Posts Tagged ‘Lithon’
A favourite project: the Husab Mine Access Road
When our Husab Mine Access Road project was completed in June 2014, it boasted the longest bridge to be constructed since Namibia’s independence and was recognised for how it handled an environmentally sensitive area. But this infrastructure project is notable at Lithon Namibia for another reason – and is an all-time favourite of CEO Gert…
Read MoreMeet Bartle Rautenbach, Engineering Technician
Bartle Rautenbach (affectionately referred to by his colleagues as Oom Bartle) was born in Usakos, a small town on the banks of the Khan River in the Erongo Region. He joined the Lithon office in Swakopmund (just 140 km away from his birthplace) in January 2009 at the peak of his career – one that…
Read MoreFrom the desk of Adriaan Grobler
What is impact investing? Over the last decade, impact investing has been seen more regularly, by both business and public sectors, as a new asset class, capable of providing market related returns on investments. In fact, it’s recently become a megatrend in the investment world as impact investors seek financial returns while making a positive…
Read MoreEngineering for good: sustainable development projects changing lives
In her foreword for the Engineering a Better World conference programme, Dame Ann Dowling, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, outlines the critical role that engineering must play as civilization moves ahead. After calling attention to the breakthrough achievements of the engineering industry in the 20th century, she notes that, “we are far from…
Read MoreFrom the desk of Adriaan Grobler
The impact and effectiveness of Development Finance Institutions Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) aim to bridge the investment gap between commercial investments and state development aid in developing countries. Given their public funding and developmental mission, DFIs tolerate more risk with their longer view on investments. They’re also not constrained the way private investors are. This…
Read MoreMeet Richard Laborn, Head of Civil and Transportation
Coming from a family of Caterpillar mechanics, Richard bucked the trend by becoming an engineer. In his 30-year career, he’s worked on a number of large-scale projects, including the Tati Nickel Activox project in Botswana and the Sishen South Mine development in South Africa. With a wealth of expertise and three decades of on-the-job experience,…
Read MoreA closer look at civil engineering
Civil engineering has been around for a very long time. It’s one of the oldest types of engineering (second only to military engineering), and it deals with the design and construction of infrastructure like roads, dams, bridges, and sewage systems. In fact, the construction of the pyramids of Giza, between 2550 and 2490 BC, could…
Read MoreMeet Amarildo Paulo, Oshakati Branch Manager
Smart, confident and charismatic, Amarildo Paulo was introduced to Lithon in June 2009, when the company gave him a bursary to continue his civil engineering studies in Cape Town. More than a decade later, he’s still with the consulting engineering firm, managing its Oshakati branch remotely from Windhoek. We spent some time with him recently…
Read MoreFrom the desk of Adriaan Grobler
Is development aid dead or alive? Development aid or Official Development Assistance (ODA) is defined by the OECD as “government aid that promotes and specifically targets the economic development and welfare of developing countries”. It’s supposed to help developing countries grow economically and uplift communities. But over the past 30 years, the impact of development…
Read MorePMS Visual Assessment and Budget Recommendations, Otjiwarongo
Visual assessments of about 82 km of surfaced roads and 26 km of gravel roads around Otjiwarongo and compiling a 5-year maintenance budget with recommendations. The visual assessments were done in accordance with the relevant PMS methodologies. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES Visual assessments and feedback on pavement conditions Cost estimates for the proposed rehabilitation and maintenance…
Read MoreNamcor Retail Fuel Station in Otavi
Planning, design and construction supervision of the new fuel station, which included all forecourt components and a convenience store/shop. The engineering disciplines included Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical. New building services required were sewer, stormwater, fire protection, domestic water supply, bulk and domestic electrical supplies, stand-by generator, air-conditioning & ventilation, refrigeration, LPG, kitchen equipment, access…
Read MoreNamcor Retail Fuel Station in Mariental
Planning, design and construction supervision of all engineering disciplines, i.e Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical for the pump and tank installation. The forecourt works included the steel canopy, underground fuel tanks, product lines, electrical and communication, dispensers, spill containment areas, oil separator, stormwater and 3 pump islands. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES Client liaison. Principle Agent. Coordination…
Read MoreNamcor Retail Fuel Station in Karasburg
Planning, design and construction supervision of the new fuel station, which included all forecourt components and a convenience store/shop. The engineering disciplines included Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical. New building services required were sewer, stormwater, fire protection, domestic water supply, bulk and domestic electrical supplies, stand-by generator, air-conditioning & ventilation, refrigeration, LPG, kitchen equipment, access…
Read MoreNamPower Rural Electrification Project – Shamukweni Locality
Lithon Project Consultants was appointed as engineers for NamPower’s Rural Electrification of Oshamukweni Locality in the Okongo area of Ohangwena Region. This project includes a 14km Medium Voltage line, four 33/0.4kV transformers and about 4 km Low Voltage electrical networks that supplies power to the required facilities. This project was executed at a total cost…
Read MoreVEN Pre/Post Installation Inspection
As part of a larger effort to increase their energy efficiency, Vivo Energy Namibia has installed solar photo-voltaic (PV) power systems at a select group of Shell fuel stations. Following the initial success of solar power installation at these stations, and the continued drive to harness clean energy at all their fuel stations, the company…
Read MoreMeet Lynn Stephansen
Lynn has spent most of her career in the consulting engineering industry. It’s here, she says, that she learned the value of teamwork – and came to realise that even small and seemingly insignificant components can make or break a project. After taking a career detour and spending four years as a professional event manager,…
Read MoreThe Oshakati Open Market
Oshakati is the capital city of Namibia’s Oshana region and is home to about 37,000 inhabitants. In 2008, Lithon Project Consultants (LPC) was appointed by the Town Council to work on the development of a new Oshakati Open Market to replace the existing market. According to Namibia’s NBC News, the project formed part of the…
Read MoreThe growing significance of agricultural engineering
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term agricultural engineering? Tractors? Irrigation? Grain silos? While these form an important part of this highly specialised branch of engineering, there’s a lot more to it – especially when it comes to sustainability. Let’s take a look. What is agricultural engineering? Agricultural…
Read MoreMeet Marsia
Meet Marsia Marsia Reed is a woman with purpose. And hard work has never held her back from achieving her goals. Capetonian by birth, Marsia moved to Namibia in 1990 – the same year the country gained its independence. Today, through the Lithon Foundation, she is helping to bring love and hope to the…
Read MoreFrom the desk of Adriaan Grobler
Harnessing impact investing to advance human wellbeing in Africa. “We can transform our anxiety into passion. Fear can become hope. The moment demands deep and unwavering commitment to transforming it all. The economy. The planet. The way we treat, see, and live with one another.” – Jessy Tolkan In his book Impact: Reshaping Capitalism to…
Read MoreThe what, why and how of mechanical engineering
Did you know that mechanical engineering is one of the oldest engineering disciplines? Or that aerospace engineering is one of its many branches? Or even that cruise control was invented by a blind mechanical engineer named Ralph Teetor? Mechanical engineering is a fascinating discipline with a multitude of real-world applications, but before we get ahead…
Read MoreModern marvels of structural engineering
Why do we feel confident taking lifts to the tops of tall buildings or driving through kilometres-long tunnels? Because structural engineers have made it safe for us to do so. These highly skilled professionals take architectural designs and ambitions and make them structurally possible. As the Institution of Structural Engineers explains, they “design the strength…
Read MoreFinding purpose through Lithon Staff Development Programme
Lithon Project Consultants CEO, Gert Maritz, is incredibly excited about the expanding possibilities at the Namibian-based engineering consulting firm. Along with his raft of new responsibilities, he is deeply committed to overseeing and advancing the staff development plan he designed during his tenure as COO. Formally implemented over two years ago, the programme is based…
Read MoreMeet Fred Mudge
Meet Fred Mudge 2021 has been a big year for structural engineer Fred Mudge. Not only does it mark his fourth year as a member of the Lithon team, but he’s also just married his university sweetheart. We chatted with him on his first day back from his honeymoon in Zanzibar to find out…
Read MoreMeet Magretha Vlok, COO of Lithon Holdings
Magretha Vlok isn’t most people’s idea of a typical engineer. Colourful and confident, with a sense of style to match – she firmly believes that “beige isn’t a colour” and has been known on occasion to team tartan with African and animal prints. This newly appointed COO of Lithon Holdings brings energy, experience and a…
Read MoreProject Management at Lithon Project Consultants
At Lithon, we’ve recognised the pivotal role project management plays in delivering well-executed and cost-effective projects. As part of our long-term strategic plan for the business, we established a dedicated Project Management Office (PMO) in early 2020, headed up by our COO, Scott Richards. Our goal? To not only develop an effective project management culture…
Read More9 fascinating facts about mining
Mining may not be something most of us think about, but this multi-billion dollar industry plays a fundamental role in our everyday lives – there are over 15 different mined minerals in the average car, for example, and it requires as many as 35 mined minerals to produce a television. Now that we’ve got you…
Read MoreLithon Foundation: Helping to tackle HIV/AIDS in Namibia
According to 2019 UNAIDS estimates, there are between 190,000 and 220,000 adults and children in Namibia living with HIV. As part of its outreach programme, and its ongoing commitment to uplifting the children of Namibia, the Lithon Foundation has teamed with two incredible organisations supporting AIDS orphans in the country. “Little by little, bit by…
Read MoreStrategic Executive Changes at Lithon
For nearly 20 years, Lithon has been led by a dynamic team committed to making a positive and significant impact in people’s lives. In 2016 we developed a strategic plan for our next 30 years, and, as a result, we’re delighted to share some exciting changes to our executive team. Our vision is to grow…
Read MoreElectrical Engineering: Moving the world forward
If you’re doing the laundry, driving to the supermarket, heating last night’s leftovers or watching your favourite series, you’re benefiting from innovations in electrical engineering (electricity, electronics and electromagnetism). And although it’s a relatively new discipline, it’s changed and continues to change the way we live, work, communicate and more. A broad and exciting field,…
Read MoreGrowing Leaders: The African Leadership Institute
The Lithon Foundation, which is a registered section 21 company and welfare organisation, is dedicated to “bringing love and hope to people and organisations through networking and collaboration.” An excellent example of this type of collaboration is the Foundation’s involvement with the Namibia-based African Leadership Institute (ALI). Founded in 2005, ALI’s mission is to inspire…
Read MoreLithon Project Consultants offers world-class multi-disciplinary consulting engineering
When Lithon founder and CEO Adriaan Grobler established the business in Oshakati, Namibia in 2002, it focused almost exclusively on project management and civil engineering. Today, LPC (Lithon Project Consultants) offers multi-disciplinary consulting engineering services within and beyond Namibia’s borders. Our highly qualified team leverages state-of-the-art technology and a wealth of expertise that includes project…
Read MoreA look at some of the world’s best and worst roads
Over 1.4 billion cars currently travel on roads ranging from small country lanes and quiet backroads to mid-city routes and multi-lane highways. Some, like the ones we drive on every day, make very little impression on us, while others are triumphs of engineering that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Here are some…
Read MoreProviding expert skills in road and transportation infrastructure
Gert Maritz, a Lithon Project Consultant and Roads and Transportation specialist, gave us some insight into some of the projects that Lithon has been involved in. As experts in road, airport and rail infrastructure, Lithon is very proud to be a part of projects that are so important to a country’s development. Here’s a closer…
Read MoreLithon Foundation: Caring for Namibia’s most vulnerable
Established in 2014 to formalise Lithon’s commitment to Corporate Social Investment, the Lithon Foundation exists to bring hope and possibility to people and communities. “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all…
Read MoreMeet Adri Grobler, Finance and Administrative Manager at Lithon
With a heart to serve communities in need, Adri Grobler co-founded Lithon with her husband, Adriaan, in 2002. In the early days, they operated the company from their garage converted into an office with just one staff member to help out with admin. Now, almost two decades later, Lithon has grown into a group of…
Read MoreMeet Scott Richards – Head of Project Management at Lithon
Scott Richards started his journey with Lithon in early 2019 as a project management consultant. Now, almost two years later, he’s a member of the Exco team and is heading up an exciting new project management business unit. We chatted to him to find out about his transition from engineering to project management, his focus…
Read MoreHow a successful CSI programme benefits everyone
In 2019, “companies spent an estimated R10.2 billion on corporate social investment (CSI) in South Africa.” (Trialogue Business in Society Handbook 2019) The retail and wholesale (22%), mining and quarrying (19%) and financial services (16%) sectors made up the top three contributors. While CSI is not to be confused with a company’s purpose, the two…
Read MoreLithon Holdings: Working together for a better world
Lithon Holdings is a group of companies specialising in innovative engineering and sustainable development. Our highly skilled team offers clients everything from consultation, conceptualisation, research and development planning to seamless project management and efficient execution from our offices in Namibia, South Africa, and Ghana. But more than that, we are a company committed to building…
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