TDI, which provides commercial clearance and remote logistics solutions, outlines some recent successes in the region
TDI recently won a contract working with WesternGeco in Kuwait to provide a UXO (unexploded ordnance) search capacity capable of locating UXO and any other explosive hazardous material which may hinder or compromise the safety of WesternGeco’s seismic survey operations as they traverse the area.
During the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait from August 1990 through until February 1991, Saddam Hussein’s forces laid over two million land mines in staggered minefields along the country’s southern and western borders in an effort to deter any incursion by Coalition forces. These minefields were originally cleared in 1993, however the methodologies used were perhaps not as robust as they are today, and live mines still remain in the ground, although the concentration of these is not known. Certainly, during TDI’s time working in support of WesternGeco in 2006-2007 a number of mines were located in what were known to be previously cleared areas.
There will be two separate capacities. One will conduct Battle Area Clearance working ahead of the seismic survey teams, ensuring that all UXO and other explosive hazardous materials are located and clearly marked for subsequent removal or destruction in situ by the Kuwaiti MOD EOD (Explosive Ordnance) Team. The second will involve clearance of the seismic corridor through the mine fields identified by WesternGeco.
TDI will deploy a mine clearance capacity to clear corridors through suspected minefields along predefined seismic lines as well as a robust management, administration and logistics support capacity to ensure a high level of co-ordination with all stakeholders.
Somalia project closes
TDI has also recently completed two contracts in Somalia. The first, for stabilising newly recovered areas and consolidating national capacities to manage the explosive threat in south central Somalia, involved the deployment of two explosive ordnance disposal teams and three mine risk education teams in Hiran Province. The second, for emergency mine action and rehabilitation through demining in south central Somalia, involved deploying four manual clearance teams, four explosive ordnance disposal teams and four mine risk education teams. 33,137 people received mine risk education, and 2,553 pieces of ordnance were dealt with by TDI teams.
Work in Mali a success
TDI are currently engaged on a project with United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) supporting their mine action efforts in Gao and Timbuktu. The TDI Mali Operations Manager along with UNMAS and FAMA conducted an inspection of approximately 100 SA3 missiles, which are are currently being dismantled and destroyed by TDI teams.
All EOD and missile attached staff are undergoing on-the-job training with the emphasis on demolitions and SA3 missiles dismantlement and destruction.
Continuing work in South Sudan
For the 2014-2015 demining period, TDI will deploy four Multi Task Teams to conduct survey and clearance tasks, along with community liaison and risk education as per UNOPS/UNMAS requirements.
South Sudan has been involved in the longest running conflict in Africa, and the remaining mines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) continue to kill, maim, obstruct humanitarian aid and impede development, while recent instability means that many towns and roads previously cleared may now again be contaminated with mines and other ERW.
“As a result of the conducting of Multi TaskTeam operations from 2011 through to 2014, as well as several seasons of Multi Task Teams and Mine Action Support Teams during 2010 and 2011, we feel we are well equipped to begin this job with relative ease,” says Ian Anderson, operations manager.
