Demand for Welders and Electricians

East African Strategy

Demand for industrial welders and high voltage electricians is set to soar across Africa.

Our initial evaluation work included the inspection of 23 welding schools across East Africa as shown in the map below.

Based on our study, and interviews with trade school officials across the continent, there is not one certified welding school on the African continent that teaches industrial welding outside of South Africa and Egypt. The 23 welding schools we visited across East Africa only had about 20% of the basic shop equipment needed to prepare their students for industrial fabrication skills. Schools spend about 80-90% of time teaching theory and 10-20% of time in skill development. In contrast, the schools which teach certified industrial welding spend 80-90% of the time in actual skill development. Furthermore, we know of no certified welding instructors who are native speakers of Swahili. But we did find English speaking ornamental welding instructors in East Africa, who are ready for advanced industrial welding training in a train the trainer program. We say, “A fish cannot learn to swim unless it is in the water.”

The demand for welders across Africa in various market sectors is detailed on the home page of our sister organization, African Skills and Development Group Ltd.

https://www.africanskillsanddevelopment.com/

As an example, below find links to some of the current and future projects in the East Africa Community region that will need the welding and high voltage electrical skills we are focused on.

Tanzania Project Examples

Tanzania LNG Project

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania_Liquefied_Natural_Gas_Project

($35 Billion USD project by Shell, ExxonMobil and Equinor)

Mtwara Mega Fertilizer Plant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania_Mbolea_and_Petrochemical_Company

($1.9 billion (USD) plant to produce 3900 tons of urea and 2200 tons of ammonia annually from natural gas. Being developed by Tanzania Petroeleum Development Corporation (TPDC), Ferrostaal Industrial Projects (Germany) Haldor Topsoe AS of Denmark, Fauji Fertilizer Co of Pakistan, and possibly Dangote Cement of Tanzania.)

Uganda-Tanzania Crude Oil Pipeline

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Crude_Oil_Pipeline

(Also known as the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline. Total investment is estimated at $3.5 billion USD, and is designed to transport 1445 kilometers (898 miles) 216000 barrels per day, through a 24” diameter, 898 mile (1445 km) pipeline.)

Msalato International Airport, Dodoma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Msalato_International_Airport

Dodoma Outer Dual Carriage Highway Project

https://chimpreports.com/tanzania-launches-massive-dodoma-city-dual-outer-carriageway-ring-road/

Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project

https://dmgp.tpa.go.tz/index.php/about-us/about-dmgp

Dar es Salaam BRT Bus Rapid Transit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dar_es_Salaam_bus_rapid_transit

Rufiji Hydropower Project

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Nyerere_Hydropower_Station

Bagamoyo Port

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagamoyo_Port

(The Bagamoyo Port is a new planned $11 billion (USD) project that will serve as a major import/export hub for Tanzania and surrounding countries in the East African Union including the Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and the DRC. The total public and private investment in the surrounding 1,700 hector industrial zone is expected to reach $100 billion dollars when fully developed.)

Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway Project

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania_Standard_Gauge_Railway

Kenya Project Examples

Tana River Nuclear Plant

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/economy/kenya-reveals-sh540bn-nuclear-power-plant-in-tana-river-2298908

Nairobi BRT Project (Bus Rapid Transit)

https://constructionreviewonline.com/biggest-projects/nairobi-bus-rapid-transport-brt-system-update/

Pinnacle Tower Project.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pinnacle_(Nairobi)

(To be Africa’s tallest building.)

Malindi to Bagamoyo Highway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malindi%E2%80%93Bagamoyo_Highway

Nairobi Railway City

https://www.railway-technology.com/news/kenya-railways-construction-nairobi-railway/

Tanzania – Kenya Gas Pipeline

https://www.voanews.com/a/tanzania-kenya-agree-to-fast-track-construction-of-gas-pipeline-project-/6783905.html

Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway

https://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/nairobi-mombasa-highway-expansion-project/

Kenya Geothermal Power Projects

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_power_in_Kenya

(10,000 MW potential)

Mombasa – Malaba Standard Gauge Railway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mombasa%E2%80%93Nairobi_Standard_Gauge_Railway

Nairobi–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nairobi%E2%80%93Malaba_Standard_Gauge_Railway#:~:text=The%20Nairobi%E2%80%93Malaba%20Standard%20Gauge,the%20international%20border%20with%20Uganda.

Lapset Corridor Project ($25 billion USD)

https://www.lapsset.go.ke/

Lokichar to Lamu Pipeline

https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/kpc-lokichar-to-lamu-port-oil-pipeline-kenya/

Konza Technology City

https://konza.go.ke/

Mombasa Gate Bridge

https://www.constructionkenya.com/9077/mombasa-gate-bridge-masterplan/

Mombassa Port Expansion

https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/mombasa-port-on-course-to-become-africas-trade-hub/

Hydropower in Kenya

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/future-hydropower-kenya-sammy-jamar/

(Current plans include the Itari Dam, $255 million USD; Fiverr Dam, $145 million USD; Muruni Dam, $45 million USD; Kiranyaga Dam, $218 million USD; Thwake Dam, $692 million USD; Nyeri Dam, $10 million USD; Meaumet Dam, $182 million USD; Koala Dam, $182 million USD; Kiambu Dam, $154 million USD.)

Nairobi Mass Transit System

https://mitigation-action.org/projects/kenya-mass-rapid-transport-system-for-nairobi/

Kenya Highway Road Projects

https://theexchange.africa/investing/infrastructure-road-projects-in-kenya-make-progress-in-six-months/

(Projects include the Bomass-Rongai Dualling; Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway; Kenol-Isiolo Road; Mau Summit Road; Dongo Kundu Bypass; Mai-Mahiu Suswa Road; JKIA-Rironi Highway; Kapchorwa- Suam Road; Lamu-Garissa Road; Mau Mau Road)

DRC Project Examples

Mining in the DRC: The future of mining in the DRC depends on US$24 trillion worth of untapped minerals, which is the equivalent to the GDP of Europe and the United States combined.

Mining and Minerals in the DRC

https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/democratic-republic-congo-mining-and-minerals

Expansion of the Tenke Fungurume Mine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenke_Fungurume_Mine

Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex (233 metric tons of 4.46% copper, equal to10.4 metric tons of contained copper).

https://www.theafricareport.com/222429/drc-kamoa-kakula-copper-complex-turbines/

Congo-Ocean Railway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo%E2%80%93Ocean_Railway

Iron Ore Development

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-congorepublic-iron/congo-republic-ships-first-iron-ore-ahead-of-expected-production-boom-idUSKCN1RV14N

Large Scale Solar Development

https://pressroom.ifc.org/all/pages/PressDetail.aspx?ID=26731