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Orica, one of the world’s leading mining and infrastructure solutions providers is proud to be celebrating 150 years in operations Founded in June 1874, a small company named Jones, Scott and Company emerged to supply explosives to those who sought fortune in the Victorian goldfields in Australia. Quickly expanding, the company merged with Nobel Explosives and later Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Dulux meanwhile began supplying paint to the Australian market in 1918 as part of the British Australian Lead Manufacturers (BALM) company which was partly purchased by ICI in 1928. ICI gained majority control in 1947 and 100 per cent control of Dulux in 1986. In 1998, ICI was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) as Orica and has grown to be one of the world’s leading mining and infrastructure solutions providers with a market capitalisation nearing $9 billion. Orica’s international presence includes the Philippines, a hub for Orica Global Business Services. For over 50 years, Orica Philippines has supported the mining and civil construction sectors and now operates a major manufacturing facility in Limay, Bataan, exporting products worldwide. Gordon Wallace, Country Director Orica Philippines gave a speech during the 150 celebration at Orica Philippines   Reflecting on the company's rich and impactful history, Orica Chairman Malcolm Broomhead said: "From our explosive beginnings to our global presence in more than 100 countries today, Orica has been an integral part of the Australian and international manufacturing industry, creating products that have transformed everyday life. As we celebrate 150 years, we look back at a story of resilience, innovation, and the unwavering commitment of our people. “Over the years, Orica has expanded its footprint, embracing new categories, businesses, capabilities, end markets, and geographies, becoming a multi-billion-dollar global organisation. Orica’s 150th milestone is a testament to the company’s strength, adaptability, and ability to thrive in a constantly evolving business landscape.” Innovation has been a part of Orica’s DNA since Alfred Nobel’s pioneering days and its commitment to research-led innovation remains unwavering, helping to shape the industry while providing essential support for its people, customers, and communities in which it operates. Some of Orica’s innovations include the creation of Perspex, the build of Australia’s first skyscraper, the world’s first wireless blasting solution WebGen™, Exel Neo TM the world’s first lead free detonator and most recently, the first blast using low-carbon ammonium nitrate in partnership with Fertiberia. Orica's commitment to safety, the environment, and community engagement has been pivotal to its success. Partnering for progress with customers and stakeholders to find solutions to the industry’s biggest challenges and enabling the global transition to a lower carbon future. Today, Orica’s team of more than 12,500 engineers, scientists, technologists, operators, business specialists and on-site crew support customers in surface and underground mines, quarry, construction, tunnelling and oil and gas operations in over 100 countries around the world. Orica is focused on mobilising the materials, metals and minerals required to help the global economy grow and transition to net zero emissions, advancing technology and innovation across the mining and infrastructure value chains while accelerating its own decarbonisation with an ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The 3.17-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge Project (PBBP) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was officially opened Friday, September 27, 2024, promising to enhance connectivity and drive economic progress in Mindanao. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with First Lady Maria Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos joined by Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa, and DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain led the inauguration of the milestone project, now recognized as the longest sea-crossing bridge in Mindanao. Also present at the inauguration ceremony of PBBP poised to bring transformative growth and development in the Mindanao Region are Office of the Presidential Advisor on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Korea Export-Import Bank (KEXIM Bank) Director General Cho In-Kyo, Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo, Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal, and other government officials. Implemented by DPWH Unified Project Management Office - Roads Management Cluster II (Multilateral) under direct supervision of Senior Undersecretary Sadain together with former Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim and now by Project Director Teresita V. Bauzon, the P8.026-billion project was carried out through a loan agreement funding signed in 2016 between the Government of the Philippines and Korean Export-Import Bank - Economic Development Cooperation Fund (KEDCF) under Loan Agreement No. PHL-18. The project began with a pre-feasibility study in 1998 followed with several feasibility assessments and comprehensive business case study to ultimately secure National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approval in May 2015, reinforcing commitment to this transformative infrastructure initiative to connect Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental in Northern Mindanao. The following years involved careful planning, multiple approvals, and adjustments until it reached the procurement phase in 2018, with bids evaluated and contracts signed in November 2019. The landmark infrastructure which crosses Panguil Bay and directly connects Misamis Occidental via Tangub City and Lanao del Norte via Tubod town, was meticulously designed using extensive geotechnical surveys. Actual work on the design and build of Panguil Bay Bridge started on February 28, 2020, but soon faced delays from the pandemic and budget constraints. However, with the administration's commitment to “Build Better More” and faster infrastructure development program and with resolved and determination, the construction was pushed through without let up. The project used advanced Korean bridge technology. This included reverse circulation drilling on barges to create boreholes and launching of thick permanent steel casings using revolving crane barges and vibro pile hammers. Additionally, two (2) land and sea-based batching plants supplied ready-mixed concrete for the project. The bridge features 54 board piles for 32 piers, ensuring a solid foundation capable of supporting the mega structure that carry 2-lane, 2-way traffic with carriageway width of 13 meters. The project includes a 360-meter approach road leading to a 1,020-meter approach bridge on the Tangub City side, alongside a 569-meter approach road connecting to a 900-meter approach bridge on the Tubod side. Both approaches were built using pre-stressed concrete box girders through an incremental launching method. Its world-class design features an extra-dosed main bridge, with 320-meter central span, supported by two (2) pylons standing 20 meters tall, anchored by six (6) cable stays, and complemented by a lighting system, providing structural support and enhancing bridge aesthetics and safety for nighttime travel. The completion of Panguil Bay Bridge marks the dawn of a new era in Philippine infrastructure development. It is a gamechanger, significantly reducing travel time between Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte to just seven (7) minutes from 2 to 2 and a half hours via Roll-On, Roll Off (RoRo) vessels from Ozamiz to Mucas in Lanao Del Norte or circuitous routes via Tangub-Molave-Tubod or Tangub-Kapatagan-Tubod with over a distance of 100 kilometers.

London-based investment house Actis formalized its USD600 million investments in the Philippines for the development of the country’s largest single-site solar power project. Manila Electric Corp. (Meralco) and SP New Energy Corp (SPNEC) signed an agreement with Actis at Meralco’s headquarters in Pasig City Friday for the Terra Solar project, the largest of its kind in the Philippines and in the world. “From Actis' side, we're very honored and excited to invest USD600 million into that, which I believe is the largest FDI (foreign direct investment) into the greenfield infrastructure here in the Philippines,” Actis chair and senior partner Torbjorn Caesar said. The Terra Solar is a 3,500-megawatt solar power project with a 4,500-MW (megawatt) hour battery energy storage system. The project was recently awarded by the Board of Investments (BOI) with a certificate of green lane endorsement to expedite all permits and licenses related to the project. Meralco PowerGen Corporation president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Rubio said Actis’ investments support the government’s aspiration for a more sustainable energy sector. “We expect our strategic partnership will not only put Philippines in the global spotlight, it will also thrust one Meralco into the international stage as a leader in the renewable energy space to its ownership of the world's largest hybrid solar project, which is poised to power more than 2.4 million households in the Philippines, and displace 4 million tons of carbon dioxide every year,” Rubio said. 

In loving memory of Bernabe “Abe” Almirol, journalist (August 25, 1969 – September 17, 2023)

This article urges the use of technology and well proven methods to improve ground investigation outcomes and to facilitate digital geotechnical information to target risk.  The benefit is well proven to ground engineering project cost and schedule. This third in our series concerning ground investigation, talks about using digital data gathering methods and techniques to improve on ground investigation schedule and reduce contractor risk.  Geophysical methods being digitally based can be deployed to improve the speed of investigation, quality and relevance of information for use in digital models. Digital Information For Developers and Contractors, repeatable, quality assured digital datadatsets provide an unequivocal record of conditions, readily stored in digital platforms accessed from any number of Apps, and trainable to AI. Geophysical and insitu measurements collated in digital format, together provide factual information not reliant on qualitative observations open to interpretation. Digital data can be readily integrated into design models for efficient ground modelling and 3D mine and civil design.  For Asset Owners the same datasets serve as repeatable measurements of baseline conditions for contract management and asset lifecycle tracking. Fast Moving Change In an ever increasing technological world moving at faster rates but with a generally shrinking pool of skilled and experienced technical practioners, there is a looming significant difficulty to execute on projects in a timely manner.  In addition, current generation geotechnical data gathering in the Philippines with the exception of a selected few contractors, remains negatively affected by poor performance in recovery and schedule. The data is analogue and requires interpretation of description and data gaps to use with any degree of confidence. Industry thinking of the traditional approach of drill + test needs to change. Not All Investigators are Equal RDCL are experts in ground investigation and modelling.  The selection of the appropriate technique and the sequence of ground investigation deployment has a big influence on cost, suitability of information, early use of preliminary data, and efficiency of investigation. Early engagement with specialist contractors offer significant benefits to the client. Specialist contractors have special skills and experience to benefit the job.  Ground investigation involves well proven technique, but which are often poorly understood outside of specialist geotechnical practitioners.  Ground investigation budgets at Planning phase can be better targeted using digital ground data integrated into asset or project models, to allow realistic assessment of risk.  This means correct techniques and methods can be deployed on a targeted basis to control cost and schedules. An Example Remote Road Alignment RDCL was able to fast track option assessment and mitigation using geophysical techniques applied and modeling during disaster response to Cyclone Gabrielle damage within the Tararua District, New Zealand. The work enabled rapid road condition risk assessment, investigation targeting and remediation design. An RDCL Senior Geotechnical Professional developed the investigation plan through a structured approach beginning from geomorphological overview and large-scale evaluation of risk.  Site investigations were chosen beginning with Geophysical Survey including Resistivity and Seismic methods. Both methods are excellent for screening and importantly produce digital data. Geophysics data interpreted with leading software Leapfrog against the digital terrain model including the road alignment, revealed areas with soft (blue) and hard (red) foundations and previously unrecognized landslides.  The Engineering advantage is to enable appropriate preliminary scoping of likely remedial works and to target further investigation to meet those demands. A deliberate digital ground investigation has the potential to search for previously unrecognized unknowns, allows informed decision making in a timely manner to infill gaps in project knowledge.  Digital sharing drives Collaboration which leads to speed and efficiency. Geophysical and Insitu Testing Surface and downhole geophysical surveys can cover large areas and penetrate below surface to provide a valuable insight into potential ground conditions and risk.  All of the information is digital, repeatable and Quality Assured.  Surface geophysics provides rapid, repeatable measurements of geotechnical properties including, ground strength, density, modulus of deformation, Vs30 and groundwater conditions.  These parameters are relevant to design and physical evaluation of landslides, mitigation solutions subgrade modulus and seismic site class. Downhole geophysics including accurate measurement of geological structures and identification of geological and geotechnical zones of influence by televiewers, shear wave velocity, density and other techniques drastically improve the value of drilling. Critically, downhole logging significantly reduces the need for manual drilling supervision, subjective core logging and processing by capturing digital data within a tailored database for geological and geotechnical modelling using modern 3D interpretive software.  The outcome is deeper insight into clients’ needs, and options to improve outcomes. Talk To Us Partner with us and take action at the time when it is most impactful to your project. Contact us today. info@rdcl.co.nz Cam Wylie, Director, RDCL Cam Wylie is the Managing Director, CEO & Principal Engineer at RDCL Limited. With 30 years in the industry, Cam is a Chartered Professional Engineer with extensive overseas experience, working on major projects in the Philippines, Indonesia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. His expertise includes Project Management, Geotechnical/Dam Engineering, Mining, Roading, Infrastructure, large subdivisions, and Residential Dwellings, and he is a contributor to the Hawke’s Bay Cyclone Gabrielle Engineering Leadership Group.

The Trenchless Asia 2024 conference and exhibition, a premier international event for trenchless technology professionals, took place over two days at the World Trade Center Metro Manila last July 16 and 17. This annual gathering serves as a valuable platform for experts to converge and discuss the latest trends and developments in the trenchless technology industry. Focused on advancements in the Asia-Pacific region, this year's event provided a forum for professionals, practitioners, and experts to exchange insights, share experiences, and explore the forefront of trenchless technology.