When setting up a new exploration venture organisation, the following guidelines are recommendd for arranging expatriate accomodations:
- Expatriate staff should be provided with accommodation up to the standard to which they are accustomed.
- Availability of a hospital, shops and other social facilities should be taken into account.
- In the capital of developing counties there is a well-defined area where expatriates such as staff of embassies, aid organisations and other multinational companies tend to live. This would be the first choice of location.
- In tropical areas it is recommended to supply air-conditioners in living-room and all bedrooms, with the possibility of fitting one in the kitchen if the wife is planning to do the family cooking herself.
- “windows” AC units are more noisy but have the advantages that if one breaks down the house remains cooled by the remainder and that they can quickly be replaced by a refurbished unit while repairs are done in a workshop.
- “Split-level” AC units remove the noisy compressors from the living areas and may also be more efficient, with one central compressor serving several room units. The disadvantage is that repairs have to be done on site.
- Many cities in developing areas do not have a reliable electricity supply (variable voltage and frequent interruptions). Household equipment either will not run or will break down frequently. Refrigerators/deep freezers and air-conditioners are particularly susceptible to damage. They can be protected by cut-outs which switch them off when the voltage drops below a certain value. If the voltage is often low, the only solution is to install a 25 KVA in each house.
- Cooking should be done by gas so that water can still be boiled when there is no power.
- If water supply is likely to be a problem, each house should have sufficient storage to deal with a two or three days break in the supply, assuming a consumption of 1 m3/day per household. If the domestic storage tanks are at ground level a power cut will immediately cut off all water supplies. In an area prone to power cuts either the water tanks should be in the roof or, even if a decision has been made not to provide a large generator to cope with extended power cuts, a small generator of 3-4 KVA should be supplied. If there is a header tank in the roof, with main storage at ground level, one generator could be shared between several households. In some areas it may be possible to supply staff houses with water from bowsers.
- If there are problems with power and water supplies they will have more impact in multi-storey buildings. Not only will there be additional problems with lifts but the installation of a generator and supplementary water supplies by means of a bowser will probably not be feasible.
- The effect of the above-mentioned difficulties on the morale of staff should not be under-estimated.
- If difficulties of this sort are foreseen, consideration could be given to housing staff in a more or less compact group of houses, and providing central facilities.
- Water filtration/ treatment unit