EM - April/May 2012 - (Page 26)

26 ENERGY INTERNATIONAL April/May 2012 www.esb.ie/em Appreciation Mícheál Ó Bréartúin – National Grid/ESBI INNEaltÓIr cuMaSach agus fear a bhí tiomanta do’n ghaeilge ab ea Mícheál Ó’Bréartúin. Fuair sé a chuid oideachais i gColéiste Mhuire agus sa Cholaiste Ollscoile i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bhain sé amach céim B.E. (Mech. & Elec.) i 1953, agus iarradh air fanacht bliain eile ag cabhrú leis an fhoireann acadúil. Chaith sé bliain san Eilbhéis le Brown Boveri, comhlucht mór déantúsaíochta earraí leictreacha. nuair a d’fhill sé abhaile i 1955, fuair sé post le EsB. Bhuail Mícheál san ard-Oifig la pádraigín (pat) a bhí ag obair sa rannóg líníochta. phósadar i 1958 agus rugadh clan mac agus iníon dóibh (tá an mac is sine ina innealtóir leictreach chomh maith). ina shaol oibre le EsB, shaothraigh sé le system Operation department, agus bhí páirt mhór aige i bpleanáil an chórais leictreachais i mórcheantar Bhaile Átha Cliath. Ó 1977 ar aghaidh, d’oibrigh sé le EsBi mar senior Consultant i níos mó ná 30 tír – sa MheánOirthear, san aifric, sa ChianOirthear, agus i gcodanna de’ n aontas sóivéideach (mar a bhí). sar ar éirigh sé as, bhí sé ina “international project Co-ordinator” dos na náisiúin aontaithe san iaráic. Buíochas le dia, tháinig sé slán as na turasnna sin go léir. tar éis dul ar scor, chuir Mícheál chuig scríbhneoireacht, agus foilsíodh 5 leabhar dá chuid (iad go léir as ghaeilge) – ar abhair ó “gnóthaí Eachtracha” (bunaithe ar a chuid taistil) go stair teileagrafaíochta, aibhléise, agus “Forbairt na sionainne”. Bhi Mícheál ina bhall gníomhach de’n roth ó’n tus. ghnóthaigh sé duais d’aiste innealtóireachta ag Oireachtas na ghaeilge cúpla uair. Fuair sé bás tar éis tinnis gairid. Ba léiriú ar an meas a bhí air i EsB agus i dpobal. na gaeilge go raibh an eaglais plódaithe do’n socraid, agus na focail molta ó chaired i ndiaidh an aifrinn. Cuirimid comhbhron chuig a chlann ENGINEER ABROAD 8 Be surprised, if you’re not surprised! Orla Burke, ESBI Millennium Challenge Account-Tanzania Project Manager. ESBI 8 Project Manager Orla Burke talks to us about her overseas assignments with ESB International “MY rOlE in EsBi is split between working as the dublin-based project Manager for the Millennium Challenge account-tanzania (MCa-t) project and as an Electrical Engineer with the High-Voltage power system studies team. as part of the project management role i travel to tanzania approximately once every six weeks, usually for a week at a time. “When i first arrived in tanzania i was struck by how challenging, exciting and dynamic a country it is. it’s a melting pot of cultures and has some of the world’s most beautiful scenery and wildlife parks, not to mention a very pleasant climate. Working in the country has given me the opportunity to travel both within tanzania itself and to other countries in africa. during my annual leave i’ve visited kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and rwanda, which were all very different and amazing Rwandan Minister visits Lough Ree Power countries. dar es salaam, where the EsBi office is located, has a great social scene with a large ex-pat community. there’s plenty to do there, including beach visits, wine festivals, concerts, ballet, cinema and even goat races! “it can be difficult to adapt to the style and pace of work in tanzania. services such as electricity, water, fuel and transport can be unreliable and can really impact on both day to day office and site activities. One of our office mottos is ‘Be surprised if you are not surprised’. “i am delighted to be working on the MCa-t Energy project. as well as getting great technical and professional experience, it’s rewarding to feel that the work i’m doing well helps to strengthen and expand the country’s electricity system and assist in alleviating poverty. “EsBi is acting as consultant engineer and construction supervisor on the project, which will significantly boost the country’s electricity infrastructure. at the moment, an estimated 15 per cent of the population there has access to the electricity network. the project includes the construction of a 132kV submarine cable from mainland tanzania to Zanzibar and associated overhead line works, substation rehabilitation and new-builds in six regions in tanzania, extension of rural distribution networks in seven regions, a feasibility study for a hydro plant on the Malagarasi river as well as a capacity building programme for the local utilities. “On a day-to-day basis i’m responsible for providing support to both the tanzanian-based team and head office staff working on the project. this means interfacing with a number of different teams within EsBi, co-ordinating resources, dealing with health and safety and other project related issues that arise. “Before taking on the pM role for tanzania, i’d already worked overseas on other EsBi projects, including the development of a distribution Master plan for Bahrain. the experience of working in Bahrain is quite different from tanzania, both culturally and physically. infrastructure and access to goods and services in Bahrain are similar to ireland and the land area is quite small. tanzania on the other hand is the largest country in East africa and many of the works carried out under the MCa-t project are in rural, poor, remote areas. travel may be by dirt roads and basic provisions may be difficult to obtain. “i’m really enjoying working on the tanzanian project. it has been a big learning curve, but it has given me the opportunity to rapidly develop my technical and project management skills. My colleagues in tanzania are great and i’m always happy to spend work time and indeed my spare time with them. the support from the staff and their families based in tanzania has been amazing and really helped me to integrate quickly into the way of life in a wonderful country.” n BOARD mEmBERS vISIt HuNtER’S HIll Mr. Albert Nsengiyumva, Rwandan Minister for Infrastructure, and delegates from Foster Wheeler, Hakan Mining and Electricity Generation Industry and Trade Inc. pictured with Station Manager, Jerry McKenna and some of the staff from Lough Ree and West Offaly Power. On 14tH FEBrUarY last, lough ree power recently hosted a visit by Mr. albert nsengiyumva, rwandan Minister for infrastructure, and delegates from Foster Wheeler, Hakan Mining and Electricity generation industry and trade inc. the purpose of the visit was to see a Foster Wheeler designed CFB plant with a view to possibly building a similar plant in rwanda. station Manager Jerry Mckenna, welcomed the visitors to the plant and gave a presentation on the history of peat generation in ireland. ronan O Flynn, production Manager West Offaly power, presented the technical aspects of the plant. the visit concluded with a tour and Mr. nsengiyumva was very impressed with the station and the welcome his delegation received from all in lough ree power. n Building on success Chief Executive Pat O’Doherty together with Board Members Seamus Mallon, Noreen Wright and Ellvena Graham and Company Secretary John Redmond recently paid a visit to Hunter’s Hill Windfarm. Dave Brolly, Windfarm Manager, gave the group a tour of the site which is located in Co.Tyrone. Sustainability Programme page 10 http://www.esb.ie/em

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of EM - April/May 2012

EM - April/May 2012
Contents
News
Services & Electric Ireland
ESB Networks Ltd
ESB Energy International
Health & Habitat
Life

EM - April/May 2012