desire to reduce the impact of capital costs and to provide power away from large grid systems,’ and that ‘the technologies involved are numerous and diverse’. It is worth our while, as a country, to take note of these developments.”
He further stated that South Africa could become a regional hub of nuclear expertise and training, as several African countries such as Ghana and Kenya have indicated that they are pursuing nuclear power. Lesedi is already involved with the development of nuclear skills at several South African universities, including the University of the Witwatersrand and at the Post-graduate School of Nuclear Science and Engineering at North-West University.
For more information visit: www.lesedins.co.za
