South Africa-based engineering, procurement and construction company Lesedi Nuclear Services says African Utility Week (AUW) is the ideal platform to introduce energy companies and utilities to a lesser known but efficient mechanical tube cleaning system.

The event is an opportunity to meet companies and energy professionals in the African market and showcase the mechanical tube cleaning technology Lesedi is representing, namely Conco Systems, which is new to the country and the continent, but has been used in other parts of the world, says Lesedi Nuclear Services business development executive Shane Pereira.

He mentions that the mechanical tube cleaning system is different from the traditional high-pressure water cleaning for condensers and heat exchangers currently on the market, as it uses mechanical cleaning technologies to ensure more efficiency and reduce time scales, which are two of many advantages the technology is able to provide customers.

The system is also safer because it uses low-pressure water and is much quicker in cleaning condensers and heat exchangers. Subsequently, cleaning times are reduced which reduces plant downtime, especially relevant when your critical path during shutdowns involves cleaning equipment to improve production.

“Although the system comes at a bit of a premium, clients spend more money to save more money and the return on investment for this cleaning method is therefore clearly evident.”

Pereira believes that AUW will foster working relationships and partnerships with many African countries that could use this technology. He explains that the company has registered a branch in Ghana and is working on projects in Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the energy sectors.

“Participating in AUW, as well as our extended footprint expanding onto the continent, will help the company penetrate new markets and implement the tube cleaning system,” he adds.

Further, Lesedi Nuclear Services will exhibit the company’s global maintenance services for the nuclear and industrial sector. Pereira says the company has been exporting the global maintenance services.

The services include maintenance on nuclear islands, including work on valves and pumps, the reactor cooling pump and the steam generator package maintenance requirements, as well as refuelling during shutdowns. The company has also deployed these services on local State-owned power utility Eskom’s industrial power plants.

The company has completed more than 70 nuclear plant interventions since 2006 at different nuclear plants globally, including in the US, Brazil, France and Spain. Last year, Lesedi carried out maintenance on Sizewell B, a nuclear plant in the UK, providing 46 highly skilled nuclear maintenance personnel to perform various maintenance activities.

The company will also exhibit its capability to perform emission control technology integration onto plants seeking to reduce their emissions, power plant construction services, and integrated engineering solutions for plant modifications. Lesedi will exhibit core skills for the power, and oil and gas sectors and showcase its full complement of engineering capabilities, including mechanical, electrical, structural, control and instrumentation, civil and process.

The company hopes that showcasing a diverse range of its services and capabilities will result in more business opportunities. “We are excited about the prospects of executing projects in Africa and empowering our fellow Africans”.

AUW will be held in Cape Town from May 15 to 17.