Advisor to ANA on Advanced Nuclear and SMR Power Plant Development

Aruna AI is a cloud-based machine learning software solution that integrates with residential solar inverters. The software reads historical solar production, load and battery data to develop an AI based model for each individual residential solar plant. Typical residential solar curtailment (wastage) in South Africa is between 40-50%, this means that 40-50% of free renewable capacity is not being used. The high curtailment is due to multiple factors including, the lack of grid export in most regions as well as conservative user settings to ensure power security during load shedding. Aruna AI reduces these levels of curtailment through dynamic management of the solar system, allowing battery levels to adapt to dynamically changing weather and load shedding schedules.

I am currently involved in the development of power infrastructure across developing countries. At Xaris Developments we enable infrastructure investment through a sound and rigorous development cycle which culminates in bankable limited recourse financed projects. As CTO at Xaris Developments, my duties and responsibilities include;• Technical Evaluation of Power Plant Projects• Perform due diligence reviews for various power sector projects• Market analysis and studies for natural gas and LNG• Management of project technical integration aspects• Drafting and developing of EPC specifications• Negotiation of key project agreements including, PPAs, EPC, OEM, O&M and Fuel supply agreements• Developing Bid proposals for various power sector projects• Consulting to third party power project developers

During my tenure at EON Consulting I had a number of roles on a multitude of projects; Key roles includedInfrastructure Transactional Advisory:● Perform Technical Due Diligence on Infrastructure Projects● Perform Commercial Evaluation of Infrastructure Projects● Advise of project structuring and technical integration● Prepare and manage project risk assessment● Regulatory Reviews ● Financing Options Analysis for Municipal Projects● Basic business case financial modelling for PPP projects● Technical feasibility studies for PPP opportunities● Drafting of RFP documentation● Evaluation of PPP bids

Key areas of responsibility included;● Assess Project State of Development● Advise of project structuring and technical integration● Negotiate key agreements; PPA; EPC; O&M; Fuel● Prepare and manage project risk assessment● Lease with offtaker, lenders and stakeholders● Audit technical component of IPP financial models● Package IPP projects for non-recourse financing● Integrate project with IFC guidelines● Review and establish local legislative impacts on power projects

● Assess Mass Loading of Industrial Water Streams● Perform Plant load analysis ● Propose and evaluate intervention opportunities● Identify and quantify external water off-setting opportunities ● Review and advise client on legal, legislative framework to pursue water offsetting.

● Design of LPG storage facility● Detailed process design● Detailed mechanical design● Site assessments● Control and operating philosophies● Development of procurement specifications

● Development of technology models to assess power generation performance ● Preparation and evaluation of engineering tenders● Technology feasibility assessments● Technology carbon footprint assessments● Development of Process Flow Diagrams● Development of piping and instrumentation diagrams● Facilitation of hazop studies● Engineering Management● Project Management

● Management of Front-End Engineering Design (FEED)consultants● Scoping of EPC contractors works information● Tender Evaluation and Contract negotiation● Review and acceptance of Process Flow Diagrams, P&IDs, design drawings, equipment lists, bill of materials, etc.● Contracts management (Contract values R300,000 to R12 million)● Management of a team of 4 engineers● Integration of new plant facilities with existing infrastructure● Provide support for financial models● Compilation and presentation of motivations to management● ISO compliance for project documentation● Preparation and monitoring of project progress, Gantt chart tracking

● Conceptual design of plant● Preparation and optimisation of process flow diagrams, mass and heat balance● Chairing of Hazop analysis on P&IDs● Mechanical design of the plant, including pipe stress analysis● Issue of Construction Piping and Instrumentation diagrams● Compilation and sign-off of Issue for Construction drawings including Isometric drawings● Preparation of tender specifications for the purchase of plant equipment● Integration of Civil, C&I, electrical designs● Preparation and sign-off of Design Package for plant. This package contained all design data, hazop studies, Issue for Construction drawings and Bill of Materials.● Plant construction oversight● Erection check and safety clearance of plant● Commissioning of plant● Corrosion Monitoring at existing Pilot Site● Compilation of Weekly Engineering Reports, distributed to a team of 40 people● Assistance with Water Treatment Plant Design and Construction● Management and Integration of Design and Construction Teams● ISO 9001 accreditation for the department● Presentation of technical work to engineering and management teams

● Manage activities on the underground coal gasification gas treatment plant construction (R3 – 4 million)● Management of contractor deliverables● Successfully co-ordinate the start-up and commissioning of the gas plant● Equipment acceptance testing and contract close out management● Compilation of plant operating procedures● Set up of Mass and Heat balance models for the calculation of coal utilisation and burn-rate● Review of piping designs and approved for construction drawings

During completion of my Masters Degree, I was seconded to a research project at Exxon Mobil Esso in Rotterdam. The research work involved the study of alternative methods of improving desulphurisation of fuel gas streams to reduce plant emissions. ● Conceptual Design of Carbonyl Sulphide (COS) hydrolysis reactor● Critical analysis of COS conversion technologies and simulation of reaction kinetics● Reactor selection, sizing and design● Economic evaluation of alternative solutions, including plant modifications● Presentation of pilot reactor proposal to refinery management