PORTUGAL – COBA GROUP PARTICIPATION IN HYDRO 2019

The COBA Group participated with a technical exhibit and several communications at the HYDRO 2019 conference. The event gathered participants from about 80 countries and took place in the Alfândega conference centre in Oporto, on 14th – 16th October.

COBA’s experiences and projects were displayed in several thematic panels, through 4 presentations delivered by our engineers, as part of Hydro 2019’s vast communications programme, which discussed the most relevant issues the sector is currently addressing.

On the first day, Mr. Gonçalo Mateus presented the “General Layout and Construction Challenges at the Caculo Cabaça Hydropower Project”, followed by Mr. António Amador with “The Application of BIM Methodology for the Kholombidzo Feasibility Study”.

On the second day, Ms. Maria João Calejo and Mr. Júlio Arsénio presented the study “Building Climate Resilience at Mapai Dam in the Limpopo River Basin, Mozambique: Coping with Climate Change, Flood, Droughts and Demands for Energy and Water”, followed by Mr. Paulo Soares’ presentation “Technical Challenges of the Refurbishment and Capacity Increase of the Luachimo Hydropower Scheme”.

 

 

Acknowledgements

The COBA Group would like to thank the effort and commitment of the individuals involved in the HYDRO 2019 conference, namely the co-authors of the articles: M.C. Costa, A. Santo, A. Morgado, A. Chico – GAMEK/Angola, P. Serra, B. Santana, A. Pereira da Silva, K. Lungu – Ministry of Energy/Malawi, A. Mendes, M.G.P. Correia, J.L. Teixeira – University of Lisbon, V.R. Gama, F.J. Naguindas and J. Garcia da Costa – GAMEK/Angola.

Lx, 21 Oct 2019

 

MOZAMBIQUE - “EMBONDEIRO” OPERATION FOR MOZAMBIQUE

As announced in July, the COBA Group is participating in the ““Embondeiro” Operation for Mozambique”, coordinated by the Portuguese Red Cross, within the scope of its Social Responsibility Policy towards the populations in the markets where the COBA Group develops its activity. This charity work, sponsored by Portuguese institutions and companies, aims at the Reconstruction of the Macurungo Health Unit, a city in Beira deeply affected by Cyclone Idai, which hit Mozambique’s centre region in June. This improvement includes the expansion of the Maternity Unit‘s building, the reorganization of the External Care Unit and the construction of a new building for the Emergency Department, Administrative Services and cafeteria. The COBA Group is providing its support to this operation by offering Construction Supervision and Technical Assistance services to these works.

After three months supporting this charity work with the deployment of staff to this location, the COBA Group would like to share some pictures to display the progress of the construction works.

Lx, 28 Oct 2019

 

PORTUGAL - CFD APPLICATION IN COBA

 

COBA has in recent years developed the capability to provide consulting services using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). COBA manages to deliver added value services to our clients, and so enabling them to make better-informed decisions that maximize efficiency and confidence in engineered solutions by reducing risks and optimize OPEX costs.

The use of CFD is a fundamental tool for designing hydraulic structures as well other systems such as ventilation systems.

 

Lx, 21 Out 2019

 

MOZAMBIQUE - COBA EMBRACES THE “EMBONDEIRO” OPERATION

 

During July the COBA Group mobilized a Senior Engineer to permanently support the “Embondeiro Operation for Mozambique”, in the Beira Region.

This colleague will coordinate the supervision of the reconstruction and improvement of the Macurungo Health Unit, which will include the Health and Maternity Centre.

The mission is managed and implemented by the Portuguese Red Cross and works will be undertaken through donations.

The COBA Group thus broadens the boundaries of its Social Responsibility Policy, while strengthening its historical relationship with Mozambique.

We wish everyone involved the greatest success.

Together we achieve more!

Lx, 31 Jul 2019

 

PORTUGAL – HIGH LEVEL CONFERENCE

 

COBA Group’s CEO, Eng. Fernando Prioste, was invited to participate in the round-table on “The Water Sector in Portugal – Experience and Investment” [O Setor da Água em Portugal - Experiência e Investimento], in the High Level Conference organised by the Office for Planning, Strategy, Evaluation and International Relations [GPEARI - Gabinete de Planeamento, Estratégia, Avaliação e Relações Internacionais] of the Ministry of Finance.

This Conference was organised with the purpose of increasing the visibility and shed some light on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), of which Portugal has been a shareholder since 2016 and aims at promoting the economic development and regional integration of countries within Asia and the Pacific Ocean, through the financing of infrastructures projects in the region.

Lx, 24 May 2019

 

PORTUGAL – FOLLOW-UP AND MANAGEMENT OF RISKS IN SLOPES (MADEIRA ISLAND)

COBA, S.A. has recently started, for the Regional Secretariat for Equipment and Infrastructures - Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory of the Autonomous Region of Madeira [Secretaria Regional dos Equipamentos e Infraestruturas – Laboratório Regional de Engenharia Civil da Região Autónoma da Madeira], the provision of services for the Follow-up and Management of Risks in Slopes – Analysis of Slopes Stability.

LandCOBA also participated in this project by resorting to LiDAR technology, for an accurate and detailed topographic survey of the slopes under study.

Lx, 24 May 2019

 

NAMIBIA – HYDROPOWER AFRICA 2019

 

 

 

The COBA Group was present at the HydroPower Africa 2019 international conference, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia, at the beginning of April. The company was represented by 4 colleagues of the Group.

Lx, 24 May 2019

 

HOMAGE TO PROFESSOR RICARDO OLIVEIRA

 

In the 11th Annual Meeting, held at the end of March 2019 in LNEC (National Laboratory for Civil Engineering), in Lisbon, the APG (Portuguese Association of Geologists) promoted an homage to Professor Ricardo Oliveira, who presented a conference on “The Importance of Geology in Engineering Works”.

The Association thereby sought to highlight Professor Oliveira’s exceptional contribution in Geotechnics’ consolidation and international projection, and also invited Dr. Raul Pistone as a speaker in this homage.

The COBA Group felt this homage with great pride in his remarkable career, the affectionate way he lived and lives Engineering as well as his captivating, inspiring, dedicated, perceptive, rigorous, elegant and optimistic personality.

Lx, 24 May 2019

 

JOBSHOP – ISA

 

On April 15th, the COBA Group was invited to take part in Jobshop@ISA 2019’s speakers’ table, held at the Higher Institute of Agronomy, in Lisbon.

This initiative aims at approaching Universities to Companies, by allowing students to directly interact with future employers. The panel of guests was composed of people from different areas, from industrial or production areas to the area of engineering projects, which was represented by COBA Group.

Maria João Calejo and Madalena Fernandes were present at this event.

Lx, 24 May 2019

 

PORTUGAL - DOUBLING / UPGRADING OF IP3 HIGHWAY

 

The Consortium led by COBA S.A. was awarded the contract for Doubling / Upgrading of the IP3 Highway, between the Souselas and Viseu Interchanges, in a total extension of approximately 79 km.

The contract involves a Basic Design, Conceptual Design and Environmental Studies, over a period of 620 days, followed by Technical Assistance during construction.

This intervention, which has long been requested by local authorities and populations and now assumed by the Government as a priority, aims to increase circulation capacity and improve the road safety characteristics of this highway section. Doubling in both directions will result in a motorway cross-section in about 85% of the alignment. The infrastructure will be provided with an intelligent communications and warning system between traffic management and users.

The project involves geometry studies of the 22 interchanges and 94 existing bridges. It also envisages a new bypass at the Santa Comba Dão crossing, which includes the study of a new bridge over the Dão River, with a large span.

Environmental Studies include an Environmental Feasibility Study (EFS) during the Basic Design phase, followed by the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and an Environmental Compliance Report during the Conceptual Design phase.

Lx, 22 Mar 2019

 

PORTUGAL – WATERWAY CONNECTION TO THE MONTE DA ROCHA RESERVOIR

 

COBA S.A. and Tetraplano are currently engaged in the Detailed Design and Environmental Studies for the Waterway Connection to the Monte da Rocha Reservoir and Messejana Irrigation Block Integrating the EDIA supply system. LandCOBA is responsible for the topographic surveys of the envisaged structures and land cadaster operations.

This project is justified by the need to enhance the water resources of the Monte da Rocha Reservoir – an important water supply source for the surrounding municipalities and for the Alto do Sado Hydroagricultural Undertaking – which has registered its minimum levels due to the low rainfall and to high water demands. Simultaneously, it will directly benefit more than 3500 hectares of irrigated land on regular service.

 

 

 

The waterway consists of the following main infrastructures:

  • intake and pumping station to be built near the Rio de Moinhos R3 regulating reservoir;
  • Messejana pumping main and regulating reservoir;
  • Feeder pipe to the Monte da Rocha reservoir, including connection to the irrigation canal, downstream of the dam, and connection to the Monte da Rocha WTP;
  • pressure filter system;
  • irrigation network for approximately 3 500 ha;
  • incorporation and refurbishment of the Miguéis Dam; automation and remote-control system; road network and drainage network.

This contract includes the Preliminary Design of the solar power plants which are to be installed at the R2 and R3 regulating reservoirs, as well as Technical Assistance during tendering and construction works.

Lx, 22 Mar 2019

 

MOZAMBIQUE - COBA STUDIES ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY TO THE MOZAL FACTORY

COBA S.A. is undertaking, in a joint-venture, the Feasibility Studies of the Alternative Water Supply System to the MOZAL Factory, located in the city of Matola.

The system under study originates in a desalination station recently built on the MOZAL quay, which will comprise an alternative source of water to the MOZAL Factory.

The project includes a pumping station adjacent to the desalination plant and an 18 km-long feeder pipe with capacity for a flow of 2,000 m3/day. The layout of the pipeline has a 7 km intermediate submerged section, installed along the Matola River bed. The remaining section of the pipeline will be installed conventionally along the river banks up to the MOZAL facilities.

Lx, 22 Mar 2019

 

PORTUGAL - STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO EXPLOSIVE DEMOLITION OF THE SETÚBAL THERMAL POWER PLANT CHIMNEYS

At the end of February COBA S.A. concluded the structural study to support the explosive demolition of the Setúbal Thermal Power Plant chimneys, with a height of approximately 200 m. The study consisted in checking the safety conditions of chimneys during the structural pre-weakening works at the base and in the verification of the conditions that ensure their controlled collapse upon detonation.

Lx, 22 Mar 2019

 

GUINEA BISSAU - SALTINHO HYDROPOWER PROJECT

Almost three decades after, COBA S.A. returns to Guinea Bissau upon successful contract negotiations with OMVG (Organization de la Mise en Valeur du Fleuve Gambie) for the preparation of a Bankable Feasibility Study and a Detailed Preliminary Project Study of the Saltinho Hydropower Project, on the Corubal River, funded by the African Development Bank (in a joint-venture led by COBA).

Lx, 18 Mar 2019