Of these many railways across the globe, which are becoming bigger, faster and longer today, The Steel Wire explores two recently established railway systems that opened limitless opportunities for the countries they connect.

The World’s Longest Tunnel Through the Alps

The world’s longest and deepest train tunnel officially opened in December 2016, after nearly two decades and USD 12.5 billion worth of construction work in Switzerland. The new 35-mile or nearly 57km tunnel was designed to replace the previous tunnel, which had limited train speed and cargo capacity as it would wind up, down and around the Alps.  

The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT), which can carry passengers deep under the Swiss Alps from Zurich to Lugano, has been praised across Europe for improving connectivity from Rotterdam to the Adriatic and revolutionizing European freight and passenger transportation. The almost perfectly flat pass allows high-speed passenger trains and heavy freight trains with twice the cargo to race through up to 155 mph. The efficiency and reliability of rail freight traffic and increased transport capacity of the route will allow as many as 260 freight trains to pass through the GBT every day (the maximum number was 180 for the previous mountain route).

The Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT) in Switzerland, the first flat route through the Alps (Source: Zacharie Grossen)

The GBT was deemed one of the biggest engineering feats in Swiss history. The Alps have always posed an obstacle to trains traveling between the North Sea and the Mediterranean due to zones of stone that had been crushed to bits as the Alps formed. Throughout construction, project engineers were constantly battling the pressure from the Alps and the humidity inside the tunnel.

So how were they able to dig the longest tunnel ever, perfectly level, through the base of the Alps?

In order to keep the pressure of the Alps from crushing the tunnel, specially designed steel reinforcements were used for tunnels and flexible beams that had moving parts held together with clasps. Ventilation was of the utmost importance for the project engineers to fight close to 100 percent humidity and 115 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. Nine-mile long ventilation tunnels were designed to bring fresh air into the tunnel.

This behind-the scenes video provides an immersive 360-degree look into the tremendous amount of work that’s been put into building the GBT.

The tunnel has overtaken Japan’s 53.9km Seikan rail tunnel as the longest in the world and pushed the 50.5km Channel Tunnel linking the UK and France into third place. This new world record may not last long though as China has recently announced plans to link the northern port cities of Dalian and Yantai under the Bohai Strait with a railroad that is an estimated 76 miles (123km) long.

Chinese-funded Railways Linking East Africa

Another recently completed railway project is the Chinese-backed electric railway across Africa, which officially began operation in October 2016. The electrified and environmentally friendly project will replace the previous, diesel-powered Addis Ababa-Djibouti line.  

The project was initiated when a pre-feasibility study conducted in 2007 showed the importance of renovating the line from an economic and financial perspective. This 466-mile or 750 km long tunnel is expected to cut travel time between the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and the port in Djibouti from three days by road to 12 hours by rail. The express line will also help optimize trade by giving businesses and passengers a cheaper and safer alternative to the notoriously dangerous trip between the two cities that are often clogged with cargo trucks.  

Africa’s first fully electrified cross-border railway connecting Ethiopia and Djibouti (Source: AFP)

According to Transport CS James Macharia, “The laying of the tracks in itself will have a huge impact on the GDP even before completion of the project. Local businesses are expected to contribute up to 40 percent of all supplies whilst more than 50,000 Kenyans will be employed either directly or indirectly by the project.”

The USD 4 billion project was built by China Railway Group and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and partly financed by Chinese banks. Why did China see the railway as an investment opportunity?

China has provided about USD 12 billion in loans to Ethiopia since 2000, and is Ethiopia’s main trading partner for exports and imports. The railway construction will not only reduce the cost of doing business but will further create an export market for China’s booming steel and construction industries. According to Deborah Brautigam, professor of international political economy and director of SAIS-CARI, “They have overcapacity in China. They have steel that they want to use. They’ve got experienced companies that know how to build railways.”

These recently built railway systems show just how far reaching railway innovation and engineering have become. The world today would be unimaginable without these advancements. What other industries and businesses are next to evolve thanks to railway innovation?   

The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation received thank-you letters and gifts from residents of the villages in Ethiopia. It has been supporting various programs such as water line expansion and agricultural education in three villages, Debeso, Adulala and Handode. Furthermore, POSCO family volunteering groups have traveled to the villages between 2012 and 2014, to lend a helping hand.

Children from the Adulala village play in the water at the water supply facility supported by POSCO

Starting with the organization of a new community board and a youth association, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation also constructed a village hall and established a residents association, while reigniting a sense of ownership and promoting harmony through “can do” activities.

In addition, the quality of life of the villagers was greatly improved by constructing new roads and introducing solar-powered lantern systems. The quality of the education for children was also significantly improved by building libraries and kindergarten classrooms. Particularly, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation contributed to solving the the most urgent issue of access to clean drinking water by constructing rainwater tanks and a reservoir for the supply of water for agricultural use. The water tanks will provide drinking water for villagers and for livestock.

After all these projects, villages can see positive changes. Most of all, the energy has been revitalized and the average income increased. Children can now work and study at the same time. Villagers expressed their gratitude by delivering thank-you letters and handmade crafts to the members of the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation. “I will never forget the POSCO employees who helped us enjoy the benefits of these various projects,” said the letter from Zanaba Akabiya in Adulala.

Meanwhile, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation will continue to support their sustainable businesses until the end of the year, even after the foundation closes. A representative of the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation said, “A bank for livestock, a village hall and the water tanks will be operated and managed by villagers while businesses with less profit and low sustainability will close.”

2013 POSCO Family Ethiopia Volunteer Corps
Since 2012, POSCO has been annually sending a selected volunteer group to Handode, Debeso and Adulala village, the Saemaeul Movement model communities. To differentiate with common aids, the POSCO Family Ethiopia Volunteer Corps is leading programs that reflect local needs and encourage residents’ participation.

The 2013 Volunteer Corps operated small business projects such as basket-making, needlecraft training and poultry distribution while also running a model farm to educate farming skills for onion, corn and tomato. Moreover, the volunteers improved the townspeople’s living environment by constructing a town entrance and a reservoir. The corps consistently provided a safe playground and a kindergarten to provide education for children before their entrance to elementary school. In addition, the corps implemented regular medical education about waterborne disease prevention and birth control. Through cooperation with KOICA’s joint medical team, the corps also operated a mobile hospital for the community.

Interview with a POSCO Family Volunteer
To learn more about the volunteer works, let’s listen to the firsthand stories of Ms. Youn, Ji-hye who has recently returned from community project in Adulala village, Ethiopia. She is a daughter of Youn, Hyun-sun, the Manager of Gwangyang Steelworks Iron-making Dept.

Please describe your business project in Adulala village

Among a number of business projects, we put the most efforts on ‘handicrafts business for local women’. The project is about gathering local women who are unemployed but possess skills to create handicrafts such as baskets and picture frames. In order to produce distinctive handicrafts, we varied the products in different sizes and studied craft designs with the women in the village. With such endeavor to develop the business, the local women received about 3,000 birr per month and 15,000 birr on the last month of the term. After making the largest profit, all of us had delicious lunch at a recreation forest in the neighborhood. I still have a vivid memory of them singing and dancing happily even when we came back to the village.

In what ways did you help them gain self-reliance?
Previously, the women at the village used to spend their days delivering water or looking after their children. After participating in the handicraft business, however, they now have incomes. We created savings accounts for them to save the income and prevent immediate spending. Rather than rewarding for each sale, we gave out money in envelopes once a month. Moreover, to inform the significance of common fund, we always saved 10% of sales profit in the common fund account. As a result, many women learned the joy of saving and even desired to visit banks on their payday to save their salaries. I personally felt delightful because I believe we have delivered hopes that rewards follow after hard works.

What have you learned from the volunteering activities in Ethiopia

Many overseas volunteers often say that they ‘went to offer help but rather received it’. After 14 months of volunteering, I am having the same idea. Although I was the general manager of the business, many women who were older than my age called me, ‘my mother’ as they cheered and supported my work at the local community. I truly appreciated their genuine support. Every upsetting incidents at the village, I thought about my father who is currently working at POSCO in Korea. He must had a number of aggravating moments at work but he never complained at home. As I think of my father, I stood up again from occasional difficulties. I believe that arduous environments let you realize the importance of family. It seems that my activities in Ethiopia were the most valuable experience I had in life. In the future, I will always try to move forward by recalling the valuable memories from Ethiopia.

]]> https://newsroom.posco.com/en/daewoo-international-holds-eye-camp-myanmar-support-patients-eye-disease/ Fri, 06 Sep 2013 18:43:22 +0000 Along with Vision Care, an international voluntary group supporting blinded people, Daewoo International opened up ‘Eye Camp’ in Myanmar to give medical assistance to local residents and those suffering from eye disease in Yangon, Myanmar. Eye Camp, which was also held in Ethiopia, Indonesia and Cambodia, aims to support residents living in underdeveloped countries who cannot afford sufficient medical treatment. So far, the initiative has assisted 1,600 patients around the world.

From August 12th to 16th, volunteers from Daewoo International, Vision Care and the employees working at Daewoo International’s trade office in Myanmar teamed up to visit the city of Yangon. During the CSR activity, the volunteers provided medical supports for about 400 cataract and strabismus patients. They also shared bottles of clean water and snacks to accommodate the patients.

Park Jeong-hwan, the vice president of Daewoo International, appreciated the efforts by Daewoo International employees and volunteers and said, “Myanmar holds a significant meaning to us because we succeeded in developing the gas field after 13 years of exertion.” “Also, Daewoo International is operating CSR activities by building hospitals and schools, as well as providing disaster rehabilitation. Giving medial supports for patients at Eye Camp is very worthwhile and happy engagement,” he added.

Daewoo International is also planning to hold another Eye Camp in Indonesia in November to show compassion for the people in needs with free eye operations and treatments.

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Participating in Eye Camp – Worth More Than Anything

Written by Lee Jeong-seok (Thick Plate – Team 1)

Being away from my everyday routine at the office was a new experience. When I started volunteering for Eye Camp, I worked in a sterilizing room next to an operating room, not in front of my PC and monitor. I was very confused in the beginning about my tasks but everything came in order as time went by.

The cataract operations our medical team provided on the site were operated through removing blurred crystalline lenses and replacing them with new ones. It is an outdated method but also, it was the best commitment we could do under the local circumstance.

By looking at the medical teams who were sincerely doing their jobs for the patients in desperation, my heart was overwhelmed with warmth and my sincerity for volunteering at this program grew even bigger.

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity and is intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. As I participated in Eye camp, I learned that when you hope to do voluntary work for other people, you don’t need to be better than someone else. All you need is just a strong enough will for helping others.

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From 2011, POSCO brought the famous economic movement back from the past and utilized its know-hows and spirits in order to tackle poverty shadowing certain areas in Africa and Asia. ‘Hello, POSCO’ gives you POSCO’s exciting journey as a missionary of New Community Movement.

POSCO’s customized global CSR activities for different countries

Every country has different industries it needs to develop upon. For instance, Mozambique needs specialized agriculture technologies while Zimbabwe requires tailored education for the next generation farmers. New villages should be constructed for Ethiopia and New Community Movement is being adopted by the communities in Vietnam and Mongolia. POSCO listens carefully to the voices and has been giving helping hands for those who need appropriate measures to overcome currently facing difficulties. For this reason, POSCO is carefully designing New Community Movements so the communities can genuinely benefited from the corporate’s social responsibility activities in Africa and Asia.

Supporting next generation farmers’ training in Mozambique and Zimbabwe

In cooperation with the KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency), POSCO is managing Agriculture Training Facilities in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, supporting those who dream of becoming proud farmers to revitalize the nations’ economy. Mr. Nelson, who is amongst the first graduates of the program, expressed his gratitude for the training he received as it changed the course of his life completely.

Before coming to this training facility, I was like a piece of white paper, with no knowledge or skills whatsoever. Now, I know how to do farming and breeding livestock. I’ve become confident of getting paid for the works I do.

Since the facilities opened their doors in February, 2012, the number of people achieving new dreams and futures is increasing in Africa. POSCO has continuously been supporting the registered students with educations for New Community Movement spirit and advanced agriculture technologies so they can economically stand on their own feet.

New Community Movement Leaders build new villages in Ethiopia

POSCO, the KOICA and Gyeongsangbuk Province jointly dispatched a volunteer group, the New Community Leaders to Ethiopia. They are visiting local villages with poor surroundings to build new fire pots and chimneys. In 2012, the News Community Leaders built about 150 fire pots in three Ethiopian villages to improve their quality of life. Also, they are teaching the people to learn how to farm, sew and breed livestock so they can have competences to earn their own livings.

Myeong-ki Hong is one of the New Community Leaders in Ethiopia. For ‘Hello, POSCO’, he shared his experience and sentiments from volunteering for the initiative.

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Q. Can you tell us about your mission in Ethiopia?

[dropcap style=”1″ size=”3″]I[/dropcap] mainly work with the locals on teaching sewing skills. The sessions are headed by an Ethiopian tutor and my job is to prepare necessary kits and set regulations for the education program. I am also in charge of accountancy to deal with banking issues. In Ethiopia, the system is not at the level you would expect and sometimes it takes more than three hours to have your turn. But, I find it quite amusing because the people working in banks are really friendly to me. Maybe they find me interesting because I am a foreigner.

Q. When did you find your stay in Ethiopia most worthwhile?

[dropcap style=”1″ size=”3″]T[/dropcap]he village and our basecamp are quite far away from each other so we need a car to move from one place to another. When we are travelling by cars, the villagers wave their hands with welcoming sentiments. It wasn’t like that when we first got here because they were not familiar with foreigners like us. The locals, who used to be uncooperative, are now working with us really well with great enthusiasm. Whenever I see this, I feel a great joy with a thought that “We are genuinely living with the locals.”

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Asia, improved living condition and quality of life

POSCO is also engaging with various parts in Asia wherever our helps are needed. POSCO is introducing a series of social responsibility activities in order to help the locals to improve their quality of life and ability for self-reliance. In Vietnam, POSCO, POSCO Vietnam, POSCO Special Steal and POSCO ICT are closely working together to construct ‘Dream Village’ in Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province since 2011.

We have also established a local development education center in Jargalant in Mongolia to help nomads living in the area to maximize their profits from farming. A remote village in Indonesia was also reached by POSCO as we worked together to repair an old school and the surroundings to improve their living condition.

POSCO’s global New Community Movement has also been selected as the superb case for CSR activities. As we have witnessed above, POSCO’s kind and loving hands are embracing Africa and Asia, delivering hopes for everyone. POSCO is planning to expand New Community Movement to other regions and ‘Hello, POSCO’ will follow the track.