One of Carmarthenshire’s most dynamic businesses has taken its first steps onto the international stage.
EMC Services, the electrical contractors firm currently based in Llanarthne in the Towy Valley, now has a team of workers in the West African Republic of Sierra Leone.
“It’s a lot different to working in Carmarthen,” smiled EMC director Neil Alexander.
“But it represents our first move into international work and it is obviously a hugely exciting project for us as a company.”
The Sierra Leone contract for EMC Services comes through the company’s work with Dawnus Construction, the international civil engineering and building company which has offices in Swansea.
Mr Alexander explained: “Dawnus are familiar with our work and invited us to join them on a series of projects in the Tonkolili District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone.
“Dawnus are already well established there, working for the gigantic African Minerals corporation. They have a number of construction sites, together with camps for their workers, all at different locations in the area.
“The area has huge importance to Sierra Leone as a mineral resource and it’s fair to say that the Tonkolili Iron Ore Project is recognised as a world class magnetite iron ore asset.
“We are busy on a number of electrical contracts in the area and we also have two plumbers and one contract manager on site in Sierra Leone.
“We usually have anything up to nine members of staff in Sierra Leone at any one time and they work a six weeks on, two weeks off schedule.
“Our workers are loving it out there. They get on really well with the people of Sierra Leone and their work colleagues and they are enjoying it so much that on some occasions they do not bother returning home to Wales for their two-week break.
“Working conditions are, of course, very different to what it is like here in West Wales. The Sierra Leone climate is tropical. The average temperature is 26C (78.8F) and varies from around 26C (78.8F) to 36C (96.8F) during the year.
“The culture is very interesting and there are unexpected moments when you get to meet the local wildlife, such as the snakes!”
Mr Alexander added: “On the whole, though, it is a hugely enjoyable and rewarding experience for EMC Services workers and I am very proud of the work they are doing in Sierra Leone.”
Mike Condon, the Dawnus International Project Manager for the scheme, said: “We are delighted to have EMC on board as part of our project team.
“EMC and Dawnus have a long track record of working together in West Wales. It is great to have them alongside us 3,000 miles from home in Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leoneans like the Brits, but they love the Welsh even more!”
EMC Services has been in the news recently as it has been given planning permission for a new two-storey HQ in Heol Glasdwr in Parc Pensarn.
“This represents a significant move for us in what will soon be our 10th year in business,” said EMC director Neil Alexander. Mr Alexander, 41, added: “We currently have a staff of 30 and I am sure they will be delighted with the new HQ, which we expect to be completed before the end of this year.
“We have been at our current premises in Llanarthne for eight years and we have easily outgrown them. The new HQ has good road links and occupies a high profile site in what is rapidly becoming an important new development area in Carmarthen.”
EMC Services has a an extensive portfolio in the electrical field offering services spanning domestic, industrial, commercial, maintenance, street lighting, portable testing, installation testing, emergency lighting and fire alarms.
The firm also offers design and build services, contract management, project supervision and service contracts.
For more information visit http://www.emc-services.co.uk
