Keops in contracts worth more than R50 million at Mozal

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IBG - SA Instrumentation & Control Buyers' Guide

June 2002 News

Operations Management Systems (OMS) solutions provider, Keops Isis Industrial Information Systems (Keops Isis), part of the JSE Securities Exchange listed Altech group, has won several contracts at the BHP Billiton Mozambique Aluminium Smelter (Mozal) expansion project worth an estimated R20 million over the next three years. These projects follow the finalisation of three similar projects in 2000 valued at R35 million.

The latest projects will see Keops delivering a realtime system (RTS)/scada solution, as well as a manufacturing execution system (MES). "This solidifies our leading position in greenfields and brownfields project markets in the aluminium smelting industry in SA," said Keops Isis MD, Pieter Theron.

The projects firstly involve a consulting component, whereby one of the company's top consultants will work on contract with the Engineering Procurement and Contract Management (EPCM) company, SNC-Lavalin Murray and Roberts, as integration co-ordinator. "This is a specific requirement as there is a significant amount of integration between the control systems, MES and ERP, SAP R/3," said Theron.

The second component, the provision of Real Time Supervisory (RTS) systems, involves the establishment of a large central database repository using Wonderware's Industrial SQL Server as well as the development of scada applications for a number of the new facilities not included in turnkey contracts.

The last component, the provision and commissioning of the MES solutions, which formed the 'biggest part' of Keops Isis's work at Mozal, comprise of the enhancement and technology upgrade of previously developed Oracle applications for various production sectors, including carbon, casthouse, laboratory, sub-station, reduction, inbound logistics, utilities, and final product stock pad management. "The project will be particularly challenging as it will encompass the installation of new hardware and software together with our technology partners HP, Oracle and Wonderware in a 'live' production environment."

The project will continue to August 2003, providing a constant stream of revenue, which is expected to significantly contribute to the company's earnings over the next 18 months.

Annalize Cintra, Keops Isis

012 667 1060

[email protected]

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Keops in contracts worth more than R50 million at Mozal

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