Lekela is an international organisation, with our people based in Senegal, Egypt, South Africa and the UK. We want to shine a light on the amazing work our people do across Africa and in Europe and hear directly from our employees on what life at Lekela is really like.
Each month, we’re speaking to different employees across Lekela to hear what they’re working on and what led them to this industry.
Today we’re speaking to Badea Wagih, QHSSE Head at West Bakr Wind Farm, our 252 MW wind project in Egypt. Read below for some of Badea’s thoughts on what led him to renewables and what a day in his life at work is like.
What led you to a career in renewables and to Lekela?
There’s an element of coincidence in how I developed my interest and knowledge in renewables: a job I had nine years ago began managing several renewable energy projects and I was part of the team assigned to manage them. This opened my eyes to the importance of the field and the role it could play in the future.
Then I got an opportunity to work as a HSE Advisor at one of the biggest industrial companies in wind energy, following which I was promoted to work as Deputy HSE Manager. I joined West Bakr Wind Farm at the start of the project, watching as it went through construction and achieving commercial operations. With the start of the Operation and Maintenance phase of WBWF, I joined Lekela as the Quality, Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (QHSSE) Head, continuing to maintain a safe and secure environment for the project.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
This is the fifth wind energy project I have worked on. Working inside a wind turbine is a unique joy, as is ensuring that everyone and everything is safe and secure by implementing occupational health and safety policies and procedures. I enjoy providing a safe work environment and keeping an eye on the team’s daily work to ensure that health and safety becomes part of our culture. Lekela as a company is keen on the continuous development of the team, and that there are open channels of communication between all Lekela employees and functions up to CEO level. It’s great how I’ve been able to keep learning while working at Lekela – it’s like a football match when you’re playing with a highly skilled and synchronised team!
What does a day in your life at work look like?
My role as the QHSSE Head at Wes Bakr Wind Farm puts me at the centre of activities on site, as I have to follow and ensure compliance with lender, stakeholder and local authority QHSSE obligations, as well as Lekela’s international standards. I participate in coordination meetings with contractors and stakeholders, and make sure that Lekela’s business partners also experience a safe and secure work environment.
On a daily basis, I review planning activities, prepare QHSSE management plans and support the wider Operations and Management team to implement and achieve full compliance with the plans. Another important part of my daily activities is increasing awareness of health and safety for all team members including those based in the office, which also involves arranging required training.
Is there anything else about your time at Lekela that you’d like to tell us about?
Lekela is Africa’s largest pure-play Independent Power Producer . With its experienced team and commitment to the highest global health and safety standards, Lekela has created a great working environment. At West Bakr Wind Farm, we have achieved nearly 2.5 million safe working hours free from lost time injuries, and will continue working to make this number bigger and bigger.