INTEROP AG
Interop as founding partner of the AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE CONSORTIUM is designing and building several major projects in the new Republic of South Sudan (RSS). This country recently achieved independence on July 9th, 2011. Interop wrote the Master Plan to build its crucial infrastructure, starting with its present capital in Juba and considerable surrounding territory.
Interop first visited South Sudan (RSS) in 1969 and again from 1976-1987 while drilling for petroleum exploration with Chevron, Bechtel, DeGolyer McNaughton and others. 
In the 1990's, Interop flew into South Sudan with mercy flights of WFP food and medicines from Lochichokio, Kenya and Entebbe, Uganda.
Unfortunately, 40 years of civil war left the region too unstable for major development. Interop, in partnership with world class companies has designed, will build, own and operate a number of projects including a Special Economic Zone for agro-industrial development, housing for local communities, a Customs Dry Port, petroleum infrastructure, power and financial institutions. This will change the landscape from the present survival huts into a modern, diversified and sustainable country for the region.
Juba, Commercial Capital of the RSS and Central Equatoria State
Interop has developed a Master Plan for the Development of a Special Economic Zone (Tax Free Agro-industrial Free Trade Zone) to include an Inland Container Hub and Customs Compound, Nile River Port, new Juba International Airport/Cargo Terminal, processing plants and an additional 300,000 acres of farmlands.
26,000 acres of land has been contracted by the Republic of South Sudan and Central Equatoria State on an exclusive 99 year lease to The Africa Infrastructure Consortium (AIC) via The Equatoria Infrastructure Development Consortium (EIDC), as partners of the Equatoria Investment Authority (EIA).
The African Infrastructure Consortium (founded and owned partly in partnership by Interop) will finance and bring investors from around the world to the Concession.
A second part of the Concession contains 3705 acres, consisting of Gondokoro Island. A Master Plan to develop the Financial and Commercial Capital for Juba has been completed with the substantial input of Peatfield Bodegener (architects and planners) in Kampala. This project will incorporate Branded Hotels, a University, a Hospital, Commercial Banking and Financial Center, residential and sports complexes including a National Stadium and PGA Level Golf Course.
A new Juba International Airport and Cargo Terminal
10,000 acres of new agro-industrial estates will turn the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) into the breadbasket of East Africa.
The Special Economic Zone (Tax Free Trade Area) will convert agricultural production into value-added food for export.
Special Economic Zone processes food and supply utilities to Juba
A National Petroleum Reserve, refinery and international pipeline to Lamu, Kenya will help to build a domestic petroleum and energy industry with diesel or co-generation electrical power production. Both Consortiums will be heavily involved in developing the petroleum, mining exploration and production throughout the Republic of South Sudan.
The Africa Infrastructure Consortium holds a primary position in developing the South Sudan component of the road, rail, pipeline, telecom and fibre optic Corridor from Juba to the Kenya border.
The chief role of the Consortium will be in operating and financing major projects as well as delivering acceptable Joint Ventures, clean land leases and titles, risk free concessions and operating agreements transparently and efficiently for foreign investors through the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency International) overview. The governments of RSS and CES are full partners of the Africa Infrastructure Consortium.
Nile River water will irrigate massive agricultural estates and supply hydro power to Juba and the Special Economic Zones
The agricultural region around Juba and South Sudan stand on the brink of becoming the Breadbasket, financial and commercial center of East Africa and most important petroleum and energy producer in the region.
It will also be a model for economic development in Africa by promoting Tax Free Private ownership, investment and production thereby avoiding corruption, a plague in Africa. As such, it may implement a Pan African Central Bank with a new gold/petroleum backed currency to replace AID dependency and foreign handouts.
Interop continues to promote a gold-and-commodities backed Pan African currency to be called the Afro. An African Central Bank with regional headquarters would print the currency and provide lending to Commercial and Central Banks throughout the continent, guaranteeing that Africa could trade its commodities with the outside world using its own currency.
Like the Swiss Franc, it would be only one of two hard currencies worldwide backed by gold, as well as Petroleum products, agricultural production and other minerals and products.
Interop AG has undertaken some very successful Master Plans, petroleum and mining ownerships, partnerships and consultancies. Interop successfully ran many multinational corporations over the past 40 years. This expertise helps it to run the Africa Infrastructure Consortium and the Equatoria Infrastructure Development Consortium.
In order to do this, Interop combined four decades of expertise worldwide in the development of major petroleum, mineral, and energy production projects from geology and exploration, Master Planning, detailed designs, construction, procurement, finance, management and operations.
Interop first operated in Canada, in the Flin Flin, Snow Lake, Lynn Lake, and Ruttan Lake Mines of Northern Manitoba, explored and developed mining projects in British Colombia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Labrador.
Interop has also worked on the road, rail, hydro power and other infrastructure requirements of Northern Canada with a view to creating whole new communities around new mining projects. Interop has also worked on various previous mining and infrastructure projects worldwide and a partial list is given below:
Interop worked with mining giant Vale with the new government of Guinea (Conakry) to build educational programs, training programs, roads, and other facilities which will remain as a permanent legacy to help the people of Guinea.
Interop has 47 years of experience working at levels from underground mining, airborne geophysics to CEO roles and Board Chairman for several global mining companies.
These include giants such as Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting, Sherritt International, Falconbridge, Bechtel Civil, Minerals and Metallurgy, RTZ, BHP Billiton, AngloAmerican and AngloAshanti, OMCO Copper Mine, De Beers and Debswana, America Mineral Fields, Hawk Uranium, and numerous other world class mining companies. Interop was on the original discovery team for one of the largest copper mines in Canada at Ruttan Lake, Northern Manitoba.
Ruttan Lake Copper Mine 
The company is also currently assessing the prospect of bringing the largest POTASH deposit in the US into full production with the construction of an underground dry mine, a mill, refinery and infrastructure (road, rail, power, natural gas and water).
The project has the capacity of delivering potash fertilizers to half the continental US food production markets.
Interop is assisting Vale SA, Vale International SA and Vale BSRG - Guinea with the construction and implementation of the world's largest iron ore mine to be built in the Republic of Guinea-Conakry, in West Africa.
The Simandou I and II, and Zogota projects consist of three new iron ore mines located in what is considered the largest reserve of iron ore in the world. Vale will build two new rail lines running from Conakry to KanKan and from the Simandou area to the port of Buchanan in Liberia.
Approximately 1000 miles of new and rehabilitated rail lines will be constructed. The project includes considerable new infrastructure to support the three open pit iron ore mines, mills, refineries, housing, educational and training facilities, ports, power projects, and telecoms, with a total project budget of +$8 billion.
Simandou Project in Guinea
Vale has undertaken a very pro-active and forward-thinking strategy of contributing to the long-term sustainability of Guinea as it progresses in the 21st Century. Guinea has elected a democratic government under its new President, His Excellency Alpha Conde.
Robert S. Stewart, Chairman of Interop AG is also the Chairman of Trimax Corp. The company has assessed a number of greenfields exploration plays for gold/copper mineral properties in Mexico, Ghana, Colombia, Canada and the U.S.
As CEO of Hawk Uranium Corp. (Toronto) Interop undertook a detailed investigation of several gold mining properties throughout Ghana (Kibi District).
Mr. Stewart has worked with a number of global giants in the world of finance, mining, metallurgy, construction, engineering, infrastructure, petroleum and telecoms. A partial list of some of these projects includes:
The acquisition of Tanga Cement from the Tanzania Government on behalf of Holcim AG, the world's largest cement producer, Thomas Schmeidheiny, Chairman, Rapperswil, Switzerland.
The contract for the construction of Murtalleh Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria, on behalf of the Chairmen of Strabag AG (Koln) and Krupp Stahl GmbH (now KruppThyssen, Essen).
Initiated the restoration and reconstruction of the landmark Swiss Chateau in Winnipeg, Canada called the "Pavilion in the Park" at Assinboine Park into a restaurant with the addition of an outdoor performing arts stage for open air summer performances.
Initiated and financed a dozen projects in Nigeria over 30 years including the construction of the national cellular telephone network for NITEL , the Murtalleh Mohammed Airport, Meridien Hotel (Lagos), Planning for the capital City of Plateau State (Jos), construction of the Savannah Sugar Project, Kiri Dam and many others ($2.5 bn).
Represented the Chairman of Falconbridge in the sale of Kilembe Mines Limted and Cobalt Stockpile with the President of Uganda.
Omco Copper Mine, OMCO, Sofar, Oman
Interop assisted in the procurement of materials and equipment for the construction of the OMCO Copper Mine in Sofar, Oman. This included a copper mine, mill, smelter, railway, slurry pipeline, roads, a townsite for 25,000 people, a co-generation power plant, a de-salination plant, and other infrastructure. The project ran continuously for 20 years and has since been converted in a port facility with an iron ore pelatizing plant owned by Vale SA of Brazil.
Represented the Chairmen of Krupp, Bechtel, Strabag, Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners (London), the Commonwealth Development Corporation (London) and Motorola. 
Wrote the National Master Plans for the Reconstruction of the DR Congo ($50 billion), Botswana Development, and the East African Union (Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania).
As Chairman of America Mineral Fields Inc., developed the world's largest cobalt stockpile project, the Kolwezi Tailings.
As CEO of Franklin Telecoms, operated the NATO Telecoms throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia. 
Built the world's first VoIP long distance telephone network.
Attended Annual World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings from 1976 - 2006. Frequently addressed the UN Annual Meetings of the UNCTAD (Geneva), WTO (Geneva), and was guest speaker at Crans Montana and Monte Carlo Annual CEO Summits.
Former Canadian diplomat who represented his country at G8 summits, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, UN, IMF and World Bank Summits.
Wrote, contributed to or was the object of several articles in leading global publications including the London Observer, The Financial Times of London, The Times of London, Le Jeune Afrique, The Economist, the New York Times, the Toronto Globe and Mail, die Neuer Zuercher Zeitung, and the Winnipeg Free Press.
Initiated, designed and built the Elephant Hills Country Club, Hotel and Golf Course at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This hotel hosted the 1991 Commonwealth Heads of Government hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. 76 Kings, Queens, and Presidents opened the hotel and attended the Summit.
Initiated the $1 billion Songo Songo Gas Field Project, gas wells, pipelines, and power plants to generate electricity for the TANESCO National Grid in Tanzania. The project included drilling nine wells into the natural formation in the Indian Ocean, building a pipeline underwater and on land to the capital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the construction of a co-generation gas-to-electricity plant.
