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NORPLAN awarded Afghan water development project
Norplan has been appointed as consultant for the “Capacity-Building and Institutional Cooperation in the Field of Hydrogeology for Faryab Province project” in Afghanistan.
The Afghan Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) has commissioned Norplan to assist the Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Irrigation Programme (“RuWatSip”) by providing technical and management consultancy services.
The project will provide a framework for water development in rural Afghanistan using modern and sustainable hydrogeological methods for the development of drinking water in smaller towns and rural areas. The project will also strengthen the capacity of the governmental staff at central and provincial levels, NGOs, private sector and beneficiary communities to scale up provision of sustainable water supply facilities.
The project is financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and in order to operate in the field, the Danish NGO DACAAR has been pre-selected to implement the field work. DACAAR has extensive expertise from rural water supply and sanitation development in Afghanistan.
With a capital value of around 27 million NOK (US$ 4.8 million) the project is due for completion in 2015.
Norplan`s project manager Svein Stoveland said “The province of Faryab is located in a very challenging area and strengthening their water resources, drinking water, sanitation and irrigation system will be interesting as well as challenging. Norplan has a successful track record in supporting water and waste water projects around the world and we look forward to assisting on this very important project to the sustainability of the region of Faryab and the well-being of the people of Afghanistan”.
Norplan has extensive experience from previous projects in Afghanistan. In 2007, Norplan provided a review of the water situation in Faryab Province and assessed the need for drinking water, irrigation water and electrification. In 2003, Norplan updated the master plan for the Afghan power sector.
For more information please contact Norplan`s Project Manager, Svein Stoveland at svein.stoveland@asplanviak.no
NORPLAN joins Norwegian business delegation to Ghana, Angola and Mozambique
Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Mr. Trond Giske and Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development Mr. Erik Solheim, will be leading a business delegation to Africa from November 21 to November 25.
The trip will include visits to Ghana, Angola and Mozambique.
The aim of the trip is to open the doors for Norwegian investments and the business program will include topics on offshore, renewable energy, trade and investment. The business delegation is organized by Innovation Norway.
For more information on Norplan`s participation, please contact Elisabeth Lokshall, Market Coordinator, at elisabeth.lokshall@norplan.com
For further information on the event, please visit www.innovasjonnorge.no/delegasjoner
NORPLAN selected to develop a new Addressing System for Muscat Governorate
NORPLAN has been awarded a contract to develop a new addressing system for Muscat Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman. The Client, Muscat Municipality, intends to implement the new system in Muscat first and then roll it out to the remaining governorates and regions in the country.
With more than 40 years of experience in urban development projects, NORPLAN is well experienced in making addressing systems – and with a long-running addresing project in Abu Dhabi, in neighboring United Arab Emirates, NORPLAN has gained unique experience in implementing new addressing systems in an existing city. NORPLAN has also gained insight into the specific factors which must be taken into consideration when addressing Arabic cities such as the co-existence of Arabic and Latin alphabets, naming practices and decision making structures.
“This is a prestigious but very challenging project which requires the involvement and buy-in of many stakeholders. We are very happy to have won this contract, now a lot of hard but interesting work lies ahead”, says Runar Bergheim, NORPLANs team leader for the project.
The scope of the project is to propose a new addressing system which will provide government, businesses and residents a quick and precise way of giving directions and which is capable of accommodating future urban growth and subsequently replace the old addressing system with the new one.
“The addressing project is seen as a strategic way forward for the newly established Oman branch of NORPLAN and comes in addition to the major task of developing a Re-development Master Plan for Mutrah, one of the oldest and most interesting parts of Muscat”, says Olav Hauge, Regional Manager for NORPLAN in Oman, “through these projects we will demonstrate the capabilities of NORPLAN and attract more business in the region”.
The project started on the 8th of October and will finish in July 2012 in accordance with the project plan.
For more information please contact NORPLAN`s division manager for urban planning and development, Tor Gunnar Øverli at torgunnar.overli@asplanviak.no or Project Director Olav Hauge at olav.hauge@asplanviak.no
NORPLAN joins Norwegian business delegation to Georgia
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Jonas Gahr Støre will be leading a business delegation to Georgia on Thursday, 10 November 2011. The delegation will be focusing on Georgia’s renewable energy potential such as hydropower and sustainable power distribution.
The aim of this delegation is to establish closer business relations between the two countries and to learn more about the potential for cooperation. On Wednesday, 9 November, the delegation is expected to visit at Zhinvalhesi Hydropower Project a couple of hours drive from Tbilisi.
For more information on Norplan`s participation, please contact Elisabeth Lokshall, Market Coordinator, at elisabeth.lokshall@norplan.com
For further information on the event, please visit www.intpow.com
NORPLAN participated in Hydro 2011
Hydro 2011 is the key international conference and exhibition for the hydropower sector. The conference is organsied by Hydropower and Dams and was held in Prague, Czech Republic from the 17th to the 19th of October.
The topic for this year`s conference was "Practical Solutions for a Sustainable Future". Norplan participants included Ove Rusten, Managing Director, Norplan.
Norplan also attended the special Norwegian lunch, organised by INTPOW, a Norwegian networking organisation founded to promote cooperation between Norwegian and foreign players in the renewable energy industry.
For more information on Norplan`s participation, please contact Ove Rusten, Managing Director at NORPLAN, at ove.rusten@norplan.com
For further information on the event visit www.hydropower-dams.com and www.intpow.com
Hydropower studies in Bhutan completed
Norplan has completed several hydropower studies, including two pre-feasibility studies of the Rotpashong and Khomachhu hydropower projects in eastern Bhutan. The two hydropower projects are planned to have an installed capacity of 1230 and 363 MW, respectively.
The studies were financed through a grant from the Government of Norway and commenced in 2009. As part of the studies, Norplan also prepared reconnaissance studies of 13 other hydropower projects throughout Bhutan and conducted training and seminars in hydropower planning for the Department of Energy’s personnel.
Jan Atle Roti, Project Manager at Norplan, commented "We are very pleased to have reached this important milestone and we are confident that the projects will secure sustainable development and bring great benefit to the national economy of Bhutan“.
For more information, please contact Elisabeth Lokshall, Market Coordinator at NORPLAN, at elisabeth.lokshall@norplan.com
NORPLAN partner joins Transparency International
Norplan’s partner Multiconsult joins Transparency International as part of their Business Ethics and Anti-Corruption Program.
Transparency International is an international anti-corruption organisation that raises awareness about transparency and anti-corruption. The association assists the members with their anti-corruption efforts and provides information, tools and workshops.
Several leading Norwegian companies have become members, and Multiconsult is among the first Norwegian engineering consultancies to join.
For more information on Multiconsult’s business ethics program, please contact Ove Rusten, Managing Director at NORPLAN, at ove.rusten@norplan.com
NORPLAN celebrates 40 years!
NORPLAN was founded in 1971 as an independent company specializing in Norwegian engineering expertise. Today, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary, NORPLAN is well established as one of the world’s leading consulting engineering companies in its field.
The past forty years have brought us extensive international experience. We have worked on projects from Haiti to Bhutan, totalling more than 600 initiatives in 100 countries.
The true heart of any company is its people. Our highly experienced professionals have worked hard to give NORPLAN an international reputation for quality and excellence.
We are proud of our history and invite you to take a closer look at our projects, meet our people and share in our celebration!.
- NORPLAN Board of Directors
NORPLAN receives praise for work on compendium “International standards and principles for environmental and social management of renewable energy projects in developing countries”
NORPLAN and Vista Analysis was this week praised for developing a compendium on international standards and principles for environmental and social management of renewable energy projects in developing countries.
The compendium was compiled on behalf of Energy Norway, a non-profit industry organization representing about 270 companies involved in the production, distribution and trading of electricity in Norway.
The purpose of the compendium is to guide companies who are planning to engage in, or already are engaged in, renewable energy projects, especially in developing countries.
Kristin Aase, Project Manager at Energy Norway, commented on the completion of the compendium in a press release “we are very satisfied with the quality of this compendium, and hope that many companies will find it valuable and that it will further contribute to the development of sustainable energy projects in developing countries”.
Pål Høberg, Division Manager Natural Resources, NORPLAN, commented “NORPLAN has always been dedicated to sustainable development. We are delighted that this important project is recognized in the renewable energy sector”.
For more information please contact Pål Høberg at pal.hoberg@norplan.com
NORPLAN awarded the Redevelopment Masterplan for Muttrah in Oman
NORPLAN through partner Asplan Viak has been appointed by the Muscat Municipality for the Muttrah district in Muscat, Oman.
As one of the oldest district Muttrah is the historical and cultural heart of Muscat. It houses some of the oldest oldest souqs (bazaars), mosques and forts as well as the Muttrah harbour, the city’s major harbour.
NORPLAN’s project director Olav Hauge said, “As Muttrah has no existing sewerage system but very narrow roads, often less than 2 meters wide, designing a water and sewerage system will be interesting as well as technically challenging. NORPLAN has a successful track record in delivering water and waste water projects around the world and we look forward to assisting on this very important project to the sustainability of the City and well-being of the people of Muttrah”.
The consortium will be led by NORPLAN, and includes the companies WSP, Urbis and the German Technical University in Oman.
The project has two main phases. In the first phase NORPLAN shall prepare policies and overall proposals, and then in the second phase prepare conceptual design. This again will be the basis for detailed planning which NORPLAN should be in a strong position to get as a new project.
NORPLAN has with the consortium extensive experience from other urban planning projects in the region including the "Physical Planning and Institution Building Project” in Palestina.
For more information please contact NORPLAN`s division manager for urban planning and development, Tor Gunnar Øverli at torgunnar.overli@asplanviak.no or Project Director Olav Hauge at olav.hauge@asplanviak.no
Season Greetings !
Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a very happy new year.
The NORPLAN team
Changes in NORPLAN`s Natural Resources and Renewable Energy division
NORPLAN`s partner Multiconsult has strengthened its renewable energy and energy policy expertise with the establishment of a New-energy team.
The new team will complement the existing natural resources and renewable energy services and will offer a broad range of services to clients in the public and private sector, including offshore and onshore wind power engineering, financial/economic analysis and energy sector planning.
The team will be based in Oslo and will be led by Jan-Olav Øderud. The new team will be fully integrated into Multiconsult/NORPLAN`s existing energy business which already has a strong reputation for providing quality planning and design solutions.
Tom Ødegaard, Head of Energy and Natural Resources, comments, “The addition of the team is fundamental to Multiconsult/NORPLAN in our drive to further develop our integrated service and to offer clients a one-stop-shop which covers a full range of professional disciplines".
For more information on our New-energy team please contact Jan-Olav Øderud at+47 21 586 015 or jaoe@norplan.com
NORPLAN`S partner Asplan Viak strengthens energy expertice
NORPLAN`s partner Asplan Viak has strengthened its energy expertise with the acquisition of KanEnergi, a Norwegian based consultancy specializing in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
KanEnergi offers a broad range of services including sustainable energy solutions for the buildings, industry and transport sector. KanEnergi has experience from Europe, including Eastern European countries, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“For us, the acquisition means a significant strengthening of our expertise in energy, and increased opportunities for synergies between our other service areas" says CEO of Asplan Viak, Øyvind Mork.
For more information, please contact Tor Gunnar Øverli, International Coordinator in Asplan Viak, at torgunnar.overli@asplanviak.no
NORPLAN participated in Hydro 2010
NORPLAN participated in Hydro 2010 the key international conference and exhibition for the hydropower sector. The conference is organised by Hydropower and Dams and was held in Lisbon, Portugal from the 27th to the 29h September.
The topic for this year’s conference was “Meeting demands for a changing world”.
NORPLAN speakers included: - Dr. Stephen Sparks presented his paper “Resettlement and social disruption” during the Social Aspect session - Solveig Ulseth contributed to the Social Aspect session with the paper “Rural electrification: added value through increased consumer focus and private - public synergies” - Benedicta Kiplesund presented a paper on “A small hydropower development in Uganda: Bugoye hydropower plant” in the Regional focus: Africa session For further information about NORPLAN’s participation please contact Elisabeth Lokshall, Market Coordinator at Elisabeth.lokshall@norplan.com or +47 21 58 55 53.
NORPLAN appointed technical consultant for the upgraded Kamuzu Barrage in Malawi
NORPLAN has been commissioned by the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development of Malawi to review the feasibility study and carry out the detailed design and tender documents for the upgrading of Kamuzu Barrage.
The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development received financing from the World Bank to upgrade the Kamuzu Barrage, constructed in 1965 to control the upstream water level from Lake Malombe and Lake Malawi.
In the first phase, NORPLAN will review the existing feasibility study of the Kamuzu Barrage upgrade and optimize the current design. In addition the team will include an advanced hydrological monitoring and operational support system in the design. In the second phase, NORPLAN will proceed to carry out the detailed design and tender documents for the project.
Willy and Partners Engineering, a Malawi engineering company will be sub-consultant to NORPLAN in all phases of the project. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2011.
“Through better water management the project will improve the environmental and socio-economic conditions of the region. NORPLAN has a wealth of experience in the water sector and we are delighted to be able to bring our knowledge and skills to this project” said NORPLAN project manager, Jan Atle Roti.
NORPLAN has extensive experience from East-Africa, and has worked in the region for more than thirty years. Previous work in Malawi includes the Shire river flow augmentation project and the feasibility study of the stabilisation of the Songwe river project, completed in 2000 and 2003 respectively.
For more information on our projects in Malawi please contact Jan Atle Roti at jan.atle.roti@norplan.com
NORPLAN provides assistance to the energy sector in Liberia
Through its partner Multiconsult, NORPLAN has established an active portfolio of energy projects in Liberia and was awarded three new contracts in 2010.
Liberia has been seriously affected by civil war and the challenges are formidable. Liberia's capital Monrovia is currently the only area in the country with public power supply and the majority of the population is left without any or with few hours per day of electricity. However, Liberia has substantial hydro power potential and the opportunities for developing renewable energy are good. Over the next years, Norwegian development assistance will provide institutional support, management support to the electricity utility and investments support for rebuilding of the power system.
Ongoing NORPLAN projects in Liberia, financed by Norad, include:
- NORPLAN serves as Technical Advisor (Contracting Officer's Technical Representative) for the Norwegian-funded expansion of distribution network and a new 3 MW diesel power plant in Monrovia.
- NORPLAN has been engaged to assess a phased rehabilitation of the Mt. Coffee hydropower plant.
- NORPLAN will develop a baseline system for measuring the effects and results of the Norwegian energy assistance to Liberia.
Solveig Ulseth, NORPLAN’s team leader in Liberia said, “We are delighted to work on these important projects. Liberia has been experiencing a high electricity demand. These projects will help to meet Liberia’s increasing power demands, whilst reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.”
NORPLAN has established itself as one of the leading advisory experts in the Liberian energy sector.
For more information about our projects in Liberia please contact Solveig Ulseth, Natural Resources & Energy division, Solveig.ulseth@norplan.com
NORPLAN consortium awarded large hydropower feasibility study in Ethiopia
NORPLAN is pleased to announce that Ethiopia has awarded the feasibility study for the Mandaya and Beko Abo multipurpose projects, worth NOK 86 million, to the NORPLAN consortium.
The NORPLAN Consortium includes the following partners: NORPLAN, Norconsult, Electricite de France (EDF) and Scott Wilson.
Ove Rusten, Managing Director of, NORPLAN, said “NORPLAN is delighted to have been appointed to perform such an important study, which will help secure sustainable development and access to renewable energy in Ethiopia. The award demonstrates the growing diversity of our expertise and our ability to operate in a highly specialist area of the hydropower market.”
The contract is worth approximately NOK 86 million (€ 11 million) and comprises full feasibility studies of two multipurpose hydropower projects on the Abay River in Ethiopia. Earlier studies have suggested that the Mandaya and Beko Abo sites could be developed to produce 12 100 and 12 600 GWh/year respectively.
The studies will be financed by the Ethiopian Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR) through a grant from the Government of Norway.
The joint venture partners have joined forces with the two Ethiopian sub-consultants Shebelle Consult and Tropics.
For comments and further information, please contact:
Jan Høiseth, Hydropower Section Manager, NORPLAN
Tel.: + 47 92 82 83 75
Ove Rusten, Managing Director, NORPLAN
Tel.: + 47 40 01 67 51
NORPLAN consortium signs contract for the Isimba hydro power project in Uganda
The joint venture partners Fichtner (lead) and NORPLAN signed a contract for a study of a new hydro power project in the Nile River in Uganda. The contract is worth USD 3.8 million (approximately NOK 22 million).
The hydropower station would be located downstream of the 250MW Bujagali project currently under construction, and the project comprises the feasibility study and preparation of tender documents for the Isimba power plant and a transmission line to Bujagali. The study is scheduled for completion towards the end of 2010.
The Isimba power plant is planned to have an installed capacity of at least 100MW. The flow rate at the proposed site ranges between 700m³ to 900m³ per second, and the estimated head is 16 metres.
NORPLAN will provide the following services: design and specification of the dam, geotechnical engineering, mechanical design and specification of the powerstation, electrical design and specification of the powerstation, design and specification of substations, economic and financial analysis as well as input to the environmental and social impact assessment study and resettlement action plan.
The local Ugandan company, Kagga and Partners, will be sub-consultant to the joint venture.
NORPLAN signs consultancy service framework agreement to support SN Power
in the renewables market
NORPLAN AS announced that it has entered into a Framework Agreement with Statkraft Norfund Power Invest AS (SN Power).
NORPLAN will be asked to provide specialist consultancy, engineering and project management services related to SN Power’s investments in the power sector in certain markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The framework agreement will run for two years.
“Today’s announcement is further recognition of NORPLAN`s expertise in renewable energy and hydropower” said Ove Rusten, Managing Director of NORPLAN. “Through our specialist expertise, I believe we can make a significant contribution to achieving SN Power’s strategic goal of becoming the leading hydropower company in emerging markets, contributing to economic growth and sustainable development”
For further information: please contact Elisabeth Lokshall or Ove Rusten, at NORPLAN AS at +47 21 58 50 00 or norplan@norplan.com
NORPLAN evaluates potential for large scale, solar power plants.
As a part of the framework agreement for energy sector services, The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) asked NORPLAN to assess the near future potential of large scale, grid connected PV projects in Africa.
Large-scale PV plants are expected to contribute significantly to the world’s energy needs, socio-economic development and reduction of environmental impacts.
NORPLAN supports Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk in Liberia
NORPLAN has signed an agreement with Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk (NTE) regarding consultancy services on the energy sector in Liberia. NORPLAN will advise NTE on the situation in the sector, based on previous assignments and its thorough knowledge of the country.