Al Tayer: The clear vision, positive energy and sound decision are key success factors of complex projects
Al Hamadi: Completion rate hits 85% in the first UAE nuclear power station
Roads and Transport Authority - Mohammed Al Munji:
HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), stated that the clear vision, optimism, positive energy, effective follow-up, right decision taking at the right time, project control right from the beginning, effective management of challenges & risks, and the management of relevant parties' expectations were among the key success factors of mega and complex projects.
Al Tayer made this statement in the first discussion panel held on the second day of the Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF). The session also hosted HE Mohammed Al Hammadi, CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, and Sir Hugh Robertson, CEO of Falcon Group. The session was moderated by Dr. Alaa Zaitoon, Executive Director, Projects Corporate Office, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation.
"Mega projects are those which require sophisticated technologies, have a variety of systems or involve multiple parties. Examples of these projects include the Dubai Tram project, which is the first of its kind outside Europe powered by ground electric cables, and the first of its kind worldwide in using platform screen doors technology offering automated protection of trains. Likewise the Dubai Metro is the longest driverless metro network in the world spanning 75 km and comprising 47 stations. It has more than 20 systems including the power system, train control system, communication system, and the climate control system. The completion of the Dubai Metro project required the development of a comprehensive time chart covering activities of all internal & external parties including the RTA, consultant, contractors' consortium, safety assessor, operator, police, civil defense and service providers. The project engaged five key contractors, 160 sub-contractors and employed more than 30,000 workers, supervisors," said Al Tayer.
80 billion dirham
Al Tayer also screened the challenges he encounters as a leader of a multi-agency authority highlighted by diverse activities & services offered such as road & rail projects management, bus movement management, offering licensing services, separating legislation from execution to ensure transparency & governance, particularly as the RTA has carried out projects to the worth of more than 80 billion dirham at a rate of 10 bn dirham per annum. Challenges also included the need to expedite the improvement of the infrastructure through enacting flexible legislations, partnership with the private sector, and integration with all transit systems and roads network. Accordingly, the RTA has launched the integrated mobility platform project, endorsed the smart mobility plan 2017-2021, and established transportation integration section.
"Complex projects also need highly motivated leaders capable of empowering the work team, nurturing a positive work environment, and keeping abreast of events & developments as well as managing them effectively. The management of such projects need leaders, who also have the ability to innovate and at the same time maintain the existing situation, as well as a portfolio of programs & projects rather than a single project in order to up the control of processes and achieve targeted results," he commented.
400 Citizens
HE Mohammed Al Hammadi, CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, revealed that the Corporation has accomplished 85% of the construction of the UAE's first power station plant. He also unveiled that there were 400 Emiratis specialized in power engineering out of 1600 employees in the Corporation overseeing about 18000 engineers and workers from about 38 countries.
"The Emirates Nuclear Power project is a peaceful nuclear program that meets environmental sustainability of resources. In 2009, the UAE has declared the public policy document for assessing the possibility of developing safe nuclear power programs. The document provides that any nuclear program in the UAE will be based on two aspects; safety and prohibition of nuclear proliferation. The Corporation has prepared a comprehensive document about the initial safety status of the UAE nuclear power stations and charted out a roadmap comprising 1200 activities covering the period 2009 - 2075. The Corporation has also developed a program for operating and maintaining stations to ensure the project's sustainability. It has also completed the prequalification of local and international firms for supplying the needs of the nuclear power stations, adding that the Corporation prides itself on having a lineup of local companies such as the Emirates Steel Company, and the Dubai Cables Company as part of its key project suppliers.
"Any project manager has to be well aware of basic elements such as: Why is this project constructed? What's the objective of the project? How will be the partnership with partners & customers? Accordingly the project roadmap has to be worked out. The project manager has to spend 90% of his or her time in enhancing communication with contractors, consultants and relevant partners," added Al Hammadi.
Sir Hugh Robertson, CEO of Falcon Group, spoke about the huge complications associated with the staging of London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012. "The biggest challenge was to build integrated facilities for the sports showpiece, managing an event that runs 26 sports disciplines in 17 days, organizing the movement of the public from and to competition areas, protecting the venues from the risks of terrorist attacks, developing plans to abort explosive conspiracy, and protecting the Olympic sites & transit network in addition to the fact the project implementation was concomitant with the fallouts of the global economic crisis. The challenge that followed the completion of the event, was to invest the project to generate financial returns," he added.
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© Press Release 2015
