IEM Shout Out – 2017-06 Talk On Issues of Vibration From Blasting

June 9, 2017

My technical division will be hosting a talk on the 10th June, 2017. It is worth 2 CPD points (why is it shown as 0 on the web page?), and held at Wisma IEM. The course will be presented by Ir. Hj Look Keman bin Sahari.

Blasting of rock using explosives is a necessity when other rock breaking equipment such as rock breakers, chemical or any other means could not do so. Rock blasting is actually the cheapest mean to break rock, to fragment rock or to remove rock to a design level such as road, building foundation, sump etc. in construction work. However, the use of explosives produces ground and air vibration which may cause damage to structure and annoyance issues to the public. There are many complains from the public of alleged cracks on the walls, ceiling etc. resulted from this blasting work. There are also fears from the public that the use of explosives at construction site may endanger the people and properties nearby. Blast monitoring using seismograph is actually a necessity and the authority had imposed a condition that vibration from blasting must not exceed certain limit that will minimise annoyance and reduces any risk of damage to structure.

Ir. Hj Look Keman bin Sahari graduated from Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Scotland in mining engineering in 1979 and served as engineer at Mines Department (now Jabatan Mineral dan Geoscience) from 1979 to 1996. He started his career as mining geotechnical engineer specialising in landslide investigation at Pusat Penyelidekan Mineral, Ipoh and later as Inspector of Mines serving Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca. In 1990 he further his studies at Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University, England and earned M.Sc in Explosives Ordnance Engineering. He had also attended many rock blasting courses in mining, quarrying and tunneling locally and overseas. He had given lectures on the subject at IEM.

From 1996, he works as independent consultant engineer specialising in the use explosives in mining quarrying and construction work. He also specialises in blast monitoring work. He is a committee member of IEM Training Board and Oil & Gas and Mining Technical Division. He is Professional Engineer with Practicing Certificate, Fellow of IEM, Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying and a Member of International Society of Explosive Engineers, USA

Register here.


IEM Shout Out – 2017-07 Global Landbridge (OBOR) and Ocean Thermal Energy (OTEC)” Using the Engineering Finance Methodology in Designing “Cost Efficient” Projects to Enhance the Return on Investment

June 8, 2017

My technical division will be hosting a talk (the title is practically the talk) on the 8th July, 2017. It is worth 2 CPD points, and held at Wisma IEM. The course will be presented by Ir. Prof. (B) Dr. Maulud Abdul Latif. Hey, when I retire, can I be Ir. (B) Hj. Razmahwata?

With the advent of advanced technologies, the world is fast becoming a truly borderless world. These technologies will see the development of mega infrastructure projects that will be a game changer. Amongst them: OBOR – the Global Landbridge, and OTEC – Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, which will see Hydrogen as the Fuel for the Future.

The talk will be in three parts:
Using the Engineering Finance Methodology in Creating “Cost Efficient” Projects to be at Par with International Players

OBOR: Global Landbridge the Global Infrastructure Projects That Will Be a Game Changer for Future Generations – How Will it Affect the Malaysian Economics

OTEC: Fuel for Future Generations – Replacing Fossil Fuel as a Low Carbon Fuel

Understanding Project Management methodology is a crucial aspect before applying the Engineering Finance methodology in (re)structuring the project and businesses. Different mind-sets are required at different stages of implementing projects; let it be the business development stage, construction stage or the O&M stage. This is a multi-discipline approach.

Ir. Prof. (B) Dr. Maulud Abdul Latif obtained his Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in Engineering Finance from UTM/University of Warwick. He also holds an MBA Finance from the University of Queensland Business School, a B. Sc. (Hons) in Mining Engineering from the University of Wales and a Diploma in Mechanical Eng. from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. In addition, he holds the Dredgemaster Certificate of Competency and is a member of the Board of Engineers, Malaysia, The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia and the Institute of Mineral Engineers.

He started his career in Malaysia Mining Corporation (1977) and has an extensive experience in project feasibility studies (technical, marketing and finance) and mine management. Between 1984 and 1992, he worked with various reputable organizations including with Permodalan Nasional Berhad and the Ministry of Finance (as Corporate Adviser to the Minister of Finance Incorporated). He has acquired vast corporate experience not only in project viability but also in corporate restructuring and turnaround. He was also involved in several privatization projects.

Register here.


IEM – AGM 2017

June 7, 2017

Ah, the AGM where I was appointed as a Council  Member.


Malaysia’s clogged oil shipping lanes underscore failure to reduce glut

June 6, 2017

That’s where they found the oil tanker in Waterworld.

Dateline 2017-05-05, Reuters:

Oil industry leaders meeting in Malaysia next week to discuss extending production cuts won’t have to look far for evidence the market remains awash in supply.

Just off the coast, in the Straits of Malacca, dozens of tankers loaded with record amounts of unsold fuel show an OPEC-led agreement to cut production in the first half of 2017 has yet to tighten the market.

While not on the official agenda at the bi-annual Asia Oil and Gas Conference in Kuala Lumpur from Sunday to Tuesday, the attendance of top oil executives and policy makers including Saudi Arabian energy minister Khalid Al-Falih, ensures the production cut will be a major talking point.

 


Saturday Star 2017-06-03 – Job Opportunities

June 5, 2017

Ramadhan Kareem. IGL has pivoted into training, so book your seats now.

We’re thinking of republishing Young Turks of PETRONAS, but it’s a minimum 500 book printing run. Do I have enough interested persons to purchase?

Donate to your favorite charity (me), buy my recommendations, or through my Amazon store. Or get the Young Turks series (3 books until I can get YTP republished). Where are those corporate sponsors? Or throw donations at me, my camera dive case flooded, and I need a new replacement. Heck, if you want to send me a Canon 5D Mk III plus dive case, I will not say no.

  • I have a feeling that The Star isn’t the preferred O&G job recruitment portal now. I see more adverts via social media. What do you think, is it a step change that the papers need to embrace?
  • I’m looking for jobs for 3Q2017. Send me your POs.

Food choice of the week? Iftar, of course.

Book choice of this week, Chemical Engineering Process Simulation, authors are Nishanth Chemmangattuvalappil Denny Ng Kok Sum Rafil Elyas Cheng-Liang ChenI,Lung Chien Hao-Yeh Lee. I intend to get a signed first edition, and place it in my Charles Dickens first edition cabinet.


Correcting oil royalty perception

June 4, 2017

Dateline 2017-04-30, Daily Express:

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi advised those who accused the Federal Government of acting tyrannically with regard to oil royalty distribution “to go back to kindergarten”.

“They claimed that Sabah only get five per cent of oil royalty while the other 95 per cent allegedly monopolised by the Federal government. Please-lah… do not make mistake about this,” he said in his speech at the Meet the People event, here, Saturday.

Zahid explained what was actually determined back then was that Sabah would receive five per cent after everything else was accounted for, namely the production and exploration costs.

 


Gas Malaysia commences its virtual pipeline business

June 3, 2017

Next, Gas Malaysia will accept payment in bitcoins.

Dateline 2017-04-21, The Edge:

Gas Malaysia Bhd through its subsidiary Gas Malaysia IEV Sdn Bhd (GMIEV) has formally commenced its virtual pipeline business following the officiation of its compressed natural gas mother station in Gebeng, Pahang.

GMIEV is a joint venture company incorporated in 2014 between Gas Malaysia — a member of MMC Corp Bhd — and IEV Energy Sdn Bhd. It was created to supply compressed natural gas to customers that are currently not served by Gas Malaysia’s natural gas distribution system network.

In a statement today, Gas Malaysia chairman Datuk Hasni Harun said the company has started to gradually create new demand for natural gas, opening up new avenues of business opportunity.

 “At present, we have commenced supply to our first customer in Pekan, Pahang,” he said.


Petronas launches Terengganu Gas Terminal

June 2, 2017

Dateline 2017-04-20, The Edge:

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has launched its Terengganu Gas Terminal (TGAST), which will ensure gas supply security and sustainability in Malaysia.

In a statement today, Petronas president and group CEO Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said the company launched the TGAST in Kertih last Tuesday (April 18). He said the TGAST would supply gas to Petronas’ customers in Peninsular Malaysia and Petronas’ facilities.

Wan Zulkiflee said the TGAST is able to process up to 700 million standard cu ft per day (mmscfd) of gas from the Malaysia-Thailand joint development area and North Malay Basin offshore


Anniversary – Flixborough

June 1, 2017

Process Safety engineers never forget.


BEM – signing of MOU signing for Bulk Registration of Graduate Engineers

May 31, 2017

The idea is that when graduates graduate, it is automatic that they sign up with the BEM. Minimises the risk of not registering, and running afoul of the law.