Posts Tagged ‘Namibia’
The What and Why of EPCM
When it comes to large-scale construction projects – whether it’s building a new mine, developing an energy facility or any other ambitious initiative – success hinges on meticulous planning, coordination and execution. This is where Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management come in. EPCM is not just a process – it’s the foundation that ensures every…
Read MoreLithon Foundation: A Bridge of Hope
The Lithon Foundation is dedicated to spreading love and hope by connecting with organisations that are passionate about making a difference. One such inspiring story comes from Bridge of Hope, a non-profit organisation based in Katutura, Windhoek. Building Bridges of Hope Founded in 2010 by Eugenia Gcilishe, a retired teacher with a big heart…
Read MoreNamibia – the new renewable energy powerhouse
As climate change and depleting resources continue to threaten the future of our planet, it’s no surprise that the demand for renewable energy is rising. What we may not consider is that this demand is transforming the mining industry. Coal, gold, iron ore and copper have always been popular mining ventures, but we’re seeing a…
Read MoreEngineering unearthed: The minds behind the mine
When it comes to mining, there’s a lot more to it than finding resources and getting them out of the ground. In fact, the amount of research, planning, logistics and infrastructure begins way before any dirt is even turned. That’s where we come in. Not as miners, but as the people behind the operations, smoothing…
Read MoreWhat 2023 Meant for Engineering?
It’s always interesting to reflect on the year that was, to understand some of the key happenings that influence the way we work and the projects we undertake. We spoke with Lithon’s CEO, Gert Maritz, to gain insight into the developments of 2023 that are set to shape the future of engineering. Here’s what he…
Read MoreEngineers Solving World Problems – Providing Clean Drinking Water
Water gives life to people, cities, and nature. While at times a plentiful resource, there are many places on earth where it is extremely scarce, or heavily polluted. As a result, millions of people around the world do not have access to clean drinking water. Lithon has some smart engineers tackling this challenge. We weighed…
Read MoreWhy Mentoring Students is a Must
Lithon’s head of transportation, Richard Laborn, is not only interested in getting people from A to B on a state-of-the-art national freeway. He’s interested in the journey young engineers take through their careers too. As a civil engineer with 30 years of experience, he’s had plenty of time to hone his gift for mentorship. Richard…
Read More8 Sustainable Transport Trends
In a world that’s always on the move, it’s important to pause and reflect on the environmental impact of our chosen mode of travel. While change may happen slowly, it’s the progress towards it that counts. Changing our mode of transport might be a big weight for the average citizen to carry, but rest assured…
Read More5 Things You Didn’t Know About Roads
Roads are the arteries of our cities, pumping life to and from the heart. While most of us experience roads on a daily basis, whether via car, bus, bicycle or foot, we often don’t give much, if any, thought to how they’re designed. If we did, we’d realise that the roads we take for granted…
Read MoreISO Certification and the Role of Quality Management Systems
In April 2023, Lithon received ISO 9001:2005 certification. While this demonstrates our commitment to exceptional quality, customer satisfaction, and continued improvement, it also means a lot more! Lithon’s Lynn Stephansen was part of the task team that led the implementation and certification process. She shares some insights into how this achievement helps us serve our…
Read MoreA Beautiful Bounty of Butternuts
How one small farming project in Mariental is solving food insecurity in Namibia. Lithon’s founder, Adriaan Grobler, is passionate about venture engineering and the impact that comes from investing in these kinds of projects. In essence, Venture Engineering brings engineering thinking and skills to innovative ideas and projects that can significantly improve the life…
Read More5 Impressive Ways AI is Impacting the Transport Industry
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a 2023 hot topic, and whatever side of the fence we sit on, there’s no denying that it’s changing our world. For some time now, AI has impacted our everyday lives without us even realising it. And today, we’re looking at the amazing things it’s done and will continue to…
Read MorePurpose, Passion & Plastic
Luzé’s Sustainability Story Lithon’s sustainability champion, Luzé Kloppers-Mouton, has been passionate about sustainability for as long as she can remember, and it’s contagious. She chose to study interior architecture because of her desire to add life and nature to built environments with biophilia and biomimicry. During her studies, she was quickly absorbed into the…
Read MoreWhat Does a Transport Engineer Do?
Whether it’s high-speed railway networks, a bridge over water, an airport runway, or simply a suburban street, we’ve all experienced and used one of these marvels of modern society. If you’re wondering who to thank for these, your smooth transition from one highway to another, or the delight of catching every green light, look no…
Read MoreWindhoek Rehoboth Road Upgrade to Free-Way Standard, Geotechnical Investigation
Geotechnical investigation to evaluate the underlying founding conditions through testing pitting, core logging and laboratory testing of soil and rock samples to determine competent founding layers. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES Geotechnical consulting services, soil profiling, core logging, interpretation and evaluation of laboratory test results and investigating and proposing foundation types and depths.
Read MoreRedirection of Pumpstations Swakopmund, Geotechnical Investigation
Geotechnical investigation to determine material consistency with depth and determine the depth of rock to inform the design team for design requirements, excitability and determination of quantities. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES Geotechnical consulting services, and dynamic cone penetration testing to determine the soil consistency with depth and determine the depth of rock bed.
Read MoreMeet Hannes Van Schalkwyk, civil engineer
Hannes van Schalkwyk was born in Namibia, but with a father who worked as an accountant for a mining company, he spent much of his childhood in South Africa, moving from one small town to another. In 1996, having completed his engineering studies at Technikon Pretoria, he returned to his country of birth and, before…
Read MoreLithon’s development model: a catalyst for change
Lithon’s new Venture Engineering division was born from a commitment to make a significant impact on people’s lives, and a firm belief that success starts with collaboration. Between those with the means to finance innovation, those with available resources for development, and those with the necessary expertise to bring the two together and facilitate a…
Read MoreA favourite project: the Monte Christo Road upgrade
The Monte Christo Road upgrade is set to have a significant impact on the city of Windhoek. The project officially started in August 2020 – and fortunately, design work was able to continue despite the Covid-19 pandemic. “Monte Christo Road lies at the heart of the Windhoek community and forms a vital part of the…
Read MoreMeet Willie Knouwds, Sales Business Unit Leader
Willie Knouwds arrived at Lithon in March 2020, just days before the start of the Covid pandemic. But joining the company as the team was forced into lockdown certainly hasn’t stopped him from getting down to business and becoming an invaluable member of the Lithon family. As the Sales Business Unit Leader, Willie leads and…
Read MoreWhy every company needs an X-team
When Namibia recorded its first cases of Covid-19 in March 2020, Lithon was perfectly positioned to meet the pandemic’s challenges head-on and seamlessly transitioned to remote work within a single weekend. And that’s largely thanks to the company’s strategic planning and its earlier deployment of an X-Team – a group of young employees tasked with…
Read MoreMeet Cilliers Steyn, Graduate Civil Engineer
Cilliers Steyn was introduced to Lithon in 2015, when he completed a year of in-service training with the company while studying civil engineering. The encounter was a win-win – Lithon found a young engineer passionate about his chosen field, while Cilliers found a company with a culture that spoke to his heart and a team…
Read MoreThe rise of the aerotropolis
Dr John D. Kasarda tells us that “airports will shape business location and urban development in the 21st century as much as highways did in the 20th century, railroads in the 19th and seaports in the 18th.” If you haven’t come across the term aerotropolis before, this is what is meant by it. The aerotropolis…
Read MoreA 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 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 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 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 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 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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