WRIT1 - Reflective Report: Trans Saharan Mega Project Case Study

This report provides a detailed analysis of the Trans-Saharan Mega Project, focusing on project management principles and complexities. It examines the project's history, feasibility, and the involvement of key stakeholders such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Sonatrach. The report delves into various constraints, including high costs, lengthy project routes, and stakeholder management. It also explores organizational and commercial environments, multiple stakeholder priorities, optimum bias, strategic misrepresentations, and the overall value of the project. Furthermore, it addresses complexities in phase-by-phase management, supply chain management, strategic risk management, governance, cost/time control practices, change management, lessons learned, gaps analysis, and sustainability. The report concludes with an overview of the project's value and potential challenges, offering insights into the strategic implications and complexities associated with this mega project.

Running head: TRANS SAHARAN MEGA PROJECT
Trans Saharan Mega Project
Name of the student:
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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Project Management...................................................................................................................3
Programme Management...........................................................................................................4
Complexity in the Business........................................................................................................4
Organisational and Commercial Environment...........................................................................5
Multiple Stakeholders priorities and complexities.....................................................................5
Optimum Bias............................................................................................................................6
Strategic Misrepresentation of the inherent benefit...................................................................7
Value of this Mega Project.........................................................................................................8
Complexities in Phase by Phase Management.........................................................................10
Supply Chain Management......................................................................................................10
Strategic Risk Management.....................................................................................................11
Governance..............................................................................................................................12
Cost/Time Control Practices....................................................................................................12
Change Management................................................................................................................13
Lessons Learnt and Lessons yet to be learnt............................................................................14
Gaps Analysis...........................................................................................................................14
Sustainability............................................................................................................................15
Conclusion................................................................................................................................15
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................17

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Introduction
The particular idea regarding the Trans Saharan project that dealt with the natural gas
pipeline development was initially proposed in 1970. The two most reputed organizations in
the fields of natural gas organizations that are Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and
Sonatrach (Algerian National Oil And Gas Company) came into agreement with the
Memorandum of Understanding regarding the development of the project. After this, the
feasibility study regarding the overall project was completed by the end of September 2006,
which presented the pipeline as technically as well as economically reliable and feasible. This
project is identified as one of the Mega as well as Complex Project.
The main aspect of this report will be dealing with the various constraints of the
project that are identified by me. These constraints will give a clear refection about my views
regarding the overall project management of this mega project. The strategic representations
of the project as well as the effective criteria in this project are viewed in accordance to my
view that are stated below.
Project Management
In accordance to my views the management of the Trans Saharan project is an entire
different structure regarding other projects as it include high costs, a numerous involvement
of the stakeholders, complexity in the boundaries as well as a long procedure for planning.
This insists me for thinking that the project might prevail many risks as this involves so many
criteria that too in a huge quantity. Some research work carried by me suggests that the usual
budget regarding a mega project is about $ 1 billion or more. However, the costs of a
megaproject cannot be defined in a prior basis as it involves a lot of planning procedure as
well as improvisation when the project is under execution. The definition of this mega project

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may be stated by the following five factors: high cost, great complexity, higher risks, higher
visibility and lofty principles.
Programme Management
The management of this projects programme was carried out with the formulation of a
series of a steps that is required out by the project management team of the Trans Saharan
project. According to me, the steps that are identified regarding the programme of the overall
Trans Saharan project may be stated by the figure provided below.
Complexity in the Business
According to my personal views the complexity associated with the Trans Saharan
project is that the route of the project is very lengthy that can cause the project for the
breakdown in the midst of the execution. Moreover, it has also been identified by me that the
cost analysis of the project might also be a complex factor regarding the execution of this
Design
Pre-Construction procedure
Procurement
Construction Procedure
Commissioning of the project
Occupancy of the owner
Project Closure

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mega project. The complexity in the Trans Saharan project is also identified as the opposition
that restricts for the smooth execution of the project.
Organisational and Commercial Environment
In view of the overall business environment of the Trans Saharan project I identified
certain negative factors that evolved regarding the aspects of the organisational environment
within the project. The perception regarding the organizational environment of the Trans
Saharan project is said to be an effective one as the project study reflects the well support of
the overall financial support when the project is under execution. According to me, the
commercial environment is also satisfying as all the stakeholders associated with the project
handles the execution smoothly by critically assessing the overall functionality of the project
requirements.
Multiple Stakeholders priorities and complexities
After observing the overall Trans Saharan project it can be determined that there are
multiple or numerous stakeholders associated with the project for the effective execution of
this mega project. The stakeholders may be categorized in two sectors, one being the
government and the other being the private. As this mega project is mainly associated with
the development of a large-scale project for the effective carrying down the quantity of the
natural gas throughout the year at the areas of Nigeria, Niger and Algeria. The Government
stakeholders as depicted by me after observing the case study are the financial providers for
the execution of the project as well as the decision for the effective execution of the project.
While the private stakeholders are said to be the suppliers of the raw materials, the machinery
required to carry out the project, the pipe suppliers and many more. The internal stakeholders
associated with the Trans Saharan Project are said to be the architect of the overall project,
the project manager regarding the management of the various sectors within the project. As

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observed, I can also depict that there is a presence of developer that are entirely associated
with the development of the project. The contractor who is associated with the distribution of
the various sections of the project are also a necessary stakeholder associated with the Trans
Saharan Project. Since this project is a mega construction project there is a positive chance
regarding the presence of Surveyor and Engineer.
According to me the priorities of the stakeholders is very necessary for coping with
the successful execution of the project. These are stated as the strategic implications of the
stakeholders associated with the mega project of the Trans Saharan Project. These is
necessary regarding the smooth execution of the procedure. This is because the complexity
will be associated in regards to the stakeholder management of the overall project. The
approach that are to be associated regarding the stakeholder management of the overall
project must be sustainable in regards to overall management of this mega project. The
government stakeholders associated with this project can be said to attain more complexity as
they take the effective decisions.
The approaches that are to be followed by the stakeholder management authority of
the Trans Saharan Project that are to be said as information, involvement, and collaboration
as well as ignoring the overall aspects of the mega project. This mega project requires the
involvement of the strategic implications regarding the stakeholder management within the
project.
Optimum Bias
The optimum bias is mainly said to be the difference between the perception of a
person regarding the project and the actual outcome of the project. This is said to be the fact
that the expectations regarding the project are way different from the real outcomes. This
difference is mainly focused as the Trans Saharan Project as this is a high scale project.

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According to me the optimum bias regarding the Trans Saharan Project might be factors that
the length of the overall project. Since this project is a lengthy one it is expected that, the
assumed time will not be sufficient regarding the project. This should be analysed with the
overall stakeholders associated with the project. As from research, we all know that the
optimum bias is associated with both positive as well as negative aspects of a project.
Moreover, according to my views the mega project of Trans Saharan has balanced effects
regarding its execution. The positive optimum may be suspected as the offering of the natural
gas resources to the large area if Nigeria, Niger as well as Algeria, which will facilitate to
carry out the export of this gas in an effective manner, whereas the huge project infrastructure
as well as the planning feasibility of the overall project is determined as the negative
optimum reasons regarding this mega project. Moreover, the opposition intervention
regarding the execution of the project is determined as one of the most important negative
optimum bias in case of the Trans Saharan Project.
Strategic Misrepresentation of the inherent benefit
The misinterpretation of the overall project cost will lead to the loss of the benefit
regarding the Trans Saharan project. This is observed by me in regards to the planning of the
huge infrastructure of this kind of mega project as there is a possibility of any kind of
intervention due to which the project execution might get hampered. Moreover the
misinformation regarding various constraints associated with the Trans Saharan project may
be depicted as one of the most important strategic misinterpretation which may lead the
project to a non-effective project execution procedure regarding the development of the
overall project. This is to identify the main gaps that are associated with eth project
implementation. This aspects might put an adverse effect regarding the overall execution of
the Trans Saharan project. As these project is observed to be huge in size as well as it possess

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a large number of manpower and machinery involved it can easily be expected that the
strategic planning was really necessary in accordance for the execution of the project.
The inappropriate strategic planning is depicted by me regarding the requirement of
funding from time to time as well as from various stakeholders. This id due to the fact that
the planning, estimation, budgeting of the overall budget was not done in an appropriate
manner prior the start of the project. Moreover the mobilisation of about $ 200 billion by the
government of Nigeria is expected to be the positive aspect regarding the project that tend to
provide effective solutions regarding the final stage of the project.
Value of this Mega Project
According to my views the overall value of the Trans Saharan project is on a global
scale. The export of the natural gas resource to various parts of South Africa is determined as
the most important goal regarding the project. The value of such a mega project lies in the
following facts that are identified by me.
 Concerns involved with the stakeholders: These are said to be the concerns that are
related to the scope of the involvement of the associated stakeholders with the Trans
Saharan project. Moreover this also includes the process of involvement, the
scheduling of the overall project as well as the evaluation criteria regarding the design
and the alternatives.
 Concerns regarding system performance: The value of Trans Saharan project also
depends on the overall performance of the attributes regarding the systems of the
infrastructure regarding the Trans Saharan project. This includes the comfort provide
by the export of the gas, the capacity of the pipelines that will be carrying the gas and
many more. This concerns mainly depends on the factors of end users and the desired
or defined specifications. The performance of the overall project is identified as an

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important aspect but this is sometimes compromised as this type of project involves
various number of stakeholders.
 The concerns regarding environment: This concerns are also depicted as the important
aspects regarding the environmental feasibility of the Trans Saharan project. This
includes the vibration, air pollution, change of climate, change in soil quality wildlife
as well as visual intrusion. Many social workers as well as teams are working with the
project management committee of the Trans Saharan project to meet up with the
various constraints that relates this project with the environmental factors.
 Safety Concerns: By successfully going through the overall project schema and
structure I can understand that this level of project is associated with huge safety
concerns with it. These concerns addresses both the safety within the project area as
well as the operational safety of the project. This safety measures includes the safety
of the workers that are directly employed with the Trans Saharan project, the usage of
the machinery regarding the construction of the Trans Saharan project, and the overall
execution procedure that prevails any kind of safety regarding the Trans Saharan
project. The effective communication among the various stakeholders as well as the
information regarding the safety issues provided to the end users will help the Trans
Saharan project more sustainable regarding the safety concerns associated with it.
 Social concerns: This may be depicted as the various issues regarding the welfare of
the whole society. In my views the social concerns that are related to the Trans
Saharan project includes the effective delivery of the gas resources to the various
parts of South Africa, this will provide a great help to the people that uses this type of
resource for their daily purposes. This also includes the negative aspects regarding the
health of the employees that are already being employed within the project.

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Preservation of the critical data for the Trans Saharan project is also a social concern
as this project can set an example for the future endeavours of alike projects.
Complexities in Phase by Phase Management
The phases involved in the management of the Trans Saharan project as observed by
me, is said to be executed with the help of five phases. These may be identified as the
initiation phase, planning phase, execution phase, performance and control phase as well as
project closure phase. These phases are strategically implied in accordance with the various
government as well as private stakeholders involved with the project. But there are certain
complexities in this mega project while the execution is under process of this kind of mega
project. Firstly the complexity that is identified with the planning phase is that the overall
budget as well as the whole infrastructure of the project is so big that the project management
committee cannot determine the overall cost of the Trans Saharan project. The proof of such
type of complexity is well identified by the fact that the budget of the overall project incurred
the demand of finance at different times. Such as the Nigeria government mobilisation of the
$ 200 billion at the middle of the project execution. Such instances are also identified within
the Trans Saharan project at various instances. So it can be well said that due to the reason
that the project is such a huge one it is very difficult to determine the overall project
infrastructure and budget that can cause the delay in the project and this delay can be for a
prolonged time as the re initiation of this project will take a long time to gather the
stakeholders and the workers alignment over the project lifecycle. Moreover, the lifecycle
phases associated with this mega project should have a review procedure or in my suggestion
the different project phases must be carried out maintain a cyclic procedure as the strategic
review of the previous stages of the lifecycle can yield the flaws associated with the project
and thus mitigating factors can be applied in accordance to the better execution of the project.

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Supply Chain Management
The supply chain management structure regarding the project can be identified with
the fact that the management of the requirements regarding the Trans Saharan project. This
involves the supply of the raw materials by the private stakeholders, the pipeline that is to be
laid is supplied by the raw material supplier, the total work progress inventory as well as the
overall delivery of the project in accordance to all the norms and conditions as stated in the
memorandum of understanding by the project stakeholders regarding the Trans Saharan
project. The supply chain management structure of the Trans Saharan project according to me
is an easy approach and at the same time it might be complicated. The industrial overview of
the project is so large in case of the Trans Saharan project that there might be complexities
for the overall execution of the project. As there are many instances present within the project
execution regarding the lack of the budget by the different project budget suppliers the supply
chain management for the project is disrupted causing a big delay of the overall project.
Strategic Risk Management
As the Trans Saharan project is implicated as a mega project due to its big structure
there might arise a great number of risks while the project is already under execution. The
strategic risk management may be carried out by the project execution authority should
consist of these steps that are likely to be Risk Identification, evaluation and quantification of
the risk and the final phase of the risk mitigation that can be done by the stakeholders already
present within the project or the implication of the external stakeholders are needed or not.
The risk management procedure must be carried out by a specific risk assessment team that
should be implied by the project committee of the Trans Saharan project. The risks that might
occur or had occurred in respect to the Trans Saharan project may be identified as the design
risks (associated with the overall design procedure as the design might be very big in case of
the Trans Saharan project it might not be viable to put right things perfectly on the first

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attempt), the legal risk that is associated with the legal as well as the socio political overview
regarding the Trans Saharan project as this project involves the Government as a prime
stakeholder for the smooth execution of the overall procedure of the Trans Saharan project.
Moreover, the contractual risks associated with the project might also put an adverse effect
regarding the project execution of the Trans Saharan project. The most important identified
risk with the Trans Saharan project may be depicted by me as the construction risk associated
with the project, as the construction is carried out on a large scale as well as the entire route
of the project is so complex that there might be issues with the execution of the construction
regarding the project. This project covers a vast route on the Mediterranean coast where the
carrying out of the construction is difficult with the help of machinery too.
Governance
According to me the governance regarding the overall structure of the project is very
necessary as well as it should be done by distributing the overall project structure into various
phase and a dedicated Governing body will keep the overview of the whole project of Trans
Saharan. The Governance will be very necessary in regards to the fact that the huge project
cannot be executed without the presence of any flaws. These flaws needs to be identified as
quickly as possible so that the project execution is done effectively and the project can be
finished within due course. There is also a lot of finance associated with the mega project that
is the pipeline investment requires an approximate of US $ 10 billion, the gas gathering cost
is about US $ 3 billion and many more constraints are associated which must be governed in
accordance to the smooth execution of the overall project.
Cost/Time Control Practices
The investment costs regarding the Trans Saharan project is of huge cost investment
associated with the execution of the project. The total budget as depicted by me after