PROJECT INFORMATION
| Client: | Department of Public Works |
| Main contractor: | Nolitha (Pty) Ltd |
| JV partners | |
| Date: | |
| Location: | Vesleskarvet, Queen Maud Land, Antarctica |
| Challenge: | Critical infrastructure had reached end-of-life, threatening the safety and continuity of South Africa’s Antarctic research programme. |
| Solution: | Atana designed and administered phased upgrades of all core systems with energy-efficient, low-maintenance technologies tailored for Antarctica’s extreme conditions. |
| Impact: | A resilient, sustainable SANAE IV base ready for the next generation of science. Improved system reliability, lower fuel and water use. A safer working environment for researchers and personnel. |
Keeping the lights on at -20ºC
In 2015 the Department of Public Works brought Atana on board to refurbish SANAE IV. But with access limited to the Antarctic’s summer months, all work had to be done in a narrow December-February window.
Atana’s challenge? Redesign critical life-sustaining infrastructure in one of the most extreme and isolated environments on Earth without interrupting operations, compromising safety or harming the ecosystem.
Modern systems, minimal footprint
Works spanned Blocks A, B, and C, covering laboratories, medical areas, kitchens, laundries, cold storage, helideck lifting platforms, and structural enhancements like fire escapes, walkways and safety nets.
What Atana upgraded:
- HVAC system: A full heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrade, including advanced heat recovery systems
- Power generation: Modernised power generation using cleaner, more fuel-efficient engines with heat recovery
- Snow-to-water solutions: A new high-capacity snow smelter and integrated water filtration and reticulation systems
- Water-saving drainage: A vacuum drainage system that reduces water use by 70%
- Effluent treatment: A membrane-based effluent treatment plant with sludge capture and safe disposal protocols
- Electrical systems: Including new distribution boxes, backup batteries, LED lighting, and copper rails for power efficiency
- Off-site control technology: A comprehensive Building Management System (BMS) for real-time control and energy monitoring.
How Atana managed under extreme conditions:
- New systems were pre-assembled and tested in Cape Town before being shipped to Antarctica and transported 250 km inland by Caterpillar train.
- Refurbishments were modular, low maintenance, and designed for ease of installation and use by a small on-site team.
- Old systems were only decommissioned once new systems went live.
- All materials and waste, including sludge and grease, were returned to South Africa for safe disposal, to comply with strict environmental regulations.
Engineering solutions begin with a conversation.
Beyond construction, Atana successfully:
- Ensured compliance with local and international environmental standards;
- Tailored systems to accommodate seasonal population shifts;
- Maintained uninterrupted research and operations;
- Delivered significant reductions in energy and water use; and
- Coordinated delivery across four seasons despite weather-related delays.
Twenty more years of discovery
The SANAE IV refurbishment earned the CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Award for Best International Project.
As the only road that crosses the summit of the Drakensberg Mountain range, Sani Pass’s steep switchbacks, loose gravel, and sudden weather changes meant local communities faced dangerous journeys to access schools, healthcare, and trade routes.
But after nearly two decades of 24/7 operation, its systems were well past their prime. Power systems, water supply, waste management and heating – all critical to survival in Antarctica – were in dire straits.
Calcium and magnesium build-up caused “hard water,” which began to solidify – and clog pipes.
Many roads and vehicles were in poor condition, and safe, reliable transport remained out of reach for thousands.
Atana supported both projects through project management and Clerk of Works services spanning planning, design, procurement, contract administration and construction monitoring.
Designed and delivered by Atana as the primary engineering consultant, the project combines sustainability, speed, and technical ingenuity.
