African Review February 2012

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Europe €10, Ghana C1.8, Kenya Ksh200, Nigeria N330, South Africa R25, UK £7, USA $12

February 2012

African Review of Business and Technology

P56

February 2012

Efficiency gains at platinum mine

Volume 47 Number 10

P54

Building up

power for better industry www.africanreview.com

Mining:

Construction:

Technology:

Sustainability on show at African Indaba P58

Roadbuilding technology and practices P48

Information security in West Africa P32


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UP FRONT

Editor’s Note

www.africanreview.com

Europe €10, Ghana C1.8, Kenya Ksh200, Nigeria N330, South Africa R25, UK £7, USA $12

February 2012

P56

Efficiency gains at platinum mine

I

s the economic, industrial and commercial base in Africa improving, on balance? Reading through these pages, you would be obliged to answer affirmatively. Much seems positive - foreign direct investment, modernisation, environmental issues, agriculture, education and training, and governance, all appear to benefit from private and public sector imperatives. Moreover, the pace of knowledge development is increasing dramatically - and new technologies have a powerful role to play in creating sustainable solutions for sub-sectors in the fields of energy, construction, and mining. And herein lies a path of sustainable economic success; consider that the more intelligently the generation, provision and consumption of energy, the more intelligence can be applied to optimise processes and engagement with markets. So, the reports you may read inform you of refinement of energy distribution in Cameroon, the expansion of a power station in South Africa, advances in the construction of roads and runways, investment vehicles for transport infrastructure in the Gambia, and new efficiencies in mining operations. The information you may digest, the message you may understand, is that business is better, and that whilst the continent’s economic imbalances remain, the business prospects are good.

P54

Building up

power for better industry Mining:

Construction:

Technology:

Sustainability on show at African Indaba P58

Roadbuilding technology and practices P48

Information security in West Africa P32

Cover : Effective business relationships remain dynamic and successful when geared to adapt to client needs and ever-changing economic and industrial conditions

Andrew Croft, Managing Editor

Contents

REGULARS 04 Agenda:

22 Bulletin:

Commercial innovations and initiatives

61 Solutions:

Developments amongst key enterprises

Solutions offered to African industry

P26 FEATURES 26 Business and Technology Profiling Indian engagement with African industry through the manufacture and supply of reliable power units; commercial strategies for cloud computing; and opportunities in Nigeria to address new economic security requirements in West Africa

36 Power Capacity issues in South Africa; energy supply investment in Cameroon; innovations in compression technology; how Africa Electricity proved a prime meeting place for energy industry professionals; and why African renewables operations are producing genuine commercial opportunities

P56

46 Construction Advanced solutions to monitor and control the mechanical and lighting systems in a building; technologies for accelerated testing of highways or airport runways; finance for new transport infrastructure in The Gambia; outreach work that supports charity through housing construction in South Africa; and chimney building for an SA power project

56 Mining How output and efficiency has been improved at the largest single stream platinum concentrator in the world - at the Mogalakwena North platinum mine in South Africa; and support for continued investment in the sustainability of the continent’s mineral resources industry at African Mining Indaba

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NEWS

Agenda / North Emirates telecoms operator to serve African markets To embolden its distribution network in Africa, international mobile communications satellite operator Thuraya has signed a service partner agreement with Africell Holding (a subsidiary of Lintel Holding). Through this partnership, GSM communications operator Africell will be providing Thuraya’s data and voice services in Gambia, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Thuraya provides border-to-border Thuraya CEO Samer Halawi seamless satellite coverage over Africa, which complements existing terrestrial operators such as Africell ensuring that consumers out of GSM reach can access reliable and cost-effective satellite communications. Furthermore, as the only satellite operator that offers satellite roaming capabilities for GSM consumers, Thuraya allows access for people on the move to enjoy the ubiquitous coverage of

Thuraya offers the world’s smallest satellite broadband solution to support 384 Kbps streaming ‘Thuraya IP’ and the only satellite handheld to offer full walk-and-talk capability ‘Thuraya XT’ the company’s robust network by simply inserting their GSM SIM cards into any Thuraya handheld. ”Africa offers significant business opportunities due to its size, geographical composition, population and economical potential. The new partnership with Africell is part of our strategy to enhance our distribution network and reach out to our vertical industry consumers wherever they choose to operate. We aim to empower people and businesses in Africa through modern, cutting-edge and reliable value satellite communications,” said Thuraya’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Samer Halawi.

Mondo TV to distribute Turner content in MENA markets Mondo TV S.p.A. has been appointed by Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited as the exclusive agent and representative for free TV and pay TV broadcast rights sales of Turner's kids library programmes (including Ben 10) in key markets across the Middle East and North Africa for the next three

years. The agreement entitles Mondo TV to sub-license in first instance a total of around 581 programming hours, which include the worldwide successful series and TV movies such as Ben 10 and Generator Rex. Orlando Corradi, CEO at Mondo TV, said, "Mondo TV is very satisfied by this deal

which will allow our company to further expand in the Middle East TV market by representing one of the most interesting library of cartoon series which include some of the most famous and successful properties worldwide like Ben 10 and Generator Rex."

Hiltron improves satellite newsgathering Hiltron GmbH, which distributes, integrates and manufactures satellite communication solutions, is using CABSAT 2012 as the

Middle East launch venue for a major addition to its product range - the new HSACU SNG controller, which provides fullyautomated satellite auto-acquisition and is compatible with all leading motorised satellite newsgathering antennas. “The HSACU serves two key roles, being designed for integration into SNG trucks or for refurbishment of existing SNG antenna control systems,” explains Hiltron GmbH Managing Director Dr Michael Schiestl. “Housed in a compact rack-mountable chassis, it provides easy and efficient control of three-axis motorised antennas of up to 2.4 metres diameter. Azimuth, elevation and polarisation control are performed entirely in software.”

The new Hiltron HSACU-SG satellite newsgathering communication controller

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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012


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NEWS

Agenda / North Local steel industry to grow 15 per cent in 2012 The New Year has begun with a positive buzz in the Middle East steel industry, with demand for the metal picking up and industry experts and analysts projecting a 15 per cent growth on the back of rising requirements from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. According to a survey conducted among the exhibitors at the just-concluded SteelFab trade fair at Expo Centre Sharjah, 50 per cent of the respondents expected the sector to grow 15 per cent in 2012, while 42 per cent projected a 10 per cent and the rest a 25 per cent expansion. With the regional economies, especially oil producers, set to consolidate their growth in 2012, exhibitors who took part in the survey believe that demand for steel will arise from the expected buoyancy of infrastructure, oil & gas and construction sectors. “Steel is the basic raw material used in various sectors from infrastructure to heavy industries and from construction to white goods. Demand and price movement of steel can predict the condition of the overall economy. The positive outlook projected by the exhibitors at SteelFab augurs well for the greater economic growth of the region,” said Mr Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, Director-General of Expo Centre Sharjah. SteelFab 2012 was held at Expo Centre Sharjah in January 2012, and attracted about 7,000 trade visitors, registering nearly 22 per cent growth over its past show. “The market is gaining more confidence. Overall, we can see great potential. Customers who have been quiet for sometime are now placing their requirements,” said Shakeel Siddique, business development manager, Dawood Sons Group, Sharjah, an exhibitor who took part in the survey. The steel industry will also be eagerly anticipating the US$97bn GCC road and railway projects, including the US$30bn GCC rail Steelfab 2012 network.

MENA communications advances Juan Jose “JJ” de la Torre, A/Vice President – Marketing Strategy and Planning at telecommunications firm Etisalat, highlighted recently the company’s rollouts of advanced telecommunications infrastructure, and how it plans to drive user adoption of the attendant high broadband Internet speeds on offer, throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Mr de la Torre says, "We have seen that the developed countries in the MENA region, particularly in the Gulf area, are rolling out LTE. Etisalat has deployed an FDD-LTE network that allows full mobility and smooth transition between LTE and HSPA+, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. Overall, what we are seeing is that operators in the MENA region have really stepped up and put in a world-class infrastructure. Through a mix of advanced broadband technologies, the corporation seeks to add significant value to customers’ lifestyles, enabling them to achieve much more than what is possible today."

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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

Comms for Italy’s North African community

E

ffortel, a mobile telecommunications network operator, is operating in support of BLADNA, a new Italian mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) focused on the North African community living in the country. Effortel will manage all technical aspects of the MVNO. BLADNA is a subsidiary of Vodafone Egypt and it will be hosted by a local network in Italy. BLADNA, which means ‘Homeland’ in Arabic, will cater for the growing North African community in Italy comprised mainly of Egyptian, Moroccan and North African nationals. Effortel is responsible for all of the technical aspects of the MVNO. Planning, implementation and launch of the MVNO was achieved in the space of two months. Effortel’s technical platform was optimised to meet the specifications for BLADNA within this timeframe. Effortel was responsible for the design and configuration of BLADNA, and it will manage technical operations for the MVNO. Further innovation from Effortel includes a feature that allows street vendors to activate a SIM card for a smartphone directly upon purchase. This smartphone activation tool is just one of many features that Effortel has built into its platform to enable BLADNA to launch services designed to suit the requirements of its ethnic target market. This isn’t the first time that Effortel has supported an MVNO venture in the Italian market; as it currently powers Carrefour Uno Mobile and Daily Telecom, an ethnic MVNO dedicated to the Chinese community in Italy. Effortel already has experience of deploying an Arabic-language MVNO, its technology platform powers Samatel in Oman, so it is well placed to manage operations for BLADNA and help it to consolidate its position with its target market. Effortel is the only Western European mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) currently operating in the Middle East.


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NEWS

Agenda / East Fly540 reports strong demand Following the successful opening of the third strategic hub for Fly540 in Ghana, parent company Lonrho Plc recently reported an expected record passenger numbers for Fly540 for December 2011. Load factors across East Africa, Angola and Ghana based on passengers flown and forward bookings will exceed 80 per cent for the month. Fly540 currently flies in Kenya, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, Uganda, Angola and Ghana and is planning on opening routes to additional countries early in the New Year based on the increasing demand for this low cost model. Fly540 Kenya celebrated carrying its one millionth passenger in August 2011 and is reporting strong year-on-year passenger growth.

In Angola, additional aircraft have already been sourced to meet better than forecast demand with two further ATR 72’s mobilising in January 2012. Fly540 Angola is running at almost full capacity with a load factor over 85 per cent expected for December. The arrival of these further aircraft will increase the destinations flown domestically in Angola over the coming months and Fly540 Angola is planning to build capacity to service a domestic route network of 15 destinations throughout Angola. David Lenigas, Executive Chairman of Lonrho Plc commented, “The demand for quality regional aviation in Africa is clear and with the three hubs of Fly540 now operational in Kenya, Ghana and Angola, the airline is delivering on its objective of creating a first world pan African service.”

Zambia embraces pan-African e-learning initiative Zambia has taken advantage of the Indian government’s Pan-African e-Learning Network which is one of the sub-continent’s major components of technical assistance to African countries to improve their human resource capacity. According to information obtained from the First Secretary for Press at the Zambian High Commission in New Delhi, India, Bwalya Nondo, the e-network is a device being used to bridge the digital divide between Indian and African countries to enhance human resource development. The $125mn pan-African e-network project intends to cover 10,000 students in Africa including Zambia over a five-year period through 34 learning centres and 15 universities. In Zambia, Mulungushi University was in 2010 designated the implementing agency of the e-learning project. Currently, there are 30 students undergoing different programmes with India’a Amity University through e-learning. In addition, another 40 Zambian students are expected to pursue their studies with Madras University, while nine have enrolled with Indira Ghandi National Open University via the e-learning framework. This followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the governments of India and Zambia through the African Union. MoUs with the three institutions were signed with Mulungushi University (based in central Zambia) in 2011. “The rationale for this form of learning came to Mulungushi University after the Indian government offered to give technical assistance to African countries to improve their human resource capacity through e-learning,” disclosed Professor Anne Sikwibele, director of the Institute of Distance Education and e-Learning , Zambia Learning Centre at Mulungushi University in Kabwe. Although the Indian institutions Mulungushi University is collaborating with have many programmes, only areas considered to be most relevant to the Zambian market were selected. Currently, the package of courses being offered at undergraduate and post graduate levels are in Business Administration, Finance and Control, Finance and Investment Analysis, Science Information Technology, Human Resources and Marketing, and Tourism. Nawa Mutumweno

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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

Improving business conditions in Africa

I

n December 2011, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a research conference themed 'Improving economic business conditions in Africa' was organised by the University of Greenwich (London, UK) and the International Leadership Institute (Addis Ababa). Titled 'The New African Economic Renaissance', this is the third conference that the two institutions have held, bringing together leading researchers in the field, as well as students and industry analysts. The specific areas explored at the conference included: foreign direct investment; modernisation; environmental issues; agriculture; education; technical and vocational education and training; and governance. Dr Bruce Cronin, Head of the Department of International Business at the University of Greenwich Business School, talked about Chinese investment in East Africa. Stephen Thomas, Professor of Energy Studies at Greenwich, spoke about the ill-fated South African Pebble Bed Modular Nuclear Reactor. Other speakers talked about environmental education in primary schools in Ethiopia, corporate social responsibility in Kenya and the effectiveness of monetary policy in Nigeria.

Around 300 students are studying for University of Greenwich qualifications at the International Leadership Institute in Addis Ababa” Around 300 students are studying for University of Greenwich qualifications at the International Leadership Institute in Addis Ababa - including postgraduate degrees in International Business, Transformational Leadership & Change, and Business & Financial Economics, alongside a growing number of undergraduate degrees.


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NEWS

Agenda / East Training, lending to Kenyan farmers An investment company in Kenya is providing some 100,000 smallholder rural farmers – the majority of them women – with access to small loans and basic financial training over the next five years as part of the company’s commitment to a United Nations-backed initiative to alleviate poverty. Juhudi Kilimo, which operates in rural Kenya where farmers lack access to bank loans, will provide credit and training as part of its commitment to the Business Call to Action (BCtA), a global initiative supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the corporate responsibility scheme known as the UN Global Compact and several other organisations and governments. It provides Kenyan farmers’ groups with two-month workshops on agribusiness and financial practices before offering them the opportunity to apply for loans. Farmers can then use the credit to buy assets such as dairy cows, seeds and equipment to help them boost their livelihoods, enabling them to pay the loans at below market rates. “Access to financial services enables rural smallholder farmers to take the leap from subsistence farming to market-based farming, thereby increasing their productivity and income for the long term,” said Amanda Gardiner, the acting programme manager for the BCtA. “Juhudi Kilimo [which means “Efforts in Agriculture” in Kiswahili] is providing farmers with tools to escape the cycle of poverty and earn a sustainable livelihood through its innovative approach to investing.” An estimated 75 per cent of the Kenyan workforce is involved in agriculture and related activities. Many of them lack basic agricultural training, equipment, and market connections they need in order to grow their business.

Redhill acquires mining properties Redhill Resources Corp. has acquired an initial 85 per cent interest, and the right to acquire the remaining 15 per cent interest, in the Nyakagwe project, a mining opedatIon located in Tanzania, East Africa. The Nyakagwe Project is strategically located on the Bulyanhulu regional trend within six kilometres of Barrick Gold's 12mn oz Bulyanhulu gold mine. The Nyakagwe Project consists of 46 Primary Mining licenses (PMLs) in three contiguous groups encompassing an area of approximately 400ha surrounded by prospecting licenses and applications for prospecting licenses owned and presently being explored by Tembo Gold Corp.

Project record Historically, very limited surface exploration programmess were completed on the Nyakagwe Project to evaluate the potential for near surface mineralization. Artisanal gold mining has been carried out on the project area for more than a decade and continues to be very prevalent on all three groups of licenses today. Redhill is planning an extensive exploration programme on for 2012. The programme will include mapping, sampling, trenching and induced polarisation (IP), with the intention of defining drill targets for the upcoming exploration season.

Zambian banks slash lending rates

T

he Bank of Zambia has reduced the reserve ratio from eight per cent to five per cent and corporate tax to the standard 35 per cent from 40 per cent, resulting in most of the banks reducing their lending rates. According to the central bank, this turn of events will release an additional ZMK700bn to commercial banks for onward lending to the private sector and push lending rates downwards. This development will provide affordable borrowing to the private sector. So far, ten commercial banks have reduced interest rates with an average rate of 16 per cent. Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays still have the highest base rates of 17 and 16.5 per cent. Others include Investrust Bank, International Commercial Bank Zambia Limited, Zanaco, Cavmont, Indo Zambia Bank and First National Bank, all at 16 per cent. United Bank for Africa (UBA) has reduced its lending rates from 21 to 17.5 per cent while Stanbic Bank Zambia reduced from 19 to 16 per cent. Citibank is the latest institution to reduce its base rate - from 15 to 13.75 per cent. This is the second time Citibank has reduced the interest rates this year. However, Citibank’s client base is hinged on corporate organisations. “Government has taken broad steps to reduce the cost of doing business by reducing the reserve ratio in and corporate tax and we are supplementing Government’s steps,” Citibank managing director Joyce-Ann Wainaina said. Nawa Mutumweno

New platinum project in Zim Ruschrome Mining (Pvt) Ltd is to develop a platinum pilot open pit mine in the Darwendale area in Zimbabwe. According to Ascon Africa Consulting Engineers, the company appointed to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) the project is situated at the northern tip of the Hartley Sub-Chamber of the Great Dyke. RusChrome took over the Darwendale section after the Hartley Complex was split into four sections in 2006. It is understood that the other three parts were

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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

acquired by a Chinese company called Global Platinum Group, a U.K. company called Amari and a Hong Kong company called Cross Global. The engineers say that this will involve drilling, blasting and material hauling on an area approximately one acre with a length of 3.1km and a width varying between 0.9km to 1km. Wallace Mawire


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NEWS

Agenda / South Focus on loyalty and rewards Loyalty programmes across the world are struggling on a daily basis to keep up with consumer trends, attitudes, and market changes. But what strategies, technologies, and management skills are dynamic and comprehensive enough to distinguish your loyalty programme from that of your competition? Customers now expect an individualised approach regarding the service they want. Client’s wants and needs are the basis of marketing, regardless of the scenario – the client is king. The individualisation and communication approach must be in the method they prefer. But how is this attainable? Making use of social media, mobile technology, or the basics of marketing? Loyalty and Rewards Conference and Exhibition 2012 offers the opportunity to overcome these challenges and to discover and explore the

latest trends, innovations, and technologies in one place. Networking with leaders in the rewards industry, building new business relations and investigating forefront technology. The event programme will comprise of 18 speakers, case studies, a workshop, and an adjacent exhibition. Speaker companies include: World Wide Creative, Mobilitrix, Demographica, Mahala, Werksmans, NXT, WOW Marketing Services, Ikineo, H2P Project Management, Mocking Bull, ABSA Rewards, LoyaltyPlus, Blue Steering, Truth, NetFlorist, Blue Label Telecoms, Client Centric Solutions, and Mobicover. The conference takes place on 29 Feb, 1 and 2 March 2012 at the Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Johannesburg. www.tci-sa.co.za

EUMETSAT Council sets sights on future and keeps Africa in view EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, held its 74th Council meeting in Darmstadt, Germany, in November 2011 - at which the EUMETSAT Council was informed about progress in the preparations for the launches of the second Metop (Metop-B) polar-orbiting and the third Meteosat Second Generation (MSG-3) geostationary satellites, both planned in the first half of 2012. The Council also gave the go-ahead for planning the launch of MSG-4 in January 2015 and storing it in orbit to save costs and eliminate risks of keeping it on the ground too long, and, in order for work on Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) to continue apace, it authorised the start of the procurement process for the ground segment facilities required to command and control the future satellites and acquire their data. The Council took steps to continue EUMETSAT’s long-standing beneficial engagement in Africa, approving the five-year extension of the agreement enabling the African Centre for Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) to use EUMETSAT data and products and to disseminate products of its own via EUMETCast. Then, after being informed of the successful deployment of 111 new EUMETCast reception stations across the African continent in the framework of the AMESD (African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development) project funded by the European Development Fund, Member States agreed that EUMETSAT could contribute to the follow-on MESA (Monitoring of Security and Environment in Africa) project under similar conditions. EUMETSAT will offer technical support for the maintenance of reception stations, use of EUMETCast for product dissemination, first-line support to users through the EUMETSAT Meteosat Second Generation (MSG3) geostationary satellites are set to be launched in the first half of 2012 Help Desk, and coordination of training activities.

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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

Millions of rural poor to get banking services

T

wo companies from India and South Africa have committed to provide banking services to 30 mn low-income people living in rural areas by 2015, as part of their support for a United Nationsbacked initiative to fight poverty. The India-based company Vortex Engineering and South Africa’s Wizzit Bank will join the Business Call to Action (BCta) global initiative, which encourages private sector efforts to develop inclusive business models that can have both commercial success and a positive impact in development. One of the main objectives of the initiative, which is supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), is to accelerate the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, the achievement of universal primary education, promoting gender equality, combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and improving women and children’s health, all by 2015. Vortex Engineering will contribute by disseminating solar-powered cash machines tailored to rural communities’ needs, while Wizzit Bank will expand its access to credit for poor rural communities. “Lack of access to banking and credit impedes the economic empowerment of low-income individuals and hinders growth in the developing world,” said BCtA’s Programme Manager, Susan Chaffin. “We welcome Vortex and Wizzit as they seek to scale up activities that not only represent a business opportunity but also have tremendous potential to positively impact low-income communities in India and South Africa.” According to the World Bank (WB), more than half of the adult population in South Africa and India lack access to formal banking, in contrast to the Netherlands, for example, where the entire adult population has access to banking services.


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China’ China’ss King of The e Hill ne never ver rests rests on his his laur laurels. els. In China, Shantui’s name is synonymous with bulldozers. In fact, we have been King of the Hill for decades, and now our dozers cleared growth have clear ed the way for our gr owth in offering of fering a complete line of construction machinery and cement handling equipment. While diversification and internationalization are both key strategies, our main focus remains emains on Shantui V aalue. Shantui Shan offers a unique balance of performance and price that Value. no one else can deliver deliver.. And, we never stray from the cultural values that have made us aT op o China Brand, and one of China’ C s leading multinational firms. It’ ’s the Shantui W ay ay. Top China’s It’s Way.

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NEWS

Agenda / South SAP and MICT SETA join forces Software firm SAP and the technologist operation MICT SETA have formed a partnership for the advancement of human capital in information and communication technology (ICT) in South Africa, during a signing ceremony, where MICT SETA committed R10mn (US$1.27mn) over a period of four years towards the placement of PhD and Master Candidates in SAP Research Internet Application and Services Africa. “The MICT SETA is proud to be the key contributor towards Oupa Mopaki, CEO of MICT SETA, and Daniel the acceleration of ICT skills in the sector. This funding is but Kok, Head of SAP Research Internet Application and Services Africa part of our mandate to accelerate critical and scarce skills through programmes such as the Advanced Human Capital Development Programme. In committing R10mn towards this initiative we are helping to fast-track high-level skills in the ICT sector and help reduce scarcity of such specialised human capital knowledge,” commented Oupa Mopaki, CEO of MICT SETA.

SADC borders operations assessments conducted The USAID Southern African Trade Hub (SATH) has undertaken border operations assessments to support SADC in its effort to reduce the high cost of transportation of goods in the region. The assessments were conducted at the Mamuno/Trans-Kalahari (Botswana/Namibia) and Kasumbalesa (Zambia/DRC) borders on the Trans-Kalahari and Dar es Salaam transport corridors respectively. The assessments constitute the initial phase of SATH's Integrated Border Management (IBM) programme. At the Mamuno and Trans-Kalahari borders, the team established average crossing times for trucks and clearance processes. The documented crossing times will also be used as baseline measuremeants for another SATH activity, the Regional Single WindowCustoms Connectivity Pilot. In addition to establishing crossing baselines, the assessments aim to identify areas of operation where improved coordination amongst border agencies would yield a more fluid border crossing experience for commercial and small scale traders. A report produced notes that the volumes of traffic and the magnitude of trade,

14

including informal trade at the Kasumbalesa borders are much greater than those at Mamuno and Trans-Kalahari. To handle the volumes of traffic more efficiently, the Zambian Border Crossing Company was engaged through a PPP with the government of Zambia to design, build and operate the Kasumbulesa border complex in Zambia. The new facility and computerised traffic management system in Zambia has streamlined processes and vehicle movement and reduced the times spent by cargo trucks at the border. The report notes that considerable delays are still experienced at the border. About 75 per cent of the 500 trucks monitored during the Kasumbulesa assessment took up to 3.5 hours to cross the Zambian border complex. On the DRC side, traffic is currently limited to a single lane between the two border complexes meaning that traffic can only flow in one direction at a time. DRC plans to launch new complex facilities in October 2012 similar to the Zambia complex.This is expected to alleviate part of the delays in vehicle movements by allowing bidirectional traffic. Wallace Mawire

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

Marval SA helps Unitrans improve IT

U

nitrans Supply Chain Solutions specialises in the design, implementation and operation of supply chain and logistics solutions. With a centralised internal IT service desk servicing 160 offices with more than 1,500 computers, IT Service Management (ITSM) is an important aspect of the business. The company’s legacy ITSM solution was out dated and was failing to deliver on the required functionality, the support contract had expired and the product had reached end of life. However, Unitrans still required a solution to help the IT team manage service calls and to provide support for ITIL compliance, and they turned to Marval South Africa to provide the solution. “Our old system was not compliant with ITIL guidelines, the support contract was ending and we were unable to maintain it ourselves. We needed a purely email based ticket logging and service desk system that was ITIL compliant, since we have completed aspects of ITIL training and as a growing company we need to adhere to best practice. However, we needed a solution that not only offered world-class functionality but is also fast and user friendly for all parties involved,” says Mark McDonald, Sys Admin Manager at Unitrans. “After conducting demonstrations and proof of concept with four large service desk solution companies, we selected the Marval MSM Essential tool from Marval South Africa. Marval was the only solution that offered a dedicated service management software package, whereas other vendors simply included this as a small part of their offering, and we received excellent service from Marval South Africa right from the outset,” he adds. MSM Essential is a web-based service and helpdesk solution that is part of the MSM Suite of products, which are ITIL, ISO/IEC 20000 compliant. The solution provides easy call management for more reliable IT and service infrastructure, increased productivity and adaptability in service provision.


S03 ATR Feb 2012 Agenda West_Events Calendar_Layout 1 24/01/2012 16:54 Page 15

More local development creates far-reaching benefits. At ExxonMobil, we are committed to helping support development and economic progress wherever we operate. For example, in Chad, we’ve trained more than 300 small and medium-sized enterprises to assist in improving business and operating performance. And in Angola, we have spent over $1.3 billion with local companies since 2008. So whether we are working with local suppliers or training Africans to work in our operations, ExxonMobil is developing more than oil and gas—we are helping to support Africa’s future. Learn more about our work at exxonmobil.com


S03 ATR Feb 2012 Agenda West_Events Calendar_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:53 Page 16

NEWS

Agenda / West Ghana’s National Communications Authority aims for improved strategy The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) has completed a project to assist the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana with the development of its five-year Strategic Plan to improve the communications’ industry in the country. The plan will help the NCA to continue facilitating the fast growth that the country’s ICT sector has witnessed over the last decade, over which period, for example, Ghana’s mobile penetration rate grew from 0.67 per cent to 81 per cent. The Strategic Plan provides the NCA with overarching Strategic Objectives, including: ● Ensuring effective market competition. ● Streamlining spectrum regulation. ● Improving consumer relations. ● Accelerating broadband communications in Ghana. The development of Internet and broadband usage in Ghana has been slow to date, as in much of the rest of Africa. Much of this can be attributed to the limited penetration of fixed line phones, the traditional means of internet access. Though the proliferation of mobile networks has helped increased mobile Internet penetration in Ghana to 22 per cent, the

16

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

The development of new Strategic Plans by Regulators is becoming ever more important as ICT sectors become more competitive, complex and diverse” Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation CEO, Professor Tim Unwin

number of broadband users is still low when compared with more developed countries. In light of the disparities in usage, Ghana’s Ministry of Communications and NCA want to see a substantial rise in the number of users in order to reap the multiplier socio-economic benefits that broadband brings. The NCA’s Director General, Mr. Paarock VanPercy said, “The Strategic Plan developed with the assistance of CTO has helped to further crystallise our most important goals for the coming years and it ensures that the NCA remains focused on serving all ICT stakeholders, deepening competition and fostering growth and opportunity in the ICT/Communications industry.”


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NEWS

Agenda / West African oil giant appoints official distributor Engen Petroleum and Blessing Petroleum have jointly announced Blessing Petroleum’s appointment as the official distributor of Engen’s full range of lubricants in Cameroon. Engen Petroleum, a subsidiary of Petronas Malaysia, one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, is an African energy multinational with independent operations in 20 sub-Saharan African countries. Engen manufactures a full range of lubricants under the Engen brand and blends and fills lubricants under license for PETRONAS Lubricants and ExxonMobil. The lubricants range to which Blessing Petroleum now has access includes Engen’s automotive oils for petrol and diesel engines, universal tractor oils, gear and transmission oils, industrial oils, marine oils, greases and utility products such as brake fluids. Kamil de Villiers, business development manager for Engen Petroleum’s International Business Division, notes that Engen has built up globallycompetitive product development expertise over the years, through the relationships its parent company PETRONAS has with leading global original equipment manufacturers in the automotive sector. In addition, it has gathered extensive regional know-how in the development of product lines that can withstand harsh African operating conditions. “With this arrangement we undertake to bring a full range of our products suitable for local conditions to Cameroon,” he says. Outstanding reputation “Blessing Petroleum was appointed as our partner because of their outstanding reputation, extensive lubricants knowledge in management, and their passion and commitment to developing the Engen brand,” says de Villiers. He says Engen and Blessing Petroleum share a similar corporate culture of doing business with integrity and honesty, whilst believing in delivering outstanding service and putting the customer first. Paul Dengoue, managing director of Blessing Petroleum, comments that “as a young and growing Cameroonian company, Blessing Petroleum is proud and honoured to have been appointed. We thank the Engen team for their support, professionalism and speed in concluding this agreement.” Dengoue goes on to say the opportunity will allow Blessing Petroleum to confirm its status as a professional and agile team, able to offer a full range of products, fuels and now lubricants to meet local customers’ needs. He says the Blessing Petroleum team relishes the challenge of establishing Engen as one of the preferred brands in the mind of the Cameroon customers. Distribution capacity is good, too. Blessing Petroleum operates an expanding network of retail sites in Cameroon. The company has a strong local market position in the supply of fuels to the commercial stream. African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

17


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NEWS

Agenda / Events The platform for infrastructure and construction opportunities in Nigeria Held under the auspices of the Lagos State Government, supported by H.E. Raji Fashola, the thirteenth governor of Lagos State, Nigeria Infrastructure & Construction (NIC) takes place April 17-18, 2012, at the Eko International Expo Centre. NIC comprises a conference and exhibition dedicated to the entire spectrum of the Nigerian and West African infrastructure and construction industries - offering insights into recently completed and new projects, and new and established market opportunities in transport, environment, power, and other key areas. Nigeria Infrastructure & Construction brings together companies specialising in: ● Gas to power projects. ● Pipelines & key infrastructure equipment. ● Investment banks & institutional investors.

● ● ●

● ● ●

Project management. Power generation & distribution. Oil & gas exploration, processing & distribution. Transportation & logistics (road, rail, port, airport, tunnel & bridge). Telecommunications, mobile & information technologies. Civil design, construction & engineering. Water & waste management. Human resources, health & education.

This is an event for engagement with government, for national and regional development, for industry, for construction, energy and utilities, for services, for transport. NIC 2012 - the largest power, construction and infrastructure event in Nigeria, facilitates

A showcase of excellence in West African oil and gas Scheduled for 20-23 February 2012, to be held in Abuja, Nigeria Oil & Gas (NOG) represents the core of the Nigerian energy sector. With presidential backing from three presidents, NOG has gathered thousands of senior officials and industry leaders , debated fundamental issues and played a significant role in developing the industry. The 2012 event continues to showcase excellence 492 - Africa UtilityinAdthe - Adapt.ai

18

industry, with programme sessions coordinated through leading industry companies, leading executives contributing to knowledge, networking and interactive events, a vibrant exhibition - and independent analysis on major announcements by key gas players and key factors affecting the Nigerian gas industry. www.cwcnog.com 1 11/30/11 4:45

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

PM

Babatunde Raji Fashola, thirteenth governor of Lagos State, supports Nigeria Infrastructure & Construction

networking with contractors, suppliers and service providers, showcasing projects, products and services to potential clients, and business between buyers and suppliers keen to broker deals and develop relationships with new clients. And the prestigious Eko Exhibition Centre, sited in the heart of Lagos’ commercial district, ensures the quality environment that professionals need to discuss how products, technologies and services can help them. www.cwcnif.com

Nigeria Oil and Gas... has grown to become the most prstigious assemblages of experts and investors interested in the Nigerian oil business and its environment.” H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, President for the Federal Republic of Nigeria


S03 ATR Feb 2012 Agenda West_Events Calendar_Layout 1 24/01/2012 16:55 Page 19

<508<,3@ ;6<./ (5+ 4<3;0 7<976:, HHD. RESISTANT AND VERSATILE.

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S03 ATR Feb 2012 Agenda West_Events Calendar_Layout 1 24/01/2012 16:55 Page 20

NEWS

Events / 2012 March 5-7

Africa Economic Forum

21-24

17-18

International Conference on ICT for Africa

Nigeria Infrastructure & Construction

Kampala, Uganda ictforafrica.jmcub.com

Lagos, Nigeria www.cwcnic.com

Cape Town, South Africa www.petro21.com

26-29

6-7

Johannesburg, South Africa www.terrapinn.com

IFSEC West Africa Lagos, Nigeria www.ifsecwestafrica.com

Power and Electricity World Africa

April

8

Africa Trade & Export Finance Cape Town, South Africa www.exportagroup.com

4-7

Aeroexpo Marrakech, Morocco www.aeroexpo-morocco.com

12-16

Cards Africa Johannesburg, South Africa www.terrapinn.com

Cape Town, South Africa www.fairconsultants.com

8-10

West African International Telecommunications Exhibition and Conference (W.Afri.Tel)/WAFICT Lagos, Nigeria www.exhibitionsafrica.com 15-16

16-21

North Africa Com

Intermat

Tunisia nafrica.comworldseries.com

Paris, France www.intermat.fr

13-15

Oil & Gas Africa

May

23-26

East Africa Com

Water Africa and West Africa Building & Construction

Nairobi, Kenya eaafrica.comworldseries.com

Abuja, Nigeria www.ace-events.com

17-18

West African promotion of building and water technologies Arrangements for the prestigious Water Africa 2012 and West Africa Building & Construction 2012 international trade exhibitions, taking place on 23-25 May 2012, are well in hand. Tracey Nolan-Shaw, Managing Director of ACE Event Management Ltd was recently in Abuja, ensuring all is in place for two of Africa’s premier trade events. When Mrs. Nolan-Shaw met the Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Water Resources, Ambassador Godknows Igali, he informed her that the Ministry was delighted to see the event’s return to Nigeria, and that it pledged its support and involvement - with local companies as well as international suppliers involved. Technology showcases The West Africa Building & Construction 2012 Exhibition showcases machinery, tools and

20

techniques for the housing and infrastructure construction sector. Its companion event, the West Africa Building & Construction 2010 aims to help those providing civil engineering and housing projects in West Africa to see new materials and machinery for use in construction and talk to experts on how best to use them. Water Africa 2012 offers an opportunity for companies to again put their products and services before purchasers from central and local government, industry, agriculture, NGOs and other key players from the entire West Africa region. Seminar programme Exhibitors at Water Africa 2012 and West Africa Building & Construction 2012 will be able to take part in the accompanying seminar programme, which will be run in co-ordination

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

with the relevant government ministries. Places in the seminar programme will be limited and priority will be given to registered exhibitors. The programme will provide an ideal opportunity for exhibitors to get to know the problems and needs of the water and construction sectors in West Africa, and to provide information on their products and services. A good number of the exhibitors at these exhibitions are often new to the West African market and will be looking for local partners to help them sell and distribute their products and services here. There is great potential for business to be done at both shows and exciting new products and services to be seen and discussed. ace-events.com


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NEWS

Executive Bulletin / Investment Finance for Kenyan resources

developing countries and 1.4 per cent for high-income countries,

Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and its

down from its June 2011 estimates of 6.2 and 2.7 per cent,

partner finance institutions FMO and Proparco have provided Base

respectively - with global growth now projected at 2.5 and 3.1 per

Titanium Ltd. (BTL) with a loan of $70mn that, together with input

cent.

from a banking consortium led by West LB, secured the long-term financing required for the Kwale mineral sands project in Kenya with DEG's contribution for the financing of the project amounting

Support for Tanzian reform

to $25mn; arround 50km to the south of Mombasa, BTL, a

The he African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has recently

subsidiary of Australian Base Resources Limited, is committed to

approved an African Development Fund (ADF) loan of US$155.2mn

mining and processing mineral sands to recover ilmenite, rutile and

to the United Republic of Tanzania, to help support private sector

zircon, to meet increasing international demand., with operations

reform and economic governance within the framework of a

are scheduled to commence in the second half of 2013.

Governance and Economic Competitiveness Support Programme; Ndoumbe Lobe, the AfDB’s director for governance, economic and financial management, said, “This programme...widens the scope of

Poorer prospects predicted

the AfDB’s intervention to target both soft and hard enablers of

Developing countries should prepare for further downside risks, as

private sector development, while consolidating gains and

Euro Area debt problems and weakening growth in several big

deepening reforms in public financial management and

emerging economies are dimming global growth prospects, says

mainstreaming anti-corruption reforms.”

the World Bank in its Global Economic Prospects (GEP) 2012; the Bank has lowered its growth forecast for 2012 to 5.4 per cent for

22

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012


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NEWS

Executive Bulletin / Travel Understanding the passenger journey experience

Ethiopian Airlines improves flight options for customers

Ink, which connects companies with travellers, is conducting its first

Ethiopian Airlines has joined the Star Alliance, bringing customer

Global Passenger Survey (GPS), to bring together the views and

benefits to more markets across Africa, a region of the world in which air

insights of passengers, brands and the world’s leading airlines to create

travel is enjoying steady growth rates; now, the Star Alliance network in

industry-standard research into the entire passenger journey

Africa grows to cover major commercial and political cities of the

experience; Ink works with over three dozen airlines, including Gulf Air

continent particularly in East, Central and West Africa - as a total of 16

and South African Express.

Star Alliance member carriers serving Africa, offer more than 750 daily flights to over 110 destinations in 48 countries on the continent, with

Over the years the industry has talked about the relationship of the airport, the airline and brands as a “Trinity”; our research will look at this relationship from a wider, more holistic perspective, putting the passenger at the centre of this relationship, and seeing them in the context of their entire journey experience”

Addis Ababa, Cairo and Johannesburg serving as the main hubs.

Scheduled nonstop service between Houston and Lagos

Jeffrey O’Rourke, Chief Executive of Ink

United flies between Houston and Lagos

Technologies and social change to transform travel by 2020

United Continental Holdings, Inc. now runs a daily scheduled passenger

‘From Chaos to Collaboration’, a new research study commissioned by

service between the America and Africa with new nonstop flights

advanced technology solutions provider Amadeus, outlines how

between Houston in the USA and Lagos in Nigeria, operated by

transformative technologies and evolving social values and trends will

Continental Airlines; the flights will operate using Boeing 777 aircraft

combine to establish a new era of collaborative travel over the next

with a total of 276 seats -- including 50 in BusinessFirst, featuring new,

decade and beyond; this new era in travel demands increased

flat-bed seats, personal inflight entertainment, gourmet menu

partnership across the travel industry, in turn removing the stress,

selections, Nigerian cuisine options on westbound flights, and an

uncertainty and chaos that is usually associated with travelling in the

award-winning wine and champagne selection.

21st Century, as well as providing much richer, deeper and more personal travel experiences.

Double digit growth in the Arabic ultra-luxury car market South African Airways launches flights to Kigali and Bujumbura

The Middle East ultra luxury car market is well on its way to a healthy

South African Airways (SAA) is now running flights to two more

digit year-on-year growth rate in 2011; Rolls-Royce Motors Cars, in

destinations on the African continent - from Johannesburg to Kigali in

particular, registered a 23 per cent year-on-year growth during 2011

Rwanda and onwards to Bujumbura in Burundi; “Adding even more

across the Middle East, with three regional dealers ranking in the top 10

destinations to our already extensive Africa route network gives our

global dealer rating based on sales volume., the introduction of Bespoke

customers more travel options to exciting destinations that were

on the Ghost range to meet customer demands spurred the expansion

previously difficult to reach by air,” says Theunis Potgieter, SAA General

of production, following the Phantom’s record of an 18 per cent growth

Manager Commercial.

across the region with respect to 2010.

24

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

recovery, with ultra Luxury cars over US$250,000 registering a double


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PROFILE

Mahindra Powerol

World class technology working for you

Mahindra Powerol leads the way in power generation in dynamic markets - including Telecommunications operations; pictured here is a Telecoms site in Kenya

Mahindra Powerol is leading the way in the field of Power Generation powering Diesel Generating sets up to 200kVA

F

ounded in 1945 as a steel trading company, Mahindra entered the automotive manufacturing industry in 1947. Today, Mahindra boasts a presence in the international market employing more than 119,000 people in over 100 countries across the globe. This principal has led the company’s growth into a US$14.4bn multinational group. Key to this successful business model is an overriding desire to create a niche in 18 key industries that form the foundation of every modern economy. These include:

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Aerospace. Aftermarket. Agribusiness. Automotive. Components. Construction Equipment. ConsultingServices. Defence. Energy. FarmEquipment. Finance and Insurance.

26

● ● ● ● ● ● ●

IndustrialEquipment. InformationTechnology. Leisure and Hospitality. Logistics. Real Estate. Retail. Two Wheelers.

The diversification into these industries ensures that Mahindra can meet the needs of its customer base in every aspect of their lives. Mahindra Powerol: powering for a generation Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. entered the field of Power Generation in 2002. It has subsequently grown from a US$1.2mn business to a US$225mn business with sales of more than 220,000 Diesel Generating Sets and Engines. Today, the engines under the brand name Mahindra Powerol are powering Diesel Generating sets from a rating of 2.5kVA to 500kVA in India and up to 200kVA in global markets. The

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

optimisation of latest technologies in our manufacturing process offer several advantages: ● Fuel Efficiency. ● Better load acceptance. ● Minimal vibration. ● Compact footprint. ● Compliance to noise levels. ● Low maintenance costs. ● Stabilisation of voltage fluctuations. ● Continuous spare parts availability. ● Superior design to assure optimal operation for over 10,000 hours. Generating industry opportunities Mahindra Powerol Diesel Generating Sets are manufactured at three state-of-the-art facilities located in India at Pune, Chennai and Delhi. The company’s products comply with the most stringent noise pollutions norms laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board of India, making them ready to meet any environmental challenges in the industry. Mahindra Powerol has made rapid strides in the Indian genset industry in a


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PROFILE

Mahindra Powerol

very short space of time. Mahindra Powerol Diesel Generating Sets are the first choice of major Telecom companies who use the same to support their communication networks across India. Recently, Mahindra Powerol won the prestigious Frost & Sullivan “Voice of Customer” award for the most preferred Genset Brand in the telecom segment in India. The award takes various parameters into account, including industry penetration, up-time, trouble free performance, overall satisfaction, likelihood of buying for future requirements and likely referrals to other customers. Today, Mahindra Powerol is a significant player in the global power generation industry and has made inroads in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and SAARC countries. The focus on International markets has enabled Mahindra Powerol to cater to various industries such as Telecom, Government and Defence organisations, Banking Industries, Retail Chains, Building and Construction, Public Sector Units, Hospitals and Hotels amongst others. Engines The company’s robust engine design criteria ensures that the engines are also suitable for various industrial applications

such as cranes, compressors, forklifts, rice mills and concrete mixers. Quality The methodology found throughout every Mahindra business unit - from the manufacturing facilities and technology to sales and service - has contributed to the achievement of the highest rating for Total Quality Management. Moreover, Mahindra has received one on the most coveted awards in the world: The Deming Prize. Mahindra engines One of the most important stages in the Mahindra engine manufacturing process is the J-Bar Assembly. This high tech assembly plant ensures an environment suitable for mass productions and constantly monitors the ambient temperature, humidity and dust levels for optimal assembly conditions. Component quality is assured at all times by quality personnel at every stage along the production line. The entire manufacturing process is guided by Poke Yoke concept in order to achieve zero defects throughout the production line. Ingenious design throughout the manufacturing systems and processes, coupled with education and awareness regarding possible

errors have delivered a high build standard in the engine division. It is no wonder that such a well conceptualised and seamless manufacturing facility can produce up to three engines every minute and a total of 250 engines of various models every day. Component machining As a part of an effort to ensure quality control throughout the entire manufacturing process, Mahindra has its very own machining facility of critical components. At no time will the achievement and maintenance of the high standard in the fit and finish of critical components be left to chance. Be assured that the next Mahindra engine or genset purchased will encompass with world class technology working for you. Industrial equipment Whether it’s the Direct Injection Engine or the state of the art Common Rail Diesel Engine, Mahindra’s product development division can adapt and create products to meet specific requirements. Due to the rugged build of a Mahindra engine, heavy duty cycles and extreme conditions are withstood effortlessly. Mahindra engines are preferred by companies across the globe for their compact design and superior performance. Their ability to work around the clock and deliver quality output year after year makes them ideal for any industry. Satisfying a customer base that is just as conscious about fuel economy as they are about reliable power is a contributing factor to making Mahindra one of the leaders in the Indian market. ■

The Mahindra Engine Advantage

Mahindra Powerol produces diesel generating sets to the highest standards

28

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

Wet replaceable liners for extended engine life.

Easily serviceable with low maintenance costs.

Structural cylinder block design to withstand heavy duty operations.

No oil top up required between service intervals.

Meets stringent emission norms. www.mahindrapowerol.com


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BUSINESS

Internet

Commerce in the cloud A

s someone who has been working with leading innovators for many years, my sense is that cloud computing represents a once-in-a-generation convergence of technologies: high-speed broadband, large-scale data centers, and flexible virtualisation software. Working together as “cloud computing,” these forces are driving one of the most important global technology transformations impacting on many types of business, political, and social structures. A new model, for new business Cloud computing appears to be experiencing an “inflexion point.” According to recent statistics from Forrester Research, traditional technology models are flat or shrinking, while analysts forecast that the global market for cloud computing will grow from $40bn in 2011 to more than $241bn in 2020. From smartphones to tablet computers, the “cloud” has pervaded modern life: the Internet is “always on everywhere”; commerce is “on-demand”; physical resources are “virtual”; data is “in the cloud”; personal and business relationships are unified “social networks” - shifting power from “top down” organisations toward individual consumers. The net effect of new cloud-based

30

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

models is a decentralisation of business and social structures. When anyone can leverage technology that was just recently the sole province of only the largest and richest players, the playing field becomes increasingly level. I know in Silicon Valley, in the USA, we take this as “given”, but the balance of power really does favour smaller, flexible, resource-lite players, which can potentially outmaneuver larger, resource-heavy institutions. Resource use In many markets, resources no longer need to be acquired, but are used through “the cloud.” Reaction time to accelerating markets is becoming increasingly small. The “time to innovation” is shrinking from years to weeks as market contenders have access to cloudbased technology. New economics of business innovation and growth is becoming apparent, with more flexible and rapid scaling, restructuring of customer relationships with companies forming far deeper customer relationships at much lower cost. ■ Chris Weitz, Director of Technology Strategy and Architecture for Deloitte Consulting LLP's U.S. Technology practice; and global leader of Deloitte LLP's Cloud Computing practice


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EQUIPMENT

Psion Omnii XT15 helps save on cost of ownership

Reg. Charity No. 1080839

Psion is offering the Omnii XT15, a rugged handheld device, alongside its Omnii Advantage programme, giving its customers the opportunity to repurpose their devices free-of-charge at any time after the first year of ownership. For example, a customer can start with a 2D barcode scanner and in the third year, replace that module with an RFID reader as the market moves to this technology. This eliminates the need to replace the entire product. Customers in search of continued productivity “Customers are looking for mobile business solutions that will continue to drive productivity and extend product life beyond three years. Psion’s Omnii XT15 provides customers with the flexibility to adapt their handheld devices in the future, by replacing modules with the latest technology available, thus extending the life of the product,”said David Krebs, Vice President, Mobile & Wireless, VDC Research. “Choosing Omnii means you benefit from an economic proposition that is as strong as its technical leadership,” said John Conoley, CEO, Psion. “When customers buy the Omnii XT15, they’re not just buying a product, they’re buying into a unique product family. Omnii is the most customizable and upgradeable platform in our industry. As customers’ needs evolve, their Psion Omnii devices can evolve with them.” www.psion.com

The Psion Omnii XT15

A measure of innovation GE’s second annual “Global Innovation Barometer” affirms business executives’ belief in innovation as the main driver of prosperity, competitiveness and job creation, and also reveals how challenging and uncertain economic and political environments may hinder companies’ ability to deliver meaningful innovation. The continued uncertainty of the global economy has had a marked impact on companies’ ability to innovate, with nine out of 10 executives reporting increased difficulty accessing external funding or a conservative shift in appetite for risk. Specifically, 88 percent of respondents saw increased challenges accessing venture capital, private investment and government funding, while 77 per cent reported a reduction or reevaluation of the company’s willingness to take risks. “This year’s study confirms a lot of what we’ve been seeing in the global marketplace, that the uncertainties inherent in today’s economic environment are challenging business’ ability to innovate,” said Beth Comstock, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of GE. “We see these results, in some ways, as a rallying cry for business leaders to understand where and how their innovation strategies are being challenged and to drive towards new models. Innovation is a powerful lever to address the challenges of a growing world. It allows us to use resources more efficiently, produce more with less and deliver better technologies to help markets drive economic growth and better quality of life.” GE expanded its global study this year by surveying nearly 3,000 senior business executives in 22 countries, including United Arab Emirates and South Africa, all with direct involvement in their companies’ innovation strategy and decision making.

Datacard Group proudly supports women in their fight against breast cancer. Through March 2012, we will donate to the Pink Ribbon Foundation with every purchase of a pink Datacard® SD260™ Card Printer. For complete details, contact your authorized Datacard provider or visit Datacard.com/pink.

Datacard is a registered trademark and/or service mark of DataCard Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. ©2011 DataCard Corporation. All rights reserved.

www.GE.com/innovationbarometer African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

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TECHNOLOGY

IFSEC West Africa

Buying and selling in West African security Nigeria highlights the new security requirements in West Africa’s changing economic landscape

N

o country encapsulates the changing economic and social shape of West Africa better than Nigeria. A region rich in oil and natural gas resources, it boasts one of the fast growing economies on the continent with a GDP in excess of $200bn. With such unprecedented business growth and increased private wealth, security is rapidly becoming a top priority. Not only does Nigeria have one of the most developed economies in Africa, it is also one of the fastest growing, especially in terms of telecommunications and petroleum production – industries which are often vulnerable to crime and security risks. Such growth always presents opportunity for security operators, as was witnessed at the first-ever IFSEC West Africa 2011 Security Exhibition and Conference. The event attracted over 90 exhibitors and a total of 2,214 visitors from across Africa, Europe and North America. IFSEC West Africa 2012, taking place at the Eko Hotel and Suites Conference Centre in Lagos from 6-7 March, is set to build on the success of the inaugural event in 2011, which attracted over 90 exhibitors and more than 2,200 visitors from Africa, Europe and North America. The focus for security professionals IFSEC West Africa is offers the definitive approach to the emerging security market in West Africa, covering commercial and government security as well as the fire and safety market. According to Ross Cullingworth, Director of Sales and Marketing at the event organiser UBM Montgomery, “Over the last few years, the West African region has increasingly become a focus for security professionals the world over. We just have to look at the support shown for our first event to see the growing need for an exhibition of this nature.” Those in the security industry - whether as buyers or sellers - are starting to recognise the potential of the region and are geared to

32

explore a rapidly expanding market and lock down lucrative deals and contracts. “It’s a market whose time has come,” he believes. “The aim of the show is to provide a professional and centralised platform to highlight the untapped potential of this region. We cannot think of a more ideal location than Nigeria to host the event.” Prominence in a growing economy Nigeria’s private security industry has experienced rapid growth, becoming a major part of the nation’s economy. Rising crime, state corruption and conflict in the oil-rich Niger Delta have made security a prominent issue. At the same time, the country is producing a new rich elite looking to protect their lifestyles. “If we take a closer look at the Nigerian market, we can see there is a gap to fill in short and long term security strategies,” says Cullingworth. “From private security companies to security products, the need is steadily growing for improved technologies, security services and security management to protect assets, property and people. The kind of growth we’re seeing often introduces a state of flux and there is pressure on government to firm up regulations in the industry, as well as private individuals and companies looking for greater levels of protection and peace of mind.” Systems and solutions The need for intrusion detection systems (CCTV, alarm systems, panic alarms, perimeter protection) is just one trend Cullingworth identifies in residential homes. “We also anticipate an increasing demand for access control as end-users become more vigilant and wealth increases,” he adds. In this respect, IFSEC West Africa 2012 will profile top African and international exhibitors in the fields of electronic security and physical security, as well those security providers focused on commercial and business security vehicle and personnel tracking services, armoured vehicles, scanners, biometrics and

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

Speaker themes at the IFSEC West Africa conference includes strategic crime prevention and policing in the region, private security partnerships with law enforcement, and the critical importance of protecting the region’s national oil and gas pipeline” guarding services. The international line up for the upcoming event includes well-established brands including Axis Communications, Elvey Security Technologies, Bosch Security, Cross Match Technologies, Honeywell and HIK Vision. “All in all, the event is a great interactive marketing platform for leading global players to showcase products and services, and generate meaningful marketing leads,” he says. “This certainly delivers greater value for visitors and security buyers, as they will be able to experience first-hand the security options available and educate themselves on the latest technology and trends directly impacting the market.” In 2012, the free-to-attend IFSEC West Africa Workshop, hosted alongside the exhibition, features high-level speakers delivering keen insight into the security market to an audience of senior management and decision makers from some of Africa and the world’s top companies. Speaker themes at the Workshop will include Protecting Critical Infrastructure, City Surveillance and Homeland Security. www.ifsecwestafrica.com


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Voted best for what we do best

SkyVision. Your link to Global Communications Contact us at: info@skyvision.net or +44 20 8387 1750 to learn more about our solutions. www.skyvision.net


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EQUIPMENT

Technology iQSonar underpins IT compliance solutions

i

Quate, an IT inventory and discovery specialist, has formed a strategic partnership with Mediro ICT, a fast-growing specialist provider of niche focused IT services and solutions to the South African market. Mediro’s Business Service Management (BSM) group uses iQSonar – iQuate’s automated agentless inventory and discovery technology - in a range of innovative solutions designed to meet the growing demand amongst South African business for ensuring software license compliance.

We have seen the main enterprise software vendors such as Microsoft and Oracle increase their audit activity in South Africa in recent years.” by Neil Richardson, Managing Director, Mediro BSM

“We have seen the main enterprise software vendors such as Microsoft and Oracle increase their audit activity in South Africa in recent years,” comments Neil Richardson, Managing Director Mediro BSM, “and this, along with imminent legislation, has seen large enterprise software customers take this more seriously as they realise that the cost of not doing so is likely to result in significant, unbudgeted costs. “iQSonar, combined with our team of experts, provide the accuracy and clarity that customers need to finally get control of their software licensing.” Pat Durkin, EVP International, iQuate, observes, ” Mediro are a perfect fit for iQuate as their team can offer a full, locally–based solution that delivers the highest levels of technical, project and subject matter support.” www.iquate.com

34

Investment and acquisition improves road risk management RAIR, which provides Web-based safety and compliance services to many top fleets in trucking, distribution and transit, has been acquired by DriveCam, Inc., a driver risk management company, which has recently expanded its international footprint into South Africa. DriveCam prevents collisions and reduces fuel costs by improving the way people drive. Its solution addresses the causes of poor driving by combining data and video analytics with real-time driver feedback and coaching, resulting in reductions in collision-related costs and fuel consumption in commercial fleets, while protecting drivers. RAIR’s services allow fleet operators to efficiently manage hours-ofservice logs, CSA safety scores, driver qualification and vehicle inspection requirements. Along with its acquisition of RAIR Technologies, DriveCam continues to invest in its technologies and services. It added to its patent portfolio covering key innovations in driver management; each of these patents further

We are proud to be working with some of the best fleets in the world and to be recognised by the investment community for the value we deliver.” by DriveCam CEO Brandon Nixon

enhances DriveCam’s ability to deliver highquality services to its customers. “The combination of our strong balance sheet, the ability to invest in our business and our market momentum position us for continued market leadership,” Nixon continued. “We are proud to be working with some of the best fleets in the world and to be recognised by the investment community for the value we deliver.” www.drivecam.com

High-end audio interface RME offers the Fireface UCX, a highly integrated 36-channel USB and FireWire pro audio solution in an ultra-compact format, for studio and live recordings. The product continues RME's long tradition of designing compact high-end interfaces, packing into a half-rack size unit what usually would be spread out over two or three 19 inch panels. RME once again has put the latest technologies, introduced with the award winning RME’s new Fireface UCX, for advanced professional flagship UFX, plus a bunch of newly developed audio recording ones, into a half 19 inch housing with full mobile usability. The result is not just a smaller version of the smash hit UFX – the UCX continues the tradition of RME's tremendously successful compact interfaces, and combines it with the great usability of the successful Babyface through the included remote control. Equipped with a new 2011 A/D and D/A high-performance converter design all I/Os operate at up to 192 kHz. The AD/DA conversion shines with an impressive 114 dBA dynamic range on both record and playback. All analog I/Os use a low latency converter design that reduces the overall latency of timing critical applications, in live situations, and in computer-based recording studios.

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012


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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

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POWER

Africa Energy Indaba

Options on SA capacity E

skom’s recent warnings of possible power outages as a result of routine maintenance activities in South Africa have brought the country’s power problems back into the fore - further highlighting that alternative energy solutions are not only important but necessary to address the current pressure placed on power supply as a result of increased demand. Shaun Nel, Programme Director of the EIUG and speaker at this year’s Africa Energy Indaba, says, “The nature of the crisis is a severe energy shortage. It is imperative that any additional generation capacity available in the country must be sought to address the crisis or the local economy will suffer as a result of forced reductions” Possible energy alternatives discussed at the annual Africa Energy Indaba (AEI), held

in February in Johannesburg, indicate that South Africa and the rest of the continent can address the challenges of integrating the renewable technologies that present real options for Africa. Brian Statham, Chair of AEI commented: “The status of AEI has attracted a faculty of very experienced energy players from a diverse range of institutions. The format of selected plenary presentations and numerous panel discussions ensures the free exchange of ideas between these experts and allow the delegates plenty of opportunity to interact with the panels.” Access to energy In many economies, access to energy is still a luxury enjoyed by only a small number of the privileged. According to the International Energy Agency, 1.4bn people - the majority of whom are in Africa’s rural

areas - will still lack access to electricity in 2030 unless new approaches and policies are adopted. The Africa Energy Indaba continues to highlight policy and technological options, and enables identification of best practices in energy and asociated industries. “Launched in 2009, AEI has grown in stature over the last three years,” said Statham. “The World Energy Council has now decided to adopt AEI as its premier event for the African Continent which confirms the global reputation of AEI as Africa’s leading energy event. This event is a ‘must attend’ for those who are intent upon shaping Africa’s energy future.” The central theme of the 2012 event, "Unleashing Africa's Energy Potential" reflects renewed efforts to formulate actionable ideas and proposals that will benefit the continent's billion people. ■

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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

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Cameroon

POWER

Safer energy supply I

FC, a global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries, is investing €60mn (US$77mn) in direct financing, and coordinating €138mn in syndicated and parallel loans, to the Kribi Power Development Company to support the development, construction and operation of a new natural gas-fired power plant and transmission line that will enhance the supply of reliable electricity and improve energy security in Cameroon.

The Kribi power project will be implemented by the Government of Cameroon and AES Corporation” Development to develop resources The Kribi power project, consisting of a 216 megawatt natural gas-fired power plant and a 100km 225kv double circuit transmission line, will be implemented as a public-private partnership between the Government of Cameroon and the AES Corporation, which owns 44 and 56 per cent of the company respectively. The plant will run on natural gas supplied from the offshore Sanaga South gas field – marking the first commercial development of Cameroon’s substantial gas reserves that have the potential to compensate for the country’s declining oil supplies and complement the development of its vast hydropower resources. In addition to providing €60 mn in direct financing to this €263mn project, IFC is coordinating additional parallel and syndicated loans from development finance institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO), the French Promotion and Investment Company for Economic Cooperation (PROPARCO), and the Central African Development Bank (BDEAC). The European Investment Bank is expected to finalise its financing to the project shortly. These institutions will provide an additional €138mn of the project debt through syndicated and parallel loans. Jean David Bile, CEO of AES Africa, said, “The development of Kribi will help meet the growing domestic demand for electricity and contribute directly to the development of Cameroon’s electric power infrastructure. We appreciate the support of institutions that share our commitment to responding to Cameroon’s critical infrastructure needs.” Thierry Tanoh, IFC Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Western Europe, said, “IFC has a long-standing commitment to Cameroon’s power sector, first as an advisor to the government in the privatisation of the country’s integrated electric utility, and subsequently as a lead lender in two power transactions. As one of the few independent power projects in Africa, Kribi will serve as an example of public-private partnerships in the region.” Kribi is the second independent power project in Cameroon. ■ African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

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POWER

Compressors

Innovative compression T

here has been a wide range of innovation, with respect to compression technology. One might begin with scroll technology, which is inherently quiet and low in vibration while returning efficiency in operation. The technology was patented n 1905. However, due to difficulties in accurately machining the spiral walls and other critical components, the scroll device did not enter common use until the 1990s, when machining technology matured to support production of this revolutionary concept.

Compressor Types

Dynamic

Positive Displacement

Reciprocating

Single-Acting

Rotary

Centrifugal

Axial

Double-Acting Lobe

Computing methods can save costs Computer modeling of compression processes may appear to be an indulgence for academics, while those at the sharp end of compressor design still rely on less sophisticated techniques together with experience and testing. However, computing methods have moved on, and designers can have access to tools that can save costly trial and error methods and testing. Industry is moving to the stage where the compressor can be fully optimised on the screen, and testing can be reduced to confirmation and reliability proving. In recent years, there have been a number of industry collaboraions, focusing primarily on screw compressors, but aimed at developing methods that are applicable to related technologies.

pistons? Possibly, linear motors could provide an answer, and at the same time eliminate the oil contamination the system. Successful linear machines have been built for cryogenics, and moving magnet motors are being developed for commercial refrigeration. A few years ago, an innovation was introduced by Professor Ooi Beng Chin from the National University of Singapore, comprising an ingenious revolving vane mechanism that could offer much better mechanical efficiency than the present rolling piston types used in many small cooling systems.

New compression mechanisms Why do we need rotation to drive compressor

Turbo compressor opportunities The centrifugal compressor has the potential for

Diaphragm

Screw Liquid Ring

Vane Scroll

variable speed oil-free compression. An oil-free compressor will eliminate oil-carryover in the compressed air supply. In addition, the removal of oil from the compression process enables compressed air users to operate with maximum environmental efficiency. Turning compression on its head Compressors become power-generating expanders when supplied with high pressure gas. Expanders can usefully employ waste heat or geothermal sources. Scrolls can recover heat using either steam or an organic fluid in a Rankine cycle. A concept has been developed in which high temperature wet steam is used, raising the possibility of even more efficiency. â–

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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012


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POWER

Africa Electricity

Connecting companies, sourcing solutions Africa Electricity proved a prime meeting place for industry professionals wishing to network with, and source solutions from, local and international companies

H

eld in mid-November 2011 in Johannesburg, Africa Electricity addressed issues affecting purchasing and projects across the continent - including government-owned power stations and Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects. The event agenda encompassed a BIG Debate on power generation, distribution and procurement matters - facilitated by Ian McKechnie at Innopro; including engaged by Thembani Bukula of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) and Yousuf Haffejee at South African power utility Eskom. There were, also, technical seminars presented by Nikhil Bagga and Tumay Kocaman at Khind; Abhijit Dasgupta at ERL Marketing International; and P.R. Lakshmana Rao at Kakatiya Energy Systems Limited.

Sector of interest

Water 20.35 %

Nuclear 15.31 %

Power 77.63 % New & Renewable Energy 59.84 %

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Percentage

20

Lighting 33.21 %

15 10 5 0 Nature of business Key Consultancy 18.21% Contracting 12.46% Distributor / Agent of products and services 24.79% Energy Supply Transmission & Distribution 20.59% Energy Utilisation 9.52% Facilities Management 2.80% Installation 13.59% Manufacturers 23.53% Project Management 14.85% Real Estate / Community Development 1.82% Retail 4.48% Utilities / Municipalities 8.12% Other 17.22%

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African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

A strong showing, first time out This first edition of Africa Electricity was opened by Ms Phindile Nzimande, Chief Executive Officer at NERSA. The BIG Debate proved to be popular, with good attendance for discussions on ‘The Generation Deficit’, ‘New and Renewable Sources of Energy’, ‘Africa's Electricity Distribution Infrastructure’ and the ‘IPP Procurement Update’. Strong questions were asked of the panelists, with one debate having over 30 pertinent queries from the floor. The exhibition itself featured 99 exhibitors from 22 countries who showcased products, services and technology from the power, lighting, new & renewable, nuclear and water sectors. Exhibitors demonstrate products and services to a high-quality audience of representatives from local utilities and government agencies. There were plenty of opportunities to support local partners and network with key buyers from many African countries - in fact, there were 721 unique visitors, representing 34 countries and total purchasing authority of US$76mn.


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Africa Electricity

Market potential, and market players For those at show, the market potential is undeniable. South Africa is expected to account for 21.28 per cent of the Middle East and Africa regional power generation by 2015. Regional Energy demand is forecasted to grow by 20.8 per cent between 2010 and 2015. The demand for electricity is estimated to have increased by two per cent in 2011. Between 2010 and 2020, South African electricity generation is forecast to grow by 36.3 per cent against a calculated global rise of 16.5 per cent. Furthermore, there expected to be an increase of 250 per cent in hydro-power use over the next 10 years - and an increase in nuclear power consumption of 60 per cent in the same period. A selection of players reveals an interesting and dynamic mix of portfolios. Key exhibitors included Danyang Jinsheng Imports & Export Trading Co. Ltd, which specialises in the production of road illumination equipment. Also there was ERL Marketing International, which delivers solutions for the power sector including substation automation, numerical protection, automated metering solutions, medium voltage switchgear and turnkey substations. Present at show, also, was Jeddah Cables Company, which manufactures power cables, overhead lines, special and signal cables, copper rods, and PVC & XLPE compound. There was, too, Madem - a nailed wooden reels producer with forests, sawmill and manufacturing plants in Brazil, Spain and Bahrain. Visitors had the opportunity to see Ningbo Jintian New Material Co., Ltd, a manufacturer of enamel copper wire from China. And there was Sakr Power Generation Nigeria Ltd, which specialises in the manufacture, sales and rental of generating sets and the implementation of turnkey power projects. Amongst the players was SDMO Industries, specialist in the manufacture of power generating plants, which offers standard generating sets (up to 3,000 kVA) complemented by individual solutions developed by its engineering department. And there was Volta Generators FZE, manufacturer of diesel

20

Percentage

15

10

5

0 Job function Key Architecture 4.20% Business Development 9.38% Consultancy 17.65% Director 12.32% Electrician 12.75% Engineering 9.38% Finance 0.84% Health & Safety 6.30%

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Marketing / Sales 13.73% MD / General Manager 7.14% Operations 5.88% Project Management 6.72% Purchasing 2.80% Quality Assurance 1.68% Research & Development 2.94% Other 14.20%

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

35 30 25 Percentage

POWER

20 15 10 5 0 Products/Services interested in sourcing a range of products from the industry Key Automation & Control Products 25.77% Distribution Products 34.17% Electrical Products & Services 34.73% Generation Equipment 20.03% Lighting Products 19.33% Nuclear Energy Products 17.79% New & Renewable Energy 29.83% Test & Measurement Equipment 15.69% Transmission Equipment 13.45% Other 14.06%

generating sets and power systems within the range 9KVA to 2,250 KVA, with an international reputation for quality. Zamil Steel’s Towers & Galvanizing Division (ZSTG) was on show, too, offering services for designing, detailing, manufacturing and hot dip galvanising, packing, bundling, and delivery of lattice steel structures for power transmission lines, telecommunications, substations and other structural applications. â–

Profiling Phindile Nzimande Phindile Nzimande is Chief Executive Officer of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). She was appointed in May 2011. After graduating from Wits University, Phindile worked in law, as a Professional Assistant at a law firm, and as an attorney and conveyancer, before leaving legal practice in 1994 to take up a role in government as Strategic Management Team Legal Advisor in Gauteng for Housing and Local Government. In 1996, Phindile joined the Metropolitan Council of Johannesburg, where she became Executive Director of Contract Management in 2001. Then, in 2003, Phindile accepted a fresh career challenge as CEO of EDI Holdings, the stateowned company tasked with project managing the restructuring of the electricity distribution industry in South Africa, which involved merging the distribution division of Eskom and the electricity departments of municipalities; thereafter carving the entire industry into six financially-viable Regional Electricity Distributors (REDs) throughout the country. She has served on a number of boards, including Nurcha, Sanparks and Momentum. Presently, she serves on the boards of MERSETA, Common Purpose and the Wits University Council.


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POWER

Renewables

Europe’s energy boost S

outh Africa’s government formed a partnership recently with four European countries and the European Investment Bank (EIB), to source funding and expertise to support the country's ambitious plans for the scale-up of renewable energy. The agreement was actually signed on the sidelines of the UN climate summit (COP 17) in Durban in December 2011, by representatives from South Africa, the UK, Norway, Germany, Denmark and the European Investment Bank. Expertise, funding Initially, the partnership is helping South Africa to develop operational financial mechanisms and secure funding to enable the scale-up of renewables envisaged by the South African Renewables Initiative (SARi), which forms part of the government's Industrial Policy Action

44

Plan. SA Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said SARI would not only promote increased use of renewable energy, but would also boost the development of new "green" industries, and create jobs in renewable energy and its value chain. Industrial, job creation benefits The South African Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies, said renewable energy represented "an opportunity for Africa ... African countries need to become producers as well as consumers of tomorrow's technologies. As South Africa begins to roll out large-scale renewables, we are seeking to do this in a way that maximises industrial and job creation benefits. "The South African Renewables Initiative aims to unlock the environmental, industrial, and

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

economic benefits that large-scale renewable energy offer to South Africa, without imposing an unacceptable burden on our economy, public finances or citizens." Simon Brooks, EIB vice-president for climate action, said the bank "looks forward to working with South African partners both to share experience from renewable energy projects around the world and to see how best to support individual schemes". ■ The South African Renewables Initiative is intended to demonstrate and share learning from large-scale collaboration on investment into climate-compatible infrastructure Read more: http://www.southafrica.info/cop17/renewables -081211.htm#ixzz1jM4QZSgd


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NEWS

Power Choosing a UPS or inverter - or both - to run the office As businesses and consumers struggle to cope with the global energy crisis, governments and the private sector alike are actively looking towards alternative, greener energy sources to preserve both the planet and power. Until such time that the crisis is over, it is imperative to have solutions in place that provide backup and protect equipment from power surges and power outages. Many companies invest in power solutions, such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) apparatus, especially for their IT environments, but as businesses and homes also need backup power sources, the inverter is coming to fore. However, not many people understand the differences (and similarities) between a UPS and inverter. Providing uninterrupted power A UPS is fairly simple in its working, yet provides something essential to any business - uninterrupted power, as well as lightning and power surge protection. The inverter is similar in its purpose yet offers slightly different functionality. Both have been around for decades and not only assist with the increasing power shortage, but also provide a short-term solution. Manufacturers have even started enabling these devices to assist in providing a long-term solution where carbon footprints and energy conservation are concerned. Put simply, a UPS contains an inverter, yet distinguishes itself with additional features such as lighting and power surge protection through automated voltage regulation (AVR). It provides a limited autonomy to enable statefull shutdowns with IT equipment such as

A UPS is fairly simple in its working, yet provides something essential to any business uninterrupted power� servers, which ensures information and software is not corrupted which can happen with a sudden power outage. An Inverter is comparatively inexpensive, basic equipment, which is entrenched in the electronic industry and used to keep production going for up to 12 hours after a power outage. It does this by converting the output DC power from its battery source, into an AC current. UPS's and inverters have co-existed for decades in their separate markets, but as we are moving to an ever-increasing technologically advanced environment where automated, or smart homes is a new buzz word, so the lines between the UPS and Inverter have blurred. A home user would benefit from an Inverter that can not only run the geyser and everything else connected electronically, while the power is out, but also do it in an environmentally friendly manner. A generator serves the purpose of extended run time in the home and office, but the accompanying noise and carbon-loaded fuel consumption, will not suffice in our green day and age. Robert Brandt, AEC Product Specialist at Drive Control Corporation

Smart management of renewable power sources with COELMO

F

ounded in 1946, COELMO has manufactured generating sets from 3 up to 3000 kVA. At all times, the company has delivered excellence in planning and designing standard, marine or customised units, focusing on rental, pre-sales and after-sales technical services and financial services. Furthermore, COELMO has become renowned for implementing innovative technologies. COELMO’s Hybrid Systems incorporate renewable sources, developed specifically for smart power management. Especially designed for telecommunications applications, these solutions ensure a stable power supply with decreasing operating costs and fuel consumption. coelmo.net

COELMO delivers smart management from renewable sources

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

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S08 ATR Feb 2012 Report Construction_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:35 Page 46

CONSTRUCTION

Facilities Management

Automation meets information technology Notes on advanced functionality to monitor and control the mechanical and lighting systems in a building

T

he benefits of integrating Building Automation Systems (BAS) into an organisation's enterprise ICT backbone are significant. The trend to realise the promised efficiencies and insight into operations that this brings is being driven by the evolution of Internet Protocols (IP) based communication, which makes the transfer and sharing of information from one data point to another not only possible, but seamless. It's an opportunity still waiting to be exploited by South African organisations. Johnson Controls' Neil Cameron provides an insightful lens through which to view this trend. Explains Cameron, “Facility management and building automation divisions within organisations have traditionally had to deal with costly and complex mechanical equipment, like chillers, as well as other systems like lighting and security, which were proprietary solutions with dedicated software and controllers." The cross-over with IT began in the late 1990s, however, when most BAS vendors reinvented their systems to use standard protocols that were developed for the controls industry, such as BACnet and LonTalk. This allowed building control systems from multiple vendors for HVAC, lighting, electrical distribution and life safety to be integrated into a common facility management system. It's the evolution of IP-based communication and establishment of open standards that has brought about the true BAS/IT integration capability, however. "They allow IT applications to read real-time or historical control system values - so they are no longer trapped in a building management system's workstation. This means that building-related data - including energy, security and life safety system information can now be accessed through a standard Web browser. The benefits that can be gained by being able to access this information are tremendous," continues Cameron. Control costs, optimise performance With BAS data integrated to the organisation's IT backbone, it can, for example, gain access

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Human Interface Device Computer Workstation

Webserver

Programmable Logic Controller

Programmable Logic Controller

Secondary Bus

Secondary Bus

Boiler Controller

Central Plant Controller

VAV Box

VAV Box

VAV Box

Package Unit Controller

VAV Box

to current and historical electricity consumption. By merging this information with data from financial and enterprise databases, departments can more accurately identify enterprise expenditures and forecast budgets. This information can also provide the basis on which to identify best practices and improve energy efficiencies. The benefits in an industrial or manufacturing environment, where equipment and building automation data can be used in conjunction with standard business applications to identify cost (per manufactured item), manage and optimise processes and operations is unimaginable. So what changes? A closer relationship is developing between Services and IT, and between building automation system suppliers and IT. The challenge is to share information, not duplicate efforts; to build a common platform which each can exploit to enhance organisational performance -

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

Lighting Controller

BACnet Device

LonTalk Device

Building automation system is often referred to as an intelligent building system

albeit from seemingly different perspectives. Says Cameron, “A practical way to approach integration of BAS and IT systems is to do a needs analysis. Identify the core information the organisation's needs on a real time and historical basis, and then build a dashboard of these items that is regularly updated and can be accessed by IT applications." A future wave ready for riding Concludes Cameron, “IP-based control and monitoring, whether in a wired or wireless environment, is the new expressway to expanded enterprise applications. The opportunities are immense in terms of greater cost control, increasing energy efficiency, and improved enterprise-wide planning, coordination and budgeting. This is a future wave that is ready to be ridden - now is the time to investigate and take action." ■


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S08 ATR Feb 2012 Report Construction_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:40 Page 48

CONSTRUCTION

Roads

Drives to test Africa’s highways and runways A device for the accelerated testing of highways or airport runways, which features modular AC drives, has been developed in South Africa

T

he Accelerated Pavement Testing device (APT) - the MLS10 - produced by MLS Test Systems Pty Ltd of Stellenbosch, features contactless linear induction motors eliminating drive train fatigue and wear. The MS10 can apply more than 100, 000 wheel loads per day, each equivalent to a 12-ton axle load, onto a 3.6 metres long stretch of road. The typical speed of the wheels is 6 m/s (22 kph). The machine structure is a space frame 10 metres long, inside which four wheel bogies, each fitted with dual 295/65 R22.5 truck tyres, run in a vertical loop. The wheel bogies, linked together in an endless chain, are guided by two concentric sets of steel guide rails. Dual, counter-rotating, 250-mm diameter steel guide wheels on the bogies run between two sets of guide rails. Whilst a bogie runs along the bottom section of the rails, the tyres are pushed down onto the pavement by a hydraulic and compressed nitrogen gas system. In addition, whilst running, the entire machine can be translated sideways, about 500mm to each side, on computer-controlled hydraulic powered slides to simulate the lateral distribution of the wheel paths of different trucks on a highway. The machine has an on board a 132kW diesel generator and is fitted with transport wheels on which it can be driven and steered at low speed under its own power. The machine utilises Linear Induction Motors (LIMs) from Force Engineering in the UK to drive the bogies inside the machine and these are controlled by specially configured modular Unidrive SPM AC drives. LIM’s, with their nocontact characteristics and their high thrust and acceleration were the perfect choice for this

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application, but they do require control by specially configured inverter drives. Control Techniques has worked closely with Force Engineering for many years to produce the optimum control characteristics for LIMs. The drives give a soft-start action, maximum speed being determined by winding design and supply frequency whilst torque and speed is controlled in several ways. Techniques and technology for road testing Control Techniques’ on-board second processor technology was used to run the dedicated LIM Control Software Solution. The software was downloaded into an SM Applications Plus module which requires no panel space as it is fitted into the interior of the Unidrive SPM drive. This high-speed processor handles all motion control calculations as well the complete machine logic control. The lateral position control of the entire machine is also handled within the SM Applications Plus module. Analogue sensors provide position feedback and the actual motion is done by hydraulic actuators. The machine I/O is networked to the SM Applications Plus processor module by means of CTNet, Control Techniques’ own high-speed network, and Beckhoff remote I/O cards. In this way the designers managed reliabily to network large quantities of field I/O at very high communication speeds. An operator interface is used to setup the machine operating parameters as well as provide system diagnostics and fault reporting. The modular nature of the Unidrive SPM’s power circuits helps with fitting into non-

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

standard enclosures - and was a major benefit for this application. The drive still provides the full standard and optional features of the wellproven and popular Undrive SP range, and is integrated using the same software tools for commissioning and programming. The Unidrive SPM is extremely versatile, configurable into open and closed loop modes, paralleled and load sharing, with active input and regeneration, in multi-pulse configuration (12, 18, 24 etc.) or fitted on a common bus for circulation of energy between drives. The linear induction motors for the MLS10 Test System are supplied by Force Engineering of Leicestershire, one of the world leaders in LIM technology. The company has developed hundreds of bespoke designs - from just a few Newtons of force up to many kiloNewtons supplying companies throughout the world for applications as diverse as rapid transit systems, amusement rides and materials handling. LIMs are used to move a steel bar a few millimetres or propel a seven-tonne vehicle up to 60mph in seconds! LIMs produce a linear thrust in a reaction plate and have many advantages; no moving parts, silent operation, reduced maintenance, compact size, fast response and ease of control and installation. They develop very high acceleration and braking forces, with speed not limited by contact friction and no gears means no backlash. MLS Test Systems has extensive experience in electro-mechanical design and pavement engineering. Its core business is the design and manufacture of research and test equipment for the road and airport pavement industries. ■


S08 ATR Feb 2012 Report Construction_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:35 Page 49

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S08 ATR Feb 2012 Report Construction_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:35 Page 50

CONSTRUCTION

Roads

Supporting enhanced West African integration The African Development Fund’s commitment to finance for new transport infrastructure in The Gambia

R

ecent approval by the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group of finance amounting to US$107.4mn, for the construction of the Trans-Gambia Bridge and Cross Border Improvement Project, entails a commitment to a financing package, which is being extended through the African Developmtent Fund (ADF), the African Development Bank Group’s concessionary lending window, amounting to an outright grant of US$102.3mn and ADF concessionary resources of US$5.1mn. The project will help bring to fruition plans which the governments of The Gambia and Senegal have had for many years, to create free traffic flow between the northern and southern parts of each in order to promote free movement of persons, goods and services between them and other countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Current interstate transit on the corridor is marked by numerous barriers and check points. The Gambia River lacks a fixed connection across it. Service is

50

by ferry and poor road conditions, which are compounded by long and costly customs procedures. The project will respond to these challenges by improving transit and accessibility of the communities in the project zone. It will also reduce transport costs and travel and cross border times. Furthermore, it will contribute significantly to the economic development of the countries through the improvement of transport infrastructure that increases competitiveness and inclusive economic growth. Making the most of The Gambia River The Gambia River is a major river in West Africa, running 1,130km from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea, westward through Senegal and The Gambia to the Atlantic Ocean at the city of Banjul. It is navigable for about half that length. The river is strongly associated with The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, which consists of little more than the

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

downstream half of the river and its two banks. From the Fouta Djallon, the river runs northwest into the Tambacounda Region of Senegal, where it flows through the Parc National du Niokolo Koba, then is joined by the Nieri Ko and Koulountou before entering The Gambia at Fatoto. At this point the river runs generally west, but in a meandering course with a number of oxbows, and about 100km from its mouth it gradually widens, to over 10km wide where it meets the sea. AfDB President Donald Kaberuka said the project is consistent with the Bank’s key focus areas of infrastructure and regional integration. “The African Development Bank Group can finance the building of bridges and roads, but it takes political will to make these infrastructure facilities attain their economic objectives and ensure the reduction poverty among our people, he said.” The project will be executed over a period of five years, from 2012 to 2017. ■


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S09 ATR Feb 2012 Report Construction P_N_A_K_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:21 Page 52

CONSTRUCTION

Housing

Changing a community I

n the constant pursuit of better quality, South African brick paving company SA Paving has endeavoured to improve the quality of life of a charity that is helping young children overcome a life scarring experience. The Children of Fire charity in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, takes care of children from disadvantaged communities that have suffered severe burns from fire. Not limited only to the local community, the charity also has an outreach programme in the rest of Africa to take the good work they do to the less fortunate all over the continent. The right facilities for the job For good work to be effective it requires the right facilities. These facilities need to be reliable and sufficient to do the job which the charity organisation has set itself the goal of doing that is, to help all underprivileged children who have been affected by fire with either, medical

52

care, trauma counselling or education. The mission has gone so far as to rescue orphaned children from neighbouring countries. They achieve all this work without the benefit of any corporate sponsors as well as government and rely on the generosity of locals and business’ from the community. Several local supermarkets have, in the past, made generous donations of food. In recent years certain aspects of the buildings have become dilapidated and hazardous and without the means to fix them it runs the risk of becoming dangerous. The exterior as well as the interior of the house has a bad case of mould, water damage as well as damp. Mould and damp if left untreated not only possess structural failure but also extreme health and wellbeing hazards. Those at SA Paving feel that it is extremely important to give something back to the community - the same community that has

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

The charity SA Paving supports, Children of Fire, not only does a huge amount of work in and around South Africa, but also has outreach programmes in the rest of Africa. Some of the outreach work includes trips to the Congo, where by the mission is to help as many children as possible whether it be medical, trauma counselling even education.�


S09 ATR Feb 2012 Report Construction P_N_A_K_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:21 Page 53

Housing CONSTRUCTION supported it for 30 years. They feel that, by paving certain outside areas of the residence, they will be able to eliminate the damp and rising mould problems successfully, thus eliminating the structural problems as well as ensuring that the kids are exposed to an environment that is conducive to their overall health and wellbeing. SA Paving Johannesburg will supply the bricks as well as all materials and labour involved, the job will take approximately 2-3 days.

SA Paving seeks to eliminate structural problems, thus improving the quality of community life

A charitable company For good work to thrive big business with a conscience needs to take an active step to help these charitable organisations achieve their goals. Often giving money is not enough; businesses with the right skills need to give of their time and resources to improve the standards of the charity doing the work. SA Paving is a company founded on the principles of hard work and quality workmanship, the same pillars that all good charities stand on. The established South African paving company, which is now in its second generation of family leadership, has always devoted itself to charitable causes, so it comes as no surprise that when they were approached by children of fire and asked for help, they didn’t bat an eyelid. â–

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S09 ATR Feb 2012 Report Construction P_N_A_K_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:21 Page 54

CONSTRUCTION

Power

Building a chimney T

he Concor-Karrena JV has completed nearly 90 metres of the west chimney at Eskom’s mammoth Kusile thermal power station in Mpumalanga - finished with a 213m top out. The 4,800MW power station, one of the largest coal-fired stations in the world, will have two 213-metre chimneys, each fitted with three flues. Wian Stols, quality manager for the ConcorKarrena JV, says piling for the west chimney commenced in February 2011 and was completed in just over three months. A total of 70 piles were cast at an average depth of 23 metres. The chimney base cast by ConcorKarrena is 2.5 metres deep, has an outside diameter of 27.9 metres and inside diameter of 17.5 metres. A slipform system imported from Europe is being used to cast both the west and east chimneys. There were two slipform systems imported from Europe; one for each chimney to assist the sliding team in moving from one chimney to the next to save preparation time. “We completed casting the base and building the kicker on the east chimney in early December 2011,” Stols says. “The east chimney piles are founded in bed rock and, at an average depth of 10.5 metres, did not have to be as deep as those required for the west chimney.” It will take two weeks to break down the shutters and slide system platform on the west chimney. A further specialist team will

then prepare and cast the roof platform while the sliding team starts the east chimney. “Construction of the east chimney should take about 10 weeks with two crews working 24/7 over a total of 128 shifts. The teams comprise of approximately 90 people per shift including labourers, foremen, engineers and staff such as safety and quality specialists. Seminars on infrastructure sectors The Concor-Karrena JV has erected a batch plant 700 metres from the west chimney. Aggregate is delivered to the batch plant from the Doornrug Quarries about 15km from the Kusile construction site.

Nearly halfway at 90 metres – the Kusile power station’s west chimney being constructed by the Concor-Karrena JV will tower to 213 metres when slipform casting is completed in February 2012

Concrete is transported to the chimney by truck and transferred to a large volume bucket which lifts the material to the crew on the slide platform where it is discharged into the shutter. Stols indicates that after the completion of concrete work a team from Concor Engineering will begin installation of the flues. Five platforms will be jacked into position inside each chimney and the 24 sections or cans that make up each flue will be lifted into position and bolted together. The overall completion dates of the chimneys are 3 April 2013 (west) and 23 October 2013 (east). The sliding system is maintained and operated by expert expatiate personnel. Among the challenges facing the Concor-Karrena JV

was the training of local workers in the specialist requirements of sliding technology including working at height. As a result of the psychometric and other testing required for working at heights clearance, some personnel who would find working at heights challenging were identified and they were reassigned ground tasks. The Concor-Karrena JV has employed about 120 workers from local communities Part of the contract contribution to the local community CKJV will train people on site in various skills such as steelfixers, welders, shutter hands and civil and mechanical technicians. From the start of the project to 4 December 2011, the Concor-Karrena JV recorded 347 688 LTIF (lost time injury free) hours. ■

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S09 ATR Feb 2012 Report Construction P_N_A_K_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:21 Page 55

EQUIPMENT

Construction

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Construction machinery to be shown in southern Africa

M

esse München International is expanding its international network for the construction machinery sector with the launch of a new event in South Africa. The first bauma Africa takes place in September 2013 in Johannesburg. Messe München will set up a subsidiary in South Africa to implement this event. Messe München expects the first edition of this International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines and Construction Vehicles to attract around 200 exhibitors and to take up around 20,000 square metres of exhibition space. In terms of attendees, the show is directed primarily at customers from Sub-Saharan Africa. "South Africa is a market with a future which offers great potential for the construction machinery industry. Messe München has demonstrated a high level of expertise in the sector, through the organisation of construction machinery trade fairs not only at its base in Munich but also abroad. Now, building upon bauma China and the trade-fair cooperation bC India, one more professional, international platform is being created: bauma Africa. For this reason, too, the feedback from the industry regarding such a sector event has been very positive," said Eugen Egetenmeir, Managing Director of Messe München GmbH. The U.S.-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), organising jointly with Messe München the construction machinery trade show bC India, will be an official supporter of the first bauma Africa. “AEM fully supports Messe München in its launch of bauma Africa...We know Messe München will bring its superior skills to the organisation of bauma Africa to offer participants access to a premier event in a very promising market,” states Dennis Slater, president of AEM. www.messe-muenchen.de

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S10 ATR Feb 2012 Mining_Solutions_Layout 1 25/01/2012 10:08 Page 56

MINING

Platinum

Rocking around the clock in SA How Anglo American has improved output at the largest single stream platinum concentrator in the world - at the Mogalakwena North platinum mine in South Africa

P

latreef ore is tough stuff. Very hard and variable. If it was not the largest source of platinum group metals (PGM) in the world, it would perhaps be better left alone. The Platreef is part of northern South Africa’s Bushveld Complex, which also contains the Merensky Reef and the Upper Group 2 Reef. Unlike the other reefs, which are narrow, usually less than one metre thick and mined underground, open-pit methods are used to mine the Platreef, which varies between 5 and 90 metres in thickness. Anglo Platinum has been mining platinum at Mogalakwena, formerly named Potgietersrust, since 1993. Mining Platreef platinum ore at Mogalakwena, 200 miles north of Johannesburg, is a piece of cake. Daily blasts at the open-cast mine break open the Platreef to extract the ore. Then the hard work of processing this metres-thick rock into millimetresthin metallic powder begins. Most of the work is performed at a concentrator, usually sited adjacent to a platinum mine. Concentrating reduces the volume of ore requiring expensive pyrometallurgical processes at the smelters and refineries to separate the individual metals. In order to concentrate the material, the platinum ore is by turn crushed, milled and then chemically treated to separate the precious metals from dust and other waste products. Other precious metals like gold, copper and nickel talk about concentration in ores in percentages, but for platinum it is in parts per million. Furthermore, the concentration of platinum, or head grade, in Platreef ore is significantly lower than other South African reefs; it varies anywhere between 2.2 and 3.5 grammes/tonne, compared to the 5 grammes/tonne typical of the Marensky reef near Rustenburg. Based on a typical conversion rate of 25 per cent, it requires a staggering 40 tonnes of Platreef ore to produce just one ounce of platinum. New pit and concentrator In 2006, with the original Sandsloot pit approaching the end of its life, Anglo American, owners of Anglo Platinum, decided to invest in a new pit and concentrator, named Mogalakwena North. Anglo Platinum designed the concentrator to be the world’s largest single stream platinum concentrator, with an ore processing capacity of 600,000 tonnes per month. In order to achieve such a high capacity with a high-risk, single stream plant, i.e. all the ore undergoes primary milling and then secondary milling in sequence, Anglo Platinum required some ground-breaking technology. Having suffered throughput problems due to the extreme hardness and variable quality of Platreef ore, Anglo Platinum explored methods to improve its platinum recovery rate and operational efficiency with the new facility at Mogalakwena North. Ultimately, Anglo Platinum decided against the traditional four-stage

56

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

The Mogalakwena Mine in Limpopo province, South Africa (Photo: ABB)

crushing process used at its other concentrators and instead took the bold decision to replace the third and fourth crushing stages with a high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) crusher. Usually the preserve of copper mining, this was the first time that an HPGR crusher has ever been utilised in platinum mining. Anglo Platinum claims several other firsts for Mogalakwena North, which was commissioned in 2009. The plant is running between 900 and 1,000 tonnes of ore per hour into the mill, a world best for platinum, according to section engineering manager Natalie Fourie. Mogalakwena North also has the biggest primary gyratory crusher in the world, weighing 480 tonnes with a 60-feet diameter and 1 MW motor. The concentrator also sees the first use by Anglo Platinum of gearless mill drives (GMD), in this instance made by Swiss engineering firm ABB. The drives are powered by a 17.5 MW motor, five times a similarly-sized throughput mill, says Fourie. At a diameter of 26 feet Mogalakwena North’s GMDs were the largest installed in the world, but they have since been superseded by a 40-feet diameter drive in Australia. Mogalakwena North also has the biggest single stream centrifugal blower installation in Africa and the biggest mill discharge pumps in South Africa. Concentrating process The freshly-blasted rock is loaded by gigantic hydraulic shovels, again the world’s largest, onto trucks for transport to the primary crusher. All material tipped directly from the trucks into the primary crusher has to be smaller than one square metre. Material from the primary crusher goes through secondary crushing until it is less than 65 millimetres thick. From there the ore goes through tertiary crushing via the


S10 ATR Feb 2012 Mining_Solutions_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:04 Page 57

Platinum aforementioned HPGR crusher supplied by ThyssenKrupp Polysius. Unlike normal jaw crushers that strike the rock or cone crushers which rotate, HPGRs utilise two, 100 tonne rolls adorned with studs 25mm in diameter and 35mm in length. The rolls, each powered by a 2.8 MW motor, turn at 20 rpm, with one fixed in position while the other moves horizontally to adjust the gap. The crushing force is exerted hydraulically on the moving roll, with pressurised nitrogen acting as a spring. The initial gap is set to accept the largest particle size in the feed and thereafter the pressure is adjusted hydraulically to maintain interparticle crushing in the area between the rolls. Fourie says the HPGR is working extremely well. “It gives a very fine product that gives us a lot more flexibility in milling,” she explains. “A normal tertiary crusher would not be able to reduce the size of the ore to just eight millimetres. Fourie says the novel usage of an HPGR crusher for platinum concentrating has not been without problems. “The HPGR is a highly sophisticated machine that has a great deal of interlocks. When it decides not to play nicely, I have sleepless nights. If the rolls are not exactly parallel or the pressures are not exactly equal, the machine will simply refuse to start up.” Due to various problems at Mogolakwena North, including frequent ore conveyor belt breakdowns, problems with the GMDs and HPGR crusher, it has taken Anglo Platinum nearly three years to achieve the plant’s stated throughput capacity of 600,000 tonnes per month. “Few engineers contracted to work with Amplats have experience of GMDs or HPGRs. But if I have a problem with a conveyor belt, I can call 20 people. “If we have a problem with an HPGR, I have to get hold of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). As this is the first utilisation of HPGRs with hard rock mining, the OEM is also going through a learning process. It’s a lesson learned for the whole of Anglo American. We now get visitors from Anglo American engineers from around the world to learn how to use an HPGR.” From the HPGR crusher, the platinum slurry is fed to the GMD, in which steel balls grind the material. The primary milling grind is rated at 55 per cent at <75 microns; the secondary grind is rated at 80 per cent at <75 microns. Grinding the material in this way exposes the platinum and other precious metals so they can react with the reagents in the flotation chamber and disperse into individual materials. Fourie says the GMD, used for the first time by Anglo Platinum, has been a success. “The flexibility cannot be underestimated,” she says. “As it has fewer mechanical moving parts the mill can be slowed down and sped up like a dimmer switch. It’s proven to be more reliable than standalone motors.” Again, however, utilising novel technology has not been without problems. “At the whiff of moisture the motor trips to avoid catastrophic failure,” says Fourie. “We’ve had to make modifications to the outside of the GMD in order to enable exterior washing and reduce the likelihood of slurry clogging.” After milling, the slurry is then placed in flotation cells for separating via reagents and hot air, while the waste material falls into a trough, ready for disposal. The valuable concentrate is thickened and then filtered at high pressure to remove water. Before being transported to Anglo Platinum’s smelter in Polokwane 40 miles away, the fine powder is finally put through an IsaMill, which grinds the material to less than 75 microns. By now the ‘finished’ powder has a concentration of 60 grammes/tonne, compared to the three grammes/tonne contained in the freshly-blasted ore. Mogalakwena North produces 11,000 to 12,000 ounces of platinum per month. Platinum accounts for around 50 per cent of Mogalakwena North’s total output, with palladium accounting for 40 per cent and 10 per cent for all other minerals, including gold, copper, rhodium, ruthenium,

MINING

iridium, nickel and cobalt. Power supply problems It is estimated the HPGR provides Anglo Platinum with an energy saving of 15-20 per cent versus four-stage conventional crushing. When Mogalakwena North alone consumes a colossal 33,000 MWh of electricity per month, this is no small amount. Fourie says the mine’s power supplies can be highly unstable. South Africa’s state power utility Eskom is contracted to supply 11 kV, but this can occasionally drop to 10.8 kV or increase to 11.2 kV. As concentrators become ever more highly automated, the plant’s equipment is sensitive to fluctuations in power voltage and more likely to trip. Until it installed voltage ride-through technology that allows the GMDs, which are particularly sensitive to changes in power quality, to keep rotating until they catch up with the power supply, Mogalakwena North suffered six to eight trips per month. Some are unavoidable when the voltage dips too low for the concentrator to keep operating, says Fourie, but it now suffers just two trips per month on average. In 2008 South Africa was struck by a near two-week blackout, affecting platinum production at Mogalakwena for several days. Anglo Platinum, which operates 11 mines and nine concentrators in South Africa, had to shut down a number of concentrators in order to give priority to its smelters, which are not easily shut down and restarted. Since 2008 blackouts have not occurred, but Anglo Platinum continues to hold weekly meetings with Eskom to discuss potential power supply problems. Anglo Platinum has a contract where Eskom must give notice of power outages that may affect platinum production, with financial penalties for failure. Should Eskom reduce Anglo Platinum’s power to 75 per cent of load or lower, it must choose whether to reduce capacity at its concentrators or shut operations completely at designated units. However, because Mogalakwena is an open-cast mine and not as energy-intensive as underground mining, it is able to keep running through power outages unlike others. Anglo Platinum also has a rolling five-year infrastructure and electricity plan with Eskom, which sets out its future power demand. The miner has to keep within ten per cent of the agreed demand and so far, says Fourie, the two companies have been aligned in terms of power supply and demand. Rising input costs Eskom is to increase electricity prices by 27 per cent in 2012, having imposed a 25 per cent hike the previous year. Having signed an unfavourable deal with BHP Billiton, Eskom is wary of entering into longterm power contracts and Anglo Platinum will be subject to Eskom’s programme of significant price rises in the coming years. Steel costs have also risen 17 per cent year on year. Fourie says Anglo Platinum will endeavour to stay on a flat unit cost for three years, so it is under considerable pressure to cut costs in other areas. Yet the input cost rises are making Anglo Platinum more efficient, she says. “You’d think it would be impossible to cope with these increases, but we are managing. We have streamlined our buying to a just-in-time process to reduce warehousing. We have also increased our maintenance intervals where possible in order to reduce contracting costs. We’ve also reduced the volume of reagents used in the flotation process.” Anglo Platinum plans to produce platinum at the site for at least another 60 years. Eventually the mine’s three pits will all join up. Once this is complete, scheduled for 2020, Mogalakwena will be the largest man-made excavation in the world. Mogalakwena appears to be the jewel in Anglo Platinum’s crown, despite hardness of Platreef ore. ■ Tim Probert African Review of Business and Technology - Dec 11/Jan 12

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MINING

African Mining Indaba

Dedicated to the development of mining

African Mining Indaba reflects the best investment opportunities for sustainable development

How Mining Indaba supports continued investment in the sustainability of the continent’s mineral resources industry

F

or nearly two decades, investing in African Mining Indaba has represented mining’s most influential stakeholders and decision-makers vested in the continent. And the event is wellattended, with more than 4,000 individuals representing more than 800 international companies and approximately 40 government and quasi-government delegations. Professionals attending the event include mining analysts, fund managers, investment specialists, and government representatives. Mining Indaba is their preferred venue for obtaining the most current economic and mining developments from experts in the field. In 2011, sponsoring companies represented an estimated collective market value of $1 trillion. At the Indaba, cross-continental business relationships are built and maintained. At the Indaba African Mining Indaba is held annually in Cape Town, South Africa. It is organised by Mining Indaba LLC, which has put together an intensive conference programme, drawing from 2011 session favorites – those

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that offered the audience the most variety, value and vision - and introducing new areas for consideration. The programme is designed to deliver the information relevant to a global audience and create critical networking opportunities that will further establish and nurture the important business relationships. There will be a commodity outlook and review. There will be keynote addresses, corporate presentations, ministerial sessions, governmental presentations, keynote addresses - and, to wrap up, a final day’s focus on sustainable development. Backing the show This year’s Mining Indaba Platinum Sponsor is Earthstone. The official airline partner is South African Airways, a Star Alliance Member. And, as it is taking place 6-9 February, those attending Investing in African Mining Indaba 2012 can take advantage of excellent availibility of accommodation and activities in Cape Town. In addition to a good range of hotels at different levels of luxury, there is the Mining Indaba Golf Day - scheduled to be played on 5 February - and the Safari options, pre- and post-show, with

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

preferential rates for show attendees at a number of lodges in South Africa. Then, the Gala Dinner - possibly, the most anticipated event at Mining Indaba - attracts representatives from more than 180 countries with investors, miners and mining analysts, project developers, fund managers, investment specialists and financiers connecting and sharing knowledge of their industrial and market developments. Investing in knowledge, investing in sustainable mining Delegates attending Mining Indaba acquire and develop knowledge, and gain primary experience and understanding of the risks and rewards associated with investing in mineral-rich countries around the continent. They meet the policymakers of these nations, and hear reports of successful and unsuccessful ventures. Mining Indaba provides companies with a platform on which to build shareholder base, and the opportunities for industry professionals to gain exposure to other specialists in natural resources. ■ www.miningIndaba.com


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EQUIPMENT

Mining Breathe easy with MSA half-mask

M

SA Africa offers the Advantage 400 Half Mask Series, designed for maximum comfort, enhanced safety, reduced maintenance costs, and a universal fit that adapts to a broad range of faces. It also integrates well with other personal protective equipment (PPE). And its high quality LIM silicone provides durability and stability without compromising comfort. With only three major components - head harness, nose cup and four-point yoke - parts inventory and maintenance time is reduced. Available with single thread EN 148-1 connection, or with twin bayonet MSA connection, and with a wide range of different filters for both versions. www.msanet.com

Weba Chute Systems offers unique and streamlined approach Regardless of belt speed, belt width, material size, shape or throughput, the bulk transfer system offered by bulk materials handling company Weba Chute Systems eliminates problems associated with conventional transfer chutes and provides cost effective, environmentally friendly operations. Each Weba Chute System is custom designed, incorporating the operation’s unique product specifications and data as well as the plant layout, including the position of belt scrapers and dust suppression/extraction systems. The chute is designed to control the flow, volume and velocity of the material being transferred at all times not only at the entry and exit points. Successful installations of Weba Chute Systems

have proven that the correct use of the streamlined scientific approach to the dynamics of bulk materials handling reduces the problems associated with conventional transfer chutes, resulting in significant cost savings and improved environmental and safety performance. Easy access is provided for inspection and maintenance purposes and the system does not require ongoing supervision, representing further savings in manpower and related costs. www.mjeng.co.za

African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

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THE ONLY FORUM FOR SECURITY PRACTITIONERS IN WEST AFRICA

ER REGIST SIT Wcw!esVtafIrica.com NO w.ifse ww

Exhibitors include international brands such as Bosch, Sony and GE that see many opportunities in the Nigerian market. These exhibitors will bring new products, technologies and know how to share with Nigerian security stakeholders. There is a shift towards technology driven security in Nigeria and West Africa. &RQíUPHG VXSSRUW IURP *RYHUQPHQW DQG ,QGXVWU\ associations. The Government is spending 921 Billion Naira (US$5.5bn) on Security in 2012.

Exhibitors already include:

To be held in a state of the art venue. Rapidly growing untapped security market. Last year there were over 90 exhibitors (local & international) and was attended by over 2000 visitors. 2012 will be EVEN BIGGER! A WORKSHOP WILL TAKE PLACE 06 - 07 MARCH AT THE VENUE AND THE TWO MAIN STREAMS WILL BE: Protecting Critical Infrastructure City Surveillance with the addition of Homeland FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT www.ifsecwestafrica.com

For more information on exhibiting, contact: Nigeria and Africa Sales

South Africa Sales

Baytir Samba E: baytir.samba@ubm.com T: 234 (0)7037422199

Jaques Swanepoel E: jaquess@montgomeryafrica.com T: +27 (0) 11 835 1565 (South Africa)

International Neema Patel – International Sales Manager E: neema.patel@ubm.com T: +44 (0) 20 7921 8614 (United Kingdom) Supporting Partners/Endorsed

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S10 ATR Feb 2012 Mining_Solutions_Layout 1 24/01/2012 17:04 Page 61

SOLUTIONS

Automotive Volvo’s mobile workshop Two of Volvo Trucks’ most promising regions for the future are Africa and the Middle East; however, what is lacking is a well-developed service network. To help combat this, Aftersales & Retail Development within the Northern Africa & Middle East (NAME) area has developed a mobile workshop system, which is already able to service the trucks that are sold in the region. The target being to supplement the limited service network in these markets until a more permanent solution is created. "The greatest advantages of this system are that it is easy to build and it is mobile. It is easy for newly established importers to move their workshop to the place where it is most needed. At the same time, this self-sufficient system is ideal for the mining, gas and oil industries, for example, as they are frequently based in remote areas that are difficult to access," says Patrik Andrén, head of Aftersales & Retail Development within Northern Africa & Middle East. The newly-developed workshop system is made up of different modules. It comprises everything from service and lubrication modules to inventory, stock, office and changing-room modules. The aim is to enable importers to adapt these modules to their various requirements. One of the main advantages of this mobile workshop is that it also complies with Volvo's guidelines. www.volvo.com

Volvo Trucks has developed a mobile workshop system to help service trucks that have been sold in areas with less-developed service infrastructures, like Northern Africa and the Middle East

How technological innovation leads to automotive independence

S

peaking at International CES in January 2012, Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, highlighted Mercedes-Benz's innovation inside its vehicles. Zetsche discussed connectivity in the car and how the digital lifestyle extends to the "digital drive style”. Mercedes-Benz announced its Declaration of Automotive Independence, which calls for the freedom of time, freedom of speech, freedom of access, freedom of energy and freedom of information. "With this declaration, the best days of driving are still ahead,” said Zetsche. "Mercedes-Benz is making cars safer, smarter and more efficient, not to mention more fun to drive.” African Review of Business and Technology - February 2012

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SOLUTIONS

Water filters dispersed in Kenya to provide hydration Hydration Technology Innovations, LLC (HTI) has recently delivered thousands of HydroPack emergency water filters to flood-ravaged Western Kenya, where flooding along the Nzoia River has left thousands of homes and small farms under water. The HydroPacks 10x to 18x logistics savings in weight and cube, as compared to bottled water, enabled transport by canoe, motorcycle and bicycle, allowing delivery into camps that were not receiving any other aid due to the lack of road access. The HydroPack filters water using the natural process of forward osmosis. Each single-use pouch contains an osmotic charge (nutrient powder containing sugars and electrolytes) that is activated when the pouch is placed in any contaminated water source. The osmotic charge draws contaminated water through the forward osmosis membrane, which in the case of the HydroPack, is its packaging. After a period of 10-12 hours, the pouch is full and ready to drink, delivering clean hydration and 120 calories. The area that is experiencing the floodwaters was the site of a HydroPack demonstration pilot funded jointly by Eastman Chemical and HTI in January 2011. The area was originally chosen for the pilot due to the constant flooding they experience, oftentimes annually. The flood has ravaged the homes and livelihoods of some 25,000

people, leaving them homeless and scattered across 11 camps in the area of Mudimbia and Port Victoria. “There is such high demand for the HydroPack here,” says Assistant Chief Kudombi. “Everybody is asking for it and word is spreading quickly. Not only does it clean the water and make it safe, it gives my people energy which is very important right now.” www.htiwater.com

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