Consulting Across Continents
From its bases in Perth, Brisbane and Manila, ECG Engineering is imparting reputed Australian expertise on multifaceted projects both at home and abroad, especially in West Africa
Delivering Australian engineering excellence at home and abroad
West Africa’s mining industry is picking up some momentum. According to Research and Markets’ Mining in West Africa 2019 report, West African nations exported $16.1 billion of minerals in 2017, up some 26 percent on the previous year.
Gold is a particularly promising
subsector. The region was accountable for 9.4 percent of global supply in
2016, while almost three quarters of all exploration projects here are focused on this precious metal.
Foreign direct investment is vital to this ongoing development of West Africa’s mining sector.
Several large multinational corporations are committed to large projects, while foreign expertise is also being utilised effectively to ensure developments are executed to the highest international standards.
Enter Australia’s ECG Engineering. Provider of a wide range of services to the mining, utilities and materials handling industries around the globe,
its expertise covers the likes of feasibility studies, system studies and audits, design, project management, procurement, construction management and site support.
It is a relatively new enterprise and, for Principle Consultant and Director Geoff Bailey, represented another opportunity to build up an enterprise from scratch.
“I am an electrical engineer and have been involved in the mining industry for 40 years,” he says.
“After owning and running BEC Engineering for 18 years and being bought out by a larger company (Cardno), it was time to set up again with other partners in 2015, once more as an electrical engineering consulting company concentrated on servicing the mining industry worldwide and predominantly in Australia and Africa.”
Around 50 percent of the company’s work is carried out in Africa, in particular West Africa in association with Australian and international mining companies and their partners.
Headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, ECG also has a base in Brisbane and the Philippine capital Manila.
“Our clients are supported by a team of highly qualified professionals with worldwide experience in the design, construction and commissioning of various process plants and infrastructure,” Bailey adds.
“Our execution model is built around a flexible approach in collaboration with our customers.”
A growing portfolio
This is best shown in practice by ECG’s ever-expanding portfolio of projects.
Regarding its work on the African continent, Bailey points to the recently completed Ity Gold Mine for Endeavour Mining in Cote d’Ivoire as a typical showcase of the company’s services.
He explains: “In this project
ECG was responsible for the initial feasibility study, negotiating with the government utility for a power
connection agreement, detailed design of the power supply system and the processing plant, procurement of materials and installation contractors from international markets, construction supervision, commissioning and ongoing site support.”
This is one of two recently completed projects for Endeavour in Côte d’Ivoire, the other being its Agbaou Gold Mine, while in the same country ECG has worked with Aussie firm Perseus Mining on its Sissingue Gold Mine.
The company has further been involved with several gold mining projects in Burkina Faso and Senegal for the likes of Teranga Gold, SEMAFO, Nordgold and Toro Gold, among other international clients.
That ECG has been able to execute such a solid pipeline of work in the region is testament to both its depth of expertise and willingness to face challenges.
“We are extremely proud of some of the West African gold projects,” Bailey adds. “These developments pose significant hurdles around logistics, negotiation with government utilities, engagement of local employees and workers, safety of employees, work home balance and family pressures.