Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1103271
10.04.19 10 INTERVIEW What does the training you offer consist in? Our services cover the wide breadth of international mine action standards, from entry, through intermediate, to ad- vanced bomb disposal and counter-improvised explosive defeat speciality areas. Within this there are other disciplines such as Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Risk Management for non-tech- nical personnel - awareness and mitigation, Ammunition Stockpile Management, Med- ical Team Orderlies, drone operators pilot training and also Post Blast Scene Man- agement and Advanced Elec- tronics. There are also more specialist courses which are subject to confidentiality. How did you become a bomb disposal expert? What is your background? My formative years were spent in the British Army. Af- ter I left the army, I worked around the world in the sec- tor of Humanitarian Mine Action. Why did you choose to base Praedium Consulting in Malta? Malta was chosen initially as I was operating in Libya, so initially proximity was the driver. I then moved my fam- ily to Malta and subsequently became the technical advisor to the oil and gas companies, advising on the dangerous ar- eas of Libya pertaining to the unexploded ordnance issues. In 2015 Praedium Consult- ing Malta (PCM) was formed as a Maltese Registered Com- pany. While it's a new com- pany, it has benefitted from my and my staff 's experience over years of operations. I have been in the civil side of the business for 29 years. PCM has filled a void in the industry by specialising and increasing standards through exceptional training, some- thing which was missing be- fore 2015. In which countries have you given your services to clear mines? I've cleared mines in Ku- wait, Northern Ireland, Af- ghanistan, Iraq, Syria, DRC, Uganda, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, the Falkland Islands, Rwanda and many more besides. The first thing which springs to mind when speaking about mine clearing is the danger that this involves. Emotionally, how do you deal with the risk? I am able to be detached and work consciously and of- ten with a surgical approach. Emotions do factor in of course. However, I suppose I am an unusual character – but I am not sure! Has anyone in your team lost their life in the course of their work? My team has have never lost anyone directly. In Kuwait, within the organisation, we lost several guys – friends – and since then I have known many who have made the ulti- mate sacrifice. But PCM has a 100% safety record, standards and safety being my main concern. Which was/is the most dangerous clearance project you have had? It has to be Kuwait in 1991, after the first Gulf War. This was way before recognised standards and procedures were implemented. It's sur- prising more of us were not killed or seriously injured in the course of our work. Was there a particular incident in the course of your work to clear mines which remained particularly imprinted in Up close and personal with a mine clearing expert In Kuwait, within the organisation, we lost several guys – friends – and since then I have known many who have made the ultimate sacrifice Business Today speaks to Ben Remfrey, managing director of Praedium Consulting Malta, specialists in training NGOs and governments in mine clearing. During EY Malta's recently held Entrepreneur of the Year Award he won the Rising Star award, sponsored by Melita MASSIMO COSTA