Mo stamps his mark
Fijian civil engineer helps design $2.8b metro expansion project
A FIJIAN man was heavily involved in the design of a $2.8 billion metro expansion project in the United Arab Emirates.
Mosese Sikivou of Narocivo Village, Burebasaga, a civil engineer with Australian firm Jacobs, worked on the Route 2020 project in Dubai from 2017 to 2018.
The 15km rail network was built in preparation for the Dubai 2020 Exposition and linked Nakheel Harbour and Tower with several other stations including The Gardens, Discovery Gardens and Al Furjan.
Jacobs project manager Middle East Ricardo UwaAigbekaen said during his time at Route 2020, Mr Sikivou was the design lead for the most complex element of the roads design for the project.
He said the role required in-depth coordination between various disciplines including mechanical and electrical, architectural design, utilities design, landscaping, security, advertising and station context planning and urban design.
“Mo, in addition, led a multidisciplinary and multicultural team, including international teams located in UAE, India and the UK and has a rare combination for an engineer of having a combination of technical, commercial and leadership skills in which he was able to inspire and drive the team to achieving deadlines and motivated and developed capacity within the international teams,” said Mr UwaAigbekaen.
Mr Sikivou said working on a mammoth project and being pitted against the best in the world was a huge challenge.
“It’s the kind of project where you must stand up to the challenge and give it everything you’ve got,” he said.
“And whilst it was challenging, it required a lot of concentrated effort, personal sacrifice and teamwork, but it was also a grand test in time for me and I am grateful that I was able to measure up on the international stage and the Dubai 2020 Expo project was an amazing opportunity.
“In celebrating this great achievement, I would also to convey my deep appreciation to my father Tui Sikivou for his inspiration and encouragement and to my beloved wife Titifanua and beautiful daughter Kiara for their support during the project engagement.”
Mr Sikivou also received a few commendations while working on the project, but said the one which stood out for him was the recognition given by Steve Campbell — the project director R2020 Dubai Team.
Kelepi Abariga of Talanoa Pasifik (Middle East) said Mr Sikivou’s contribution to the design of the Route 2020 project was a “historical and proud moment for our Fiji”.
He said it was encouraging that Pacific peoples were able to make a huge contribution in a project that was expecting more than 25 million visitors during the 2020 Expo.
“Mo, as an individual, represents most things young engineers should aspire to, which is integrity, honesty and the pure love of the profession,” Mr Abariga said.
“And although he may be living and working abroad on significant projects, his heart and home will always be in Fiji, and so we join the Sikivou family in celebrating his amazing achievement.”
The extension was opened recently by vice president of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
The project has been viewed as a vital future link between several Dubai communities and Al Maktoum International Airport, with an initial bus service taking passengers to the airport and further plans to extend the Route 2020 line 3.4km from the Expo Station to the airport.
The Route 2020 contract covered the supply of 50 trains — 15 trains for servicing Expo 2020 and 35 trains to improve the level of Dubai Metro service.
A new configuration inside the carriages was expected to increase capacity by 8 per cent from 643 to 696 passengers. It was also anticipated that the project would ease traffic congestion in the communities by 25 per cent and reduce 100,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by 2022 and increase to 170,000 tonnes by 2030.
Mr Sikivou is the son of former Fijian hotelier Tui Sikivou of Narocivo Village in Burebasaga with maternal links to Delaitoga, Naitasiri.
He was educated at Veiuto Primary School and completed secondary education at Suva Grammar School.