Peter Bouwhuis has been involved in the Africa market – with a considerable time spent relative to the logistics needs of the E&C's in the northern tier of Africa (Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Algeria, etc.), as well as requirements in western and southern African tier countries.

Having served in the roles as Project Logistics Manager – Benelux for Schenkers International, as a “service provider” - and more recently in the role of “service user” as Logistics Manager for ABB/Lummus.  He has a broad base of experience from being vendor/service provider and user, and being an “open communicator” understands and empathizes with each point of view.

Personal logistics involvement is inclusive of site survey, planning and analysis - leading to quotes, contract acceptance, implementation and execution of the plan throughout all phases of the EPC to commissioning have been a requirement of his job assignment.

Several key projects are noted for example purposes of participation:

Ohanet - Algeria

The Ohanet wet gas facility, jointly operated by BHP Billiton and the Algerian national oil company Sonatrach, is in the Illizi province. The Ohanet fields lie on the northern edge of the Sahara desert, about 1,300 kms south-east of Algiers and 100 kms west of the Libyan border, and is a +$US1 Billion project.

Mr. Bouwhuis had the logistics lead on this project, which proved again that projects are not the same where ever freight must to be shipped, and that the correct choice of a Project Freight Forwarder is one of the most crucial factors in the success of any project.

Over 100.000 mt. were moved to Ohanet with a number of oversized/overweight (OS/OW) equipment that needed extra careful planning and calculations.
Significantly - OS/OW equipment was transported from the Port of Arzew to the jobsite 1300 kms inland, with this segment of the project transport role, taking over 3 weeks as road construction was done enroute, and the average speed of the transport achieved was at times only 20 km/h.  Major issues on HSES – including “security” requirements, were foremost, as the operational movement was heavily guarded by military forces due to rebel insurrection in the region.

Samir Refinery - Morocco

During 2000, prior to bid tender by ABB/Lummus, Peter personally attended to the survey of the location, region, and facilities – and developed the operational plan of execution for the logistics involved in the work ABB/Lummus was to do on the Samir Refinery.  This went from bid stage to “win” and execution on time/on target, and under cost, based coordination and implementation of logistics contingencies and analysis fairing better than anticipated.

Samir is located in the port town of Mohammedia on the Atlantic coast near Morocco's financial center of Casablanca. Samir refines 80 % of Morocco's oil product needs.

Material movements was >100.000 MT W/M including heavylift and out-of-gauge cargo.

Mellitah (NC-41) - Libya

In  2002, while acting in the capacity as Global Logistics Manager for ABB/Lummus-Europe, based in The Hague, Netherlands, Mr. Bouwhuis was given the lead on logistics analysis and support for the Mellitah (NC-41) project in Libya, which had been awarded to a consortium consisting of Snamprogetti (Milan), ABB Lummus Global (The Hague), and Hyundai Engineering & Construction (HDEC) (Seoul), which was based out of the Milan office of Snamprogetti.

The project seeks to develop the gas reserves in offshore Block NC 41 in the Gulf of Gabes (the Buri field), as well as in the Wafa onshore gas (and oil) field near the Algerian border, 342 mi west of Tripoli.

Major problems involved the documentation, which by Libyan requirements must be translated into Arabic, but also prior authorization and legalization by the Libyan Embassy, wherein the consortium chose Malta as the administration/documentation center.

A complete road survey had been conducted and final plans worked out – and Mr. Bouwhuis held a “lead position”. The project is still ongoing, although ABB has since elected to provide only the engineering and supply of equipment and materials.

During the pre-planning and initial implementation phases of the project Peter spent considerable time in the office of Snamprogetti in Milan/Italy.

Sapref SRU 4/Scot Project – Republic of South Africa

Shell and BP South Africa Petroleum Refineries (Pty) Ltd. awarded ABB Lummus Global B.V. (IBL) and Fluor Daniel South Africa (OBL) the contract for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction of a Sulphur (reduction facility) upgrading project in Durban, Republic of South Africa.

The Sapref refinery is the largest in Africa, and has been in operation since the 1960s.  This project upgrade had a high profile within the South Africa government as well as global organizations such as Greenpeace, UN, etc. due to its past environmental issues and potentially negative impact on the local socio-economic interests!

Peter was given the Logistics lead on this project and brought considerable savings for the client.  What was different and of interest – aside from normal “logistics” applications, was the (local) bureaucratic requirements that assessed the project as “duty to be paid”. 

Normally – E&C and subsequent operation of a “refinery” wherein materials are imported are subject to duty.  Obtaining an exemption license had been virtually unheard of in the Rep. of South Africa.  In fact, with considerable background of experience and diligent work applications, Peter rewrote the book, re-phrased the project “scope of work” and development, and this led to satisfying the governmental authorities – result: savings with this license was approximately SARand 15 million / US$1,4 million.

Oh – of course “the freight” – approximately 50.000 MTs was involved... and managed through Peter’s operational expertise.

  
                       Ohanet Project

 
                       Ohanet Plant

  
                           Mellitah Location Map