Africa Outlook SPECIAL ISSUE - Mining Indaba 2019 by Outlook Publishing

www.africaoutlookmag.com

AFRICA

Mining Indaba 2019

SPECIAL ISSUE Mota-Engil African Mining Services PW Mining CPC Engineering Lucara Botswana Bushveld Minerals DRA Global Theta Gold Mines Bassari Resources Schneider Electric MMM

MOTA-ENGIL 6 A continental stalwart of 70-plus years

AFRICAN MINING SERVICES 42 An honest approach to regional industry success

ALSO FEATURING: L U C A R A B O T S W A N A

PW MINING 58 Building on decades of support to Nigerian mining and construction projects

BUSHVELD MINERALS

CPC ENGINEERING 64 Supporting mining clients from start to finish

| DRA GLOBAL

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

AFRICA In this issue...

PW MINING The Partner of Choice A mainstay of West African mining

MINOPEX / DRA GLOBAL Growing Globally

Taking Middle Eastern mining to new levels

CPC ENGINEERING Hitting the Sweet Spot Supporting mining clients from start to finish

THETA GOLD MINES The Gold Rush Reawakens

Transforming Traansvaal Gold Mining Estate

TOPICAL FOCUS

MINING FOCUS Mining Indaba 2019: Mining Momentum

Looking back on the 25th Mining Indaba

MINING & RESOURCES

LUCARA BOTSWANA A Diamond Legacy

Inside the community miner in the heart of Botswana

104

BASSARI RESOURCES Striking Gold in Senegal

108

SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC MMM Powerful Prospects

MOTA-ENGIL AFRICA The African Answer to African Challenges

Making progress at the Makabingui Gold Project

A continental stalwart of 70-plus years

BUSHVELD MINERALS The Vanguard of Vanadium Fulfilling demand for an eversought-after resource

Ensuring ‘Life is On’ in African mines and mining communities

AFRICAN MINING SERVICES Mining with Integrity

An honest approach to regional industry success

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N I N G

I N D A B A

2 0 1 9

MINING Momentum

Having just wrapped up the 25th edition of Mining Indaba, the event’s Head of Marketing Joanna Kotyrba looks back on what she believes has been the most successful to date Writer: Tom Wadlow

ny event that runs for 25 years must be one that is worth going back to. For Mining Indaba, held at the start of February in Cape Town, 2019’s instalment has been the biggest and best yet with 6,000-plus delegates contributing to a lively forum and helping to steer a path for what is a crucial industry for Africa’s overall development. This year’s event also saw two heads of state in attendance – Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa and Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana – as well as several CEOs from leading mining enterprises. Looking back on a packed week, we caught up with Joanna Kotyrba, Mining Indaba’s Head of Marketing, to find out more. Africa Outlook (AfO): Now the dust has settled on 2019’s Mining

Indaba, tell us how the event went overall? Would you define it as a success? Joanna Kotyrba (JK): Even though the Investing in African Mining Indaba has been going on for 25 years now, the 2019 edition was the best one yet. It cemented and expanded on the successful revamp of the event in 2018 and attracted even more delegates from our key audiences – governments, major mining companies, junior miners, investors and service providers. One of the biggest highlights for the 2019 conference was the event attendance by two heads of state from Ghana and South Africa, with Nana Akufo-Addo and Cyril Ramaphosa respectively as well as 37 ministers. And yes, we certainly believe the event was a huge success. Our job is to bring investment to the mining industry in Africa as well as all the key

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

players for collaboration, dialogue and deal-making. We believe that last week we did just that, and in the words of His Excellency President Ramaphosa: “this platform provided by Mining Indaba strengthened our collaborative efforts aimed at regional integration”. Investing in African Mining Indaba is an investment conference and we certainly accomplished the objective of acting as a catalyst for driving investment into Africa’s mining sector. This was illustrated in the more buoyant mood at the event which will have helped drive more investment into the continent. The event also has sustainability at its core and through improved engagement with community groups, we acted as the platform to overcome these issues. AfO: What are some of the key statistics to take away from this year’s Mining Indaba?

JK: Mining Indaba 2019 saw well above 6,000 delegates attending, including close to 500 government delegates, 350 plus mining companies, 22 junior mining companies participating in the Investment Battlefield and the highest percentage of female speakers and moderators at Indaba to date. We also saw 212 companies exhibiting and 43 sponsors including Anglo American, Newmont Africa, Vedanta, South32 and Rio Tinto to name just a few.

AfO: What were some of the key messages and themes discussed during the event? JK: There were several major topics discussed, which included: • Sustainability development of the mining industry in Africa (the core of Mining Indaba) and improved engagement with community groups. • Investment and the role Mining Indaba plays in driving it into Africa’s mining sector. • The Young Leaders Programme and developing and investing in young talent. • Collaboration, cooperation and consensus building. • The importance of diversity in the mining sector.

AfO: Did you feel a sense of optimism about Africa’s mining industry from the discussions and interactions? JK: Certainly. A noticeable change this year from 2018 was the mood and sentiment amongst all delegates – much more optimistic and upbeat, signalling a positive shift in the mining industry and growing confidence globally in the mining sector, improved commodity prices and a more positive regulatory environment in South Africa. Thousands of meetings took place and millions of dollars’ worth of deals were secured. We believe that Mining Indaba remains the number one deal-making forum for the mining community and always reflects the general mood and trends in the industry. AfO: Are you already looking ahead to next year’s edition? How are you planning to make Mining Indaba 2020 the best edition yet? JK: Yes, we have already started to work on the 2020 edition and can’t wait to run it again next February. We are working on a few new features for 2020, on both content and technology fronts, however we don’t want to spill the beans just yet – stay tuned for more information! What we can say at this stage is that like with everything we do, the new features we’re currently developing are set to further improve our clients’ experience. We will also see an improved offering for lawyers and insurers at the 2020 conference, specifically focused around risk management and a greater involvement from Chinese investors and companies.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O TA - E N G I L

A F R I C A

The African Answer to African Challenges Mota-Engil Africa has been delivering crucial infrastructure and services across a range of sectors since it began operations in Angola more than 70 years ago Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

great deal of hope for Africa’s sustainable future hangs on the acceleration of infrastructure development. Every year around 12 million young people join the continent’s labour force, a figure which is only expected to rise as populations continue to grow. Indeed, if the latest United Nations medium scenario projections are proven correct, by 2050 the current populace will have doubled to 2.5 billion. If these millions of new workingage citizens are to be employed, Africa must industrialise. History has proven that a healthy stock of high-quality infrastructure in power, water, and transport is a key facilitating factor of industrialisation, creating an environment that enables organisations to thrive in their respective industries. The positive impact of infrastructure on economic growth and inclusive social development has been well documented by numerous social science disciplines and bodies like the African Development Bank (AfDB). High-quality infrastructure is essential for Africa to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN, Agenda 2063 of the African Union, and AfDB’s own High Five Goals. The latter estimates that the region’s infrastructure needs amount to somewhere in the region of $130-170 billion a year, markedly higher than the annual $93 billion published by Agence Française de Développement and the World Bank. However, this challenge also presents enormous opportunity, and there is optimism in the air from companies operating on the frontline of infrastructure development across the continent. “For many Africa is the continent of the future, but it has been our present for 72 years,” says Manuel António Mota, CEO of Mota-Engil Africa.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

“We are strong believers in the region and in its continuous development, and we are very confident about some of the recent steps taken in many African countries which will contribute to wider economic development.” This sentiment is backed up by the AfDB, which points to examples from Ethiopia, Mauritius and Rwanda as models that other African nations can follow. In its 2018 African Economic Outlook report it says: “By attracting foreign investment and firms, even the poorest African countries can improve their trade logistics, increase the knowledge and skills of local entrepreneurs, gain the confidence of international buyers, and gradually make local firms competitive.”

For many Africa is the continent of the future, but it has been our present for 72 years” Serving Sub-Saharan industry

Mota-Engil Africa is one of the largest native-born enterprises that works at the forefront of infrastructure development in the Sub-Sahara region. It has presence or interest in 16 different countries and is served by a 12,600-strong, with expertise spanning engineering and construction, waste management, mining, water and energy specialisms, among others. Mota elaborates: “We operate in

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

engineering and construction across the entire spectrum of activities, with a big focus on all kinds of public and private infrastructure and buildings. “We are also very active as a mining contractor, and in construction works for mining companies. We have a strong presence across the continent on waste collection and treatment, where we operate in five countries already, with a big focus in Angola, Ivory Coast and Mozambique.”

Mining side by side with Mota-Engil Africa Epiroc, through delivering on four core principles of reliability, proximity, sustainability and expertise, continues to be a partner of choice for miners

Epiroc – a combination of Greek and Latin meaning ‘at rock’. Now a separate entity from Atlas Copco, Epiroc’s name reflects the Company in action – a firm focused on mining, rock excavation and natural resources with proximity to customers, and one built on strong partnerships.

These partnerships are developed with customers in more than 150 countries around the world, served by 12,000 employees and 23 production facilities which combine to generate approximately SEK 30 billion ($3.31 billion) in annual revenue. From civil engineering, urban development and quarrying work to well drilling, deconstruction and recycling, Epiroc’s expertise are wide-reaching and backed up by an extensive service offering to ensure maximum uptime. In Africa, mining very much represents the Company’s staple industry. In the underground sphere, Epiroc can cater to a full suite of requirements, from mechanical rock excavation, loading and haulage, and ventilation systems to drill rigs, hydraulic drum cutter machinery and ground support equipment. On the surface, the Company provisions equipment and applications covering blasthole drill rigs and rock drilling, amongst others, while exploration machinery includes surface core drill rigs, reverse circulation drill rigs and rock drilling tools.

FOUR PRINCIPLES = FIRST CHOICE By basing its offering on four central pillars, Epiroc aims to be and remain the first-choice partner for its customers. These pillars are: •

Reliability – sticking to promises

•

Proximity – access to parts, services and support

•

Sustainability – environmentally, socially and ethically responsible practices

•

Expertise – backed by more than 145 years of history

A partner of choice Such expertise has led Epiroc to execute many significant and successful partnerships with mining clients, including Mota-Engil Africa. Among the work and services provided for the firm are supply of surface drill rigs, spare parts

Commenting on the partnership with Epiroc, he said: “More than a supplier of equipment and services, Epiroc has been a technological partner of Mota-Engil when studying the best equipment solutions for each operation and region of Africa, proposing the one that best suits the work to be done. “The relationship of trust that has established itself over several decades is increasingly strengthened and each new mining or infrastructure challenge for Mota-Engil Africa is also a challenge for Epiroc.

and consumables. Epiroc is also in the process of providing a basic level of automation for drilling machines alongside a surface manager data reporting tool. Fernando Pedrinho Martins, Regional Business Manager Drilling Solutions (Europe, Middle East and Africa), provides some further insight on the collaboration and why it has been so successful to date. “The partnership has developed over a very long time on different sectors, such as quarrying, civil construction, road construction, geotechnical, maritime works, tunnelling and others. “On mining, in particular, the relationship started with Mota-Engil África, first with exploration and lately moving into contracting. Epiroc supplied the drills being used in different projects like Moatize coal mine in Mozambique, and Siguiri gold mine in Guinea. “The proximity of the relationship allows us to listen to the customer and search for the best solutions. Our site presence and being a one-stop shop covering machines, drilling consumables, parts and service on a global scale, do also give a reassuring support to Mota-Engil Africa.” These reflections are backed up António Vieira, Mota-Engil Africa’s Head of Mining Services.

“We operate in remote environments and with logistical difficulties. Finding mobilisation solutions that do not compromise the performance of the contract, establishing training plans and monitoring the evolution of the work, allowing for anticipation of problems, has been an added value for the strengthening of this partnership work.” Forward-thinking Moving forwards, as Martins eluded to, Epiroc will look to implement further cutting-edge solutions into Mota-Engil Africa’s mining operations. “I want to put in place the first steps on aspects like fleet management and mine digitalisation, which we can do thanks to our recent acquisition of ASI Mining,” he comments. Acquiring expertise such as this will allow the Company to move hand in hand with Mota-Engil Africa and its projected expansion over the coming years, summarised by its key motto. It reads: “United. Inspired. Performance united us, innovation inspires us, and commitment drives us to keep moving forward. Count on Epiroc to deliver the solutions you need to succeed today and the technology to lead tomorrow.”

Call +49 201 21770 socialmedia@epiroc.com

www.epiroc.com

WE ARE CONNECTED...

... Supporting our PARTNERS ... Contributing to DEVELOPMENT

... Developing Worldclass ENERGY SOLUTIONS

... Supporting

YOUR MARINE FLEET

... Monitoring and Protecting YOUR EQUIPMENT

... Connect with us stet.pt

www.stet.pt

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

This presence culminates in a company which last year turned over $970 million and is currently sat on an order book worth $2.94 billion. MotaEngil Africa is growing steadily, shown by the fact that 2017’s revenue was 21 percent (or $171.54 million) higher than 2016’s. “We are very active on concessions, and other investments, that can or will generate construction where we invest our own equity, including airports, roads, ports, energy, real estate developments, and more,” adds Mota. “We currently have some publicprivate partnership concessions under construction, while one is already under exploration.” In terms of geographical footprint, Mota-Engil Africa is spread over 16 countries from east to south to west in the Sub-Sahara region. “We have had a solid presence in Angola since the beginning, and here we have a strong logistical base where we are able to provide support to our African operations,” Mota explains.

We have had a solid presence in Angola since the beginning, and here we have a strong logistical base where we are able to provide support to our African operations” “We are also well-established across Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, with further operations in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. “On the West African side, an area where we began operating more recently, we have a presence in the Ivory Coast, Guine Conacry, Cameroon, and most recently we have opened up an office in Nigeria. For the future, we are also tendering in Senegal and Ghana, and seek to potentially establish permanent bases, though if

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

it is the right project we will act across the whole continent.” Mota’s personal involvement stretches back a long way. Being a member of the founding family, he has been close to the organisation from a young age, formally joining in 2009 after completing his studies. He started working in Angola in 2009, and in 2012 was appointed as a board member of Mota-Engil Angola. Mota then became CEO of Mota-Engil Central Europe in June 2013 before moving to his current role in February 2016.

TET is the Caterpillar Dealer for both Portugal and Cabo Verde, and has represented Caterpillar in these regions for more than 57 years.

STET forms part of the Italian based Tesa Group of Companies, a large corporation that was established over 85 years ago. The Tesa Group employs more than 2,800 employees in Europe, operating as Caterpillar dealers and also running a number of complementary businesses across multiple territories, providing equipment management, rental and integrated solutions development to our customers who operate around the globe. For the past 500 years Portugal as a country has walked together with all Portuguese speaking territories across the world. Portuguese see it as their legacy and their responsibility to continue working together with these Portuguese speaking territories, maintaining the connection and contributing to the building of a better future for all Portuguese speaking people around the globe. Further, STET, as a traditional Portuguese company, has a rich history of supporting its customers in developing their businesses in Africa, something it has been doing by serving their needs for more than 40 years. We are thankful to Africa – it is in our blood, and is part of our heritage as it has helped us learn and grow as individuals and as a group.

and our customers – an opportunity which will further the development of the African continent by ensuring that Africa grows its connectivity with the rest of the world. We can leverage the expertise we have accumulated over our years of supporting our customers in Africa, mixed with the expertise we have from representing the Caterpillar brand for so many years. We can pass on this capability, knowledge and experience to those who need it. Africa is a continent which has a number of specific needs. We can support these needs, delivering solutions and operational excellence through our people. Our people are connected people, people with technical expertise, people who understand the difficulties and concerns faced by our customers and the African people. STET has already developed the capability and remains ready and able to provide the support needed. If we leverage the lessons we have learned, we can add value. Our history has always been closely connected with Africa and we see ourselves as part of the development of Africa…

We are connected… Connect with us…

Our participation in this magazine is our renewed commitment to continuing to play a part in the development of Africa by building on and sharing what we’ve learned throughout these 40 years of collaboration. The world is more connected and more global than ever and this brings a unique opportunity for collaboration between STET

T +351 931105920 E apoioaclientes@stet.pt

www.stet.pt

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

STEERING MOTA-ENGIL AFRICA IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Manuel Mota is joined by a group of highly experience executives and industry experts who form the Company’s leadership. Board of Directors • Gonçalo Moura Martins, Chairman. With Mota-Engil since 1990. • Manuel António Mota, Chief Executive Officer. • José Carlos Nogueira, Chief Financial Officer. • David Hobley, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director. Chartered accountant, previously MD at SG Warburg and Deutsche Bank. • Francisco Seixas da Costa, Independent Non-Executive Director. Former Portuguese diplomat and politician. Executive Directors (in addition to Manuel Mota) • José Carlos Nogueira, Chief Financial Officer. • Francisco Franca, Executive Director. Joined in 1998, CEO of Angola operations. • Anibal Leite, Executive Director. Joined in 1983. Civil engineer of more than 20 years. • Carlos Pascoal, Executive Director. Civil engineer of more than 20 years. • Santos Pato, Executive Director. Civil engineer of more than 20 years.

ITM

TM is a renowned global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of undercarriage components and solutions. Comprising a global workforce of 1,300 employees spanning branches all the over the world, ITM’s adept team are able to offer end-to-end assistance to ITM’s customers whenever it is requested. Through many years of expansive R&D and collaboration with leading OEMs, ITM has played a crucial role in facilitating progression and innovation within the industry, offering solutions that maximise productive potential. In Africa, ITM leverages its partnerships with major local distributors, but in today’s challenging markets, ITM also recognises that close collaboration with key customers must be a primary consideration that, in turn, enables business growth within the African market. One such key customer is Mota-Engil – a firm that ITM has recently supplied with completely new undercarriage solutions for two of its key mining excavators operating in Mozambique.

Luanda International Airport, Mota-Engil Africa’s first ever project

An Angolan stalwart

Angola is where the entire Mota-Engil Group’s roots can be traced back to. In 1946, Mota & Cia as it was then known was founded by Manuel António da Mota in Portugal, with operations exclusively in Angola until 1975 when the firm expanded into Namibia and South Africa. During this early period the Company worked on a number of important projects, most notably the completion of Luanda International Airport which was handed over in 1952. Through the 1980s and 90s Mota & Cia opened up branches in Gabon, Swaziland (renamed Eswatini in 2018),

Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Tunisia. “In the 90’s we also started our expansion into other business areas such as mining, road and bridge concessions, waste management, water management, port concessions, and energy,” Mota adds. The turn of the millennium marked a vital point in the organisation’s development, the Mota family deciding to merge Mota & Cia with Engil, creating the Group that exists today. This prompted further expansion across the African continent, with the markets of Benin, Chad and São Tomé and Príncipe having been entered by 2006.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

“I spend a lot of time travelling to visit our dealers and key end users to find out more about the challenges facing their operations. The insights that I gain from these visits ensures that we at ITM are constantly redefining our services and products to make them the best they can be,” says Erik Stols, Sales Director, African Mining at ITM. “At ITM, we would like our key end users to see us as a one stop solution for all their undercarriage needs.”

www.group-itm.com

VISIBLY POWERFUL. Expertise, know-how, innovation capacity. In one word: ITM We proudly stand behind our products. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the difference! Our dedicated team of Product Support Specialists can recommend the best undercarriage solution for a particular application in order to enhance and optimize the performance of the product you chose. Furthermore, it will check the product is being used correctly and give advice to ensure maximum productivity, longer life and lower maintenance costs.

GROUP-ITM.COM

ENGINEERED FOR SUCCESS

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

LOMBARD INSURANCE

ombard Insurance Company Limited (Lombard), has been a proud partner to Mota-Engil Africa (MEA) over the past five years, by providing construction and related guarantees to their employers throughout the African continent. By virtue of our extensive experience and vast African partner network, we have issued guarantees, on behalf of, MEA in 11 African countries, including difficult to access markets such as Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon. Lombard has been the leading provider of construction and related guarantees in Sub-Saharan Africa over the last 30 years. From our base in South Africa we are able to leverage our network of partner-insurers thereby providing our clients with workable solutions on the continent. Our flexible approach to guarantee wordings, strong client relationships, cost-effective guarantee solutions and exceptional turnaround times and service make us the preferred provider to contractors and employers alike.

Mota-Engil Africa formally emerged from a restructuring in 2012 which saw the Group organise itself into geographic business units. Further expansion came shortly with the entry into Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda being quickly followed by Rwanda in 2015. Current CEO Mota joined a year later, and today the entire Mota-Engil Group employs more than 30,000 people across 30-plus countries.

Our product offering includes construction-related guarantees such as Advance Payment, Performance and Retention Guarantees issued to employers as well as temporary import guarantees (customs bonds). Our product offering and cost structure enable our clients to reduce guarantee costs and free up cash flow, allowing them better opportunities to accelerate their business growth. Our reinsurance capacity and execution skills provide us with the ability to support our clients, from small construction to mega-build projects.

Mining for Africa

Of these newer business areas Mota eludes to, mining has become something of a company staple. Asked to cite a project that instils a particular sense of pride, he points towards the Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ongoing involvement with Brazilian mining giant Vale in Mozambique. ` The work involves the execution of mining services that include drilling,

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

For more information contact:

Manuel Mota, CEO, Mota-Engil Africa

Eben van der Walt T +27 11 551 0637 F +27 86 5015119 C +27 83 300-2246 E ebenvdw@lombardins.com

www.lombardins.com

PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION GUARANTEES TO OUR INTERNATIONAL CLIENTS THROUGHOUT AFRICA

Through our extensive Insurer Partner Network, we can provide Construction Guarantees in more than 20 SubSaharan African countries. Construction Guarantee Products Include: • • • • • • •

Performance Guarantees Bid Bonds/Tender Bonds Advance Payment Guarantees Retention Guarantees Materials On-/Off Site Guarantees Energy Guarantees Temporary Import/Export Permits (Customs Bonds)

Benefits of a Lombard Facility: • • • • • •

Flexible Approach to Guarantee Wordings Strong Client Relationships Direct Access to Decision Makers Solutions Driven Approach to Client Issues Exceptional Turnaround Times on Issue of Bonds Large Insurance Partner Network throughout Africa

For more information please contact: Eben van der Walt Tel +27 11 551 0637 • Cell +27 83 300 2246 Email ebenvdw@lombardins.com

www.lombardins.com Lombard Insurance Company Limited is a licensed Insurer & Authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP 1596)

Lombard Partnership Network

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

MOTORCARE NISSAN MOTORCARE Nissan Mozambique Lda Fleet managers face a number of inescapable challenges that have a huge impact on the bottom line and businesses require robust vehicles with proven reliability, along with progressive support and servicing to remain efficient. Understanding the unique fleet requirements for the local climate and road infrastructure, MOTORCARE Mozambique Lda has been offering automotive B2B services in Mozambique since 1996 and our national footprint extends to Maputo, Beira, Nampula, Pemba and Moatize. As an authorised premium brand distributer, we provide the best automotive solutions, parts and accessories, as well as access to onestop maintenance and repair services, combined with a full spectrum of fleet management solutions.

Nacala Rail Corridor

provision of explosives, and load and transport of sterile and coal at Moatize, in the west of the country. The mine is Vale’s single-largest investment in coal, the success of which also being dependent on two railroads that connects Moatize to the sea. Mota-Engil Africa played an integral part in the development of the Nacala Corridor between 2012 and 2014, working on two geographically demanding sections of the 900-kilometre line in Malawi. One section involved the construction and renovation of an existing 100-kilometre stretch of railroad, while the second project entailed the building of a new 145-kilometre line between Kachaso on the Malawi-Mozambique border and Nkaya Junction in the district of Balaka, Malawi. Mota-Engil Africa also completed rehabilitation and expansion work

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Our workshops carry the international quality recognition status of fully integrated ISO certification ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001. This cements our commitment to meet customers’ highest service expectations, with consciousness of operational impact on the environment, as well as health and safety practices. MOTORCARE Nissan’s comprehensive range of commercial LCV vehicles is fit for purpose and can rise to meet any challenge. As a key business partner to Mota-Engil Africa, MOTORCARE supports its operations by supplementing and servicing its fleet – most notably with the Nissan NP300 HARDBODY, a true thoroughbred workhorse, and the durable Nissan CIVILIAN bus. If your business needs to perform in all conditions, MOTORCARE Nissan Mozambique has got you covered on the road. Rua Kanwalanga no 141, Moçambique, Maputo T +258 21350800 E info@mz.motorcare.com

www.motorcare.co.mz

NISSAN

NP300 HARDBODY THE SMARTEST INVESTMENT YOU WILL EVER MAKE!

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

3 YEAR OR 100 000KM WARRANTY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

WORLD-CLASS SERVICE

We promise to make your Nissan experience one to cherish, from your delivery day and everyday after, our commitment is to deliver a service experience you can trust – and believe in.

Our brand ethos is communicated through the service we deliver. Through out our branches we ensure we offer quality customer engagement everytime a customer enters our ISO certified facilities.

CUSTOMER ASSURANCE

MOTORCARE Nissan remains committed to providing an extensive and world-class automotive experience to customers in Mozambique with on-going focus on Sales and Aftersales service. Every customer is assured of consistent and innovative sales and service solutions. Facilities are state of the art and we operate with the latest technology combined with quality workmanship.

MOTORCARE NISSAN MAPUTO

Rua Kanwalanga nº 141 +258 21 35 08 00

BEIRA

Av. Samora Machel nº 3024 +258 23 32 65 03

info@mz.motorcare.com

MOATIZE

As long as your car is under our warranty, we’ll always have you covered if anything goes wrong. For the first 3 years or 100 000km, whichever comes first. Our workshops carry the international quality recognition status of fully integrated ISO certification ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS 18001. This cements our commitment to meet customers’ highest service expectations, with consciousness of operational impact on the environment, as well as health and safety practices.

GENUINE NISSAN PARTS

We deliver the highest care for your Nissan by fitting only Nissan Genuine Parts.

www.nissan.co.mz

E.N.7 Unidade 25 de Setembro, Chithatha Moatize, Tete +258 25 24 22 20

nissanmocambique

NAMPULA

Rua da Franca, Parcela 3, Bairro da Carrupeia +258 26 21 72 51 5

connect on

PEMBA

E.N.106 Bairro do Alto Giongone +258 27 22 07 71

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

TRANSITEX

ransitex is the logistics operator of the Yilport Group, with a worldwide network of offices across Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia. We are experts in the transport of perishables, such as general foodstuffs, and also handle other types of commodities like stone, wines, spirits and construction materials. Around the world, and particularly in Africa, we execute all kinds of logistical operations regarding project cargoes and machinery, having worked on some of the biggest engineering projects across the continent. In the last four years, our business volume in Africa has increased 97.03 percent, transporting more than 60,000 TEUs annually just by sea freight. We connect Southern African countries with our own fleet of trucks and warehouses located throughout the region’s main inland corridors, connecting the main maritime ports to the interior of the continent.

on the Sena Railroad in 2016. Now in operation, this 575-kilometre trainline connects Moatize to the Port of Beira in the south of Mozambique and is able to transport six million tonnes of coal a year. “Our involvement on the Nacala Corridor and on the coal mines with Vale makes us all at Mota-Engil very proud,” Mota reveals. “We started on the project from a very early stage and were able to showcase our capacities to be a key partner on the mining side and on the infrastructure side, both in terms of construction and maintenance. “Naturally this is a project that keeps us all proud, as we have been able to integrate a lot of our areas of expertise, including the maintenance of infrastructure, which is a segment we also hold and carry large experience in.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Our involvement on the Nacala Corridor and on the coal mines with Vale makes us all at Mota-Engil very proud”

Transitex has in Mota-Engil one of its clients of reference for the African market. More than a supplier, Transitex has been a logistics partner for more than a decade, working closely with the Group, anticipating and providing all kinds of solutions that allow the realisation of the most diverse projects that Mota-Engil has on the African continent. “Today we are already in the future, betting on IT and increasingly innovative solutions that allow us to say that the logistics services that Transitex provides to Mota-Engil will never be a limitation to its development in this continent.” – Fernando Lima, CEO, Transitex. Transitex Mozambique (Maputo) T +258 83 9000853 /+258 83 9000852 E mocambique@transitex.co.mz Transitex South Africa (Johannesburg) T + 27 113878880 E Southafrica@transitex.co.za

www.transitex.com

The World Closer.

SERVICES WE PROVIDE: • • • • • • • •

Maritime transport Air and road transport Multimodal transport (e.g.: rail + truck) Cargo consolidation/stuffing Pre-inspection Customs clearance Distribution Cargo insurance…

Transitex Mozambique (Maputo) Rua Joe Slovo nº22 – Condomínio Prédio Saratoga Sala 1 & 2 2284 Maputo Tel: +258 83 9000853 /+258 83 9000852 E-mail: mocambique@transitex.co.mz Transitex South Africa (Johannesburg) Transitex Global Logistics Operations, Pty, Ltd Tunney Ridge Business Park Corner of Sam Green and Pinnacle Road – Block D 1429 – Elandsfontein / Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: + 27 113878880 E-mail: Southafrica@transitex.co.za

www.transitex.com

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

NILETRAC LIMITED

ileTrac Limited is the authorised distributor in East Africa for Hyundai, XCMG, Visa and Foton covering Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, and supports a full range of construction and lifting equipment including; tracked excavators, wheel loaders, vibratory rollers, bulldozers, graders, forklifts, concrete equipment, drilling rigs, pickups and trucks, all terrain truck cranes and diesel power generating sets. We pride ourselves in our skilled human resources of sales, engineers and logistical support staff at our regional offices who are dedicated to supporting our customer enquiries and meeting their needs.

“The project as a whole has been key to our success in recent years and transformative for the Group and our relationship with mining clients.” Indeed, the work with Vale is just one of many examples showcasing MotaEngil Africa’s expertise in the mining sector. The firm is also a contractor on the Moatize-Macuse Railway Logistics Corridor in Mozambique, a 639-kilometre railway that will transport coal from the mines of Moatize and Chitima in Tete to a new floating coal terminal off the coast at Macuse. Mota also highlights the Company’s work with Société AngloGold Ashanti as another important project, an ongoing contract involving the provision of equipment and installations at its Siguiri gold mine in Guinea Conkary. Based 850 kilometres northeast of Conkary, the country’s capital, the mine is a vital asset and processes around 30,000 tonnes a day.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

NileTrac Limited’s fully-fledged workshops are equipped with up to date electronic tools and workshop equipment for fault diagnosis, machine repairs, engine overhauls, a mobile workshop team for field maintenance and recovery. The Company also offers a range of product support services through contracts and customer support agreements. The Company boasts of well stocked warehouses with an updated stock management system to identify the correct parts, make parts orders, and track orders and deliveries, making our lead times very short to the satisfaction of our clients and ensuring your equipment is up and running in the shortest possible time. With our wide range of solutions for sales, financing facilities, hire/lease of our equipment, NileTrac Limited is confident and committed to ensuring that visions and strategies of Mota-Engil Africa are achieved. NileTrac Limited and Mota-Engil Africa seek to strengthen their partnership for the execution of projects in the area of infrastructure in the different regions.

E sales@niletrac.com

www.niletrac.com

Moving you further

NILETRAC UGANDA LIMITED Henley Business Park Plot M 424 Ntinda Industrial Area P.O Box 7734 Kampala,Uganda T: +256 414 505777, +256 414 342777 E: sales@niletrac.com NILETRAC RWANDA LIMITED KG 7th Ave #35- Kacyiru Blue Star House 1st Floor, Wing B P.O Box 6571 Kigali, Rwanda T: +256 7888 751 512 E: sales@niletrac.com

NILETRAC KENYA LIMITED Nairobi Head Office Bellway Business Park Mombasa Road P.O Box 421-00502 Nairobi Kenya T: +254 701 444842 E: sales@niletrac.com MOMBASA OFFICE Makupa Causeway Changamwe area Mombasa, Kenya T: +254 701000833 E: sales@niletrac.com

www.niletrac.com

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

ASCENDUM

he ASCENDUM Group is a Portuguese international group and one of the world’s largest distributors of Volvo construction equipment, present in Portugal, Spain, USA, Turkey, Mexico, Africa and in nine countries across Central and Eastern Europe. Ascendum sells and rents equipment and provides services for the construction, manufacturing and extractive, mines, forests and recycling industries.

T +351 21 994 65 00 E lisboa@ascendummaquinas.pt

www.ascendummaquinas.pt

“The Siguiri and Moatize developments are projects where we have invested over $170 million in equipment and facilities, and in which we are very active,” Mota continues. “We have worked across several projects on the continent, with specific focus in Angola, Mozambique and Malawi. Today we also have a presence in the sector across Zimbabwe.” This includes a five-year mining contract for the Hwange Colliery Mine, operated by Hwange Colliery Company, involving drilling works, detonation, and load and transport of coal. Situated in the remote western tip of Zimbabwe, the mine is back up and running following a two-year hiatus and is set to produce 200,000 tonnes a month. The country has an ambitious target of producing 10 million tonnes of output over the next two years, a figure which would enable it to begin exporting.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

AST

The Siguiri and Moatize developments are projects where we have invested over $170 million in equipment and facilities”

ST is an environmental consulting and construction firm that designs and implements sustainable environmental solutions. The Company is a full-service provider studying challenges and designing solutions – it builds, operates and maintains environmental systems. AST was founded in 2008 in Portugal and its technical team has more than 20 years of experience. Landfill leachate treatment (using reverse osmosis), water and wastewater services form the firm’s core of expertise, which is delivered on a turnkey or rental basis for clients.

For more information, be sure to visit: www.ast-ambiente.com T +351 220 163 277 E office@ast-ambiente.com

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

AST is an environmental consulting and construction firm that designs and implements sustainable environmental solutions. SERVICES • Consultancy • Design • Construction • Operation and maintenance • Technical support • Rental

ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES

PRODUCTS • Landfill leachate treatment systems • Water and wastewater treatment systems by membrane technology • Supply of equipments, parts and consumables

+351 220 163 277 | office@ast-ambiente.com www.ast-ambiente.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

Diversified

More than 70 years of continuous presence in Africa has allowed MotaEngil Africa to diversify into many other fields of expertise. Mining projects amount to around 20 percent of the Company’s current backlog of contracts, a stream of work which amounts to more than $3 billion. Around 60 percent falls into the broad construction and engineering category, with the remaining 20 percent covering waste management and collection. “In the pipeline we have several more projects under discussion, some awaiting finance from the client or organised by us, and some which are public,” Mota says. “However, we do not disclose our pipeline, as to not induce our investors into the wrong perception, as this can be very variable across the continent and sectors. As you can imagine, though, the combined value is considerably higher than what we

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

EXPORLUX GROUP

xporlux Group is one of the leading Portuguese manufacturers in the indoor, outdoor and street lighting sector. Always seeking innovation and excellence on product functioning and performance, its philosophy is based on the development of systems that minimise energy consumption while making a rational and responsible use of resources within a consistent recycling policy and a continuous process of investment in R&D. At the Company’s core, Exporlux has an advanced centre for research and development in the fields of optics, electronics and light sources. This centre designs and carries out all the necessary studies for product development and industrialisation, thus ensuring the best results. T +351 234 639 230 E exporlux@exporlux.pt

www.exporlux.pt

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

EXPORLUX COMPANY PORTRAIT Exporlux Group is one of the leading portuguese manufacturers in the indoor, outdoor and street lighting sector. Always seeking innovation and excellence on product functioning and performance, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s philosophy is based on the development of systems that minimize energy consumption while making a rational and responsible use of resources within a consistent recycling policy and a continuous process of investment in R & D. At the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core, Exporlux has an advanced centre for research and development in the fields of optics, electronics and light sources. This center designs and carries out all the necessary studies for product development and industrialization, thus ensuring the best results.

www.exporlux.pt

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

FULCRUM CONSULT LIMITED

ulcrum Consult Limited is a construction and hire rental company that specialises in a wide range of earthmoving and road construction equipment. The Company hires out a wide range of top earthmoving and road construction equipment including track excavators, mobile excavators, bulldozers, graders, compactors, backhoes, wheel loaders and cranes. Its product line of more than 100 machines reflects the Company’s increased focus on customer success, with the aim of remaining a market leader by continuing to help its customers meet their needs with durable and reliable equipment.

T +256 752 700305 E info@fulcrum.ug

Cabinda’s General Hospital

actually have in backlog.” Among its projects underway in Angola is a $165 million construction and resourcing of the first stage of Cabinda’s General Hospital, a development which began in 2017 and slated for completion in July 2019. Last year the Company completed construction of a pier, seawall and wharf to the city’s port. In Malawi, Mota-Engil Africa is delivering several road infrastructure projects, including an 82-kilometre road linking Thyolo and Thekerani and 95-kilometre highway out of Lilongwe. This adds to recently completed works covering hydropower stations and rail upgrades. Further west, the firm is engaged in a seven-year contract for urban cleaning, collection and transport of solid municipal waste in Abidjan, the capital of the Ivory Coast. These operations will involve around 280 vehicles and 2,000 employees who will serve 4.6 million citizens and collect

www.fulcrum.ug

NORS GROUP A long partnership with Africa The Nors Group is a Portuguese Group whose vision is to be a world leader in transport solutions, construction equipment and agriculture equipment. With 25 years of experience in Africa, Nors currently works in Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique, operating with Auto Sueco and AutoMaquinaria on the sale and aftersale of trucks, construction equipment, cars, marine and industrial engines, generators and original components. It represents a number of leading brands, including Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks, UD Trucks, Volvo Construction Equipment, SDLG, Volvo Cars, Volvo Penta and KHOLER-SDMO. T +351 226 150 320 E info@nors.com Construction of waste disposal site at Abidjan

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

www.nors.com

M I N I N G

Plot 1094, 1095 Salaama Road

R E S O U R C E S

+2567 77005519 | +2567 57623029

www.fulcrum.ug

Fulcrum consult limited

@consult_fulcrum

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

MAC EAST AFRICA

s a valued business partner, we want to congratulate Mota Engil on the successful completion of projects that are necessary for Uganda’s development. As the sole distributor of Isuzu in Uganda and a subsidiary company of the ALMANSOUR Group, our brand is with you for the long run. We oblige to continue offering you the best aftersales customer care, including quality service using genuine Isuzu spare parts, backed up by a well-trained after sales team for all your needs. Mac East Africa is committed to providing the highest quality products backed by the best in class customer service. Mohamed Khadr, Country General Manager, Mac EA LTD. T +256 414 252810/1/2/3 T +256 706 605 550 E info@macuganda.com

more than eight million tonnes of waste. In order to cater to clients across this diverse portfolio, Mota-Engil Africa draws on a significant pool of locallybased resources. At any one time it has around 4,500 items of heavy equipment on site, with key materials stored at a warehouse in Viana, situated in Angola’s Luanda province. In addition to this, the firm holds complimentary warehouses in South Africa and across other countries in the region. Comprising 18,200 square metres of storage, the site ensures optimal levels of supplies are maintained according to operational needs. Precast factories and project camps help to enable self-reliance in remote and challenging areas, bringing prefabrication capability and project management closer to the client. Such camps also house the workforces responsible for delivering these developments. A network of quarries and

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

SIDERÚRGICA REQUENA S.A.

IDERÚRGICA REQUENA, S.A. is a company located in Madrid, Spain, dedicated to maintenance, repair, transformation and supply of railway equipment since 1931. Since the 1990s Siderúrgica Requena S.A. has been a partner of the Mota-Engil Group and is the company which maintains and supplies it with railway vehicles in relation to activities in Portugal and Africa. The key products for supply are: hopper wagons, flats wagons, track cars, wagons to transport carril as well as smaller wagons made at our plant, which are shown in the advert opposite.

T + 34 91 702 72 52 E comercial@siderurgicarequena.com E central@siderurgicarequena.com

M I N I N G

SIDERĂ&#x161;RGICA REQUENA, S.A. offers maintenance, repair, transformation and supply of wagons and other associated railway equipment.

R E S O U R C E S

Calle de Eduardo Barreiros, 116 28041 Madrid, Spain T: + 34 91 702 72 52 E: comercial@siderurgicarequena.com E: central@siderurgicarequena.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

aggregate batching plants supply vital construction materials to the frontline. This is made up of 19 plants in Angola, nine in other Southern African Development Community countries and three in East Africa, combining to offer an installed capacity of 2,940 tonnes per hour. “Our logistical and mobilisation capacity is what stands us apart in Africa,” Mota states. “Add this to the fact we are vertically integrated, and we are a unique player on the continent. We have a strong HR and asset base, and that allows us to operate independently across the different countries, with the capability to provide all construction works with in-house capacity.”

Staying ahead

Mota recognises that continual investment and a flexible approach to company development is crucial if it is

to build on this formidable foundation. “Naturally we need to keep investing on our asset base and logistical areas to be able to stay ahead of the competition,” he says. “This is crucial, as new technologies are developing quickly, and not so many of them are seen on the continent at the moment. We will try to develop them and bring them into our projects in Africa at the same time as we implement them in other regions.” Mining is a sector Mota identifies as especially ripe for technological advancement in the region. His confidence is backed by a study from Grand View Research which estimates the global mining automation market will be worth $6.2 billion by 2025, growing at an average annual rate of 7.3 percent. The need for optimising production costs, reducing human intervention,

SOLARGUS

ince 1974, the Group´s activities have included built steel structures, renewable energy solutions, and the manufacturing and installation of thermal systems. Today, Solargus continues to operate in an increasingly demanding market, supplying quality products with expert technicians and support staff on hand to ensure the Company keeps its marketleading position.

T +351 235 712 180 E geral@sangobiar.net E solargus@sapo.pt

www.solargus.pt

and changing the mining landscape are key growth-driving factors for mining automation. Increasing investment in digital technologies, including analytics and human-machine interactions, is also expected to be one of the key factors driving this trend. Specifically, automated drone systems are expected to become an essential technology in future mining automation and digitisation activities, with several mining giants already adopting this to enable rapid data collection. Driverless vehicles form another lively subcategory and are already impacting African mining operations. Mali is set to become home to the world’s first fully autonomous underground mine by the end of 2018, the work of Australian gold miner Resolute Mining, which has spent $223 million rolling out automated trucks, loaders and drills at its Syama site. “Definitely on the mining side,

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

CIMAR, SA is a company dedicated to the national and international market, with the main mission of manufacturing and supplying equipment with technology for the heavy-duty vehicles sector. Its main framework is the transportation and construction industry.

T: +351 252660130 | F: +351 252660139 | www.cimar.pt

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

automation of equipment is something that will occur, and which is not yet widely seen in the continent,” says Mota. “This is something we are keen to invest in, to make our operations more efficient.” Technology aside, Mota also predicts that the way in which projects are planned and executed will change over time. “The way clients approach projects will change,” he continues. “Over previous years, many projects in mining have gone over budget, so we are continuously looking for more collaborative approaches where we can become partners and not simply service providers. “This will, for sure, involve us integrating more of our range of services into proactive approaches to contracts. This will result in a reduction in capex for clients by transforming them into opex.”

Oils Suppliers (Distributors) Ltd

a bp & Castrol Oils Supplier Limited, a reputable wholly owned Malawian Company, is the sole authorised distributor of both BP and Castrol lubricants (oils) in Malawi. We have operated in Malawi for more than 10 years and have representation across the country. Our experience has allowed us to develop a deep understanding of customer needs in the country, and we are proud to market more than 500 products, earning us the rank of market leader in the Malawian lubricants market. Furthermore, BP’s acquisition of the Castrol brand worldwide (arguably the best oils in the world) has resulted in an even wider range of quality lubricants. We provide our customers with trust and commitment, offering us the ability to build partnerships with our customers across a wide spectrum of business sectors, including franchised workshops, parts retailers, industrial and manufacturing, chain stores, transporters, power generation, construction, sugar mills, agriculture and mining. With the strong support of our well-educated and experienced team, we are proud to announce ourselves as being well positioned as the best competitive national marketer and seller of lubricants in Malawi. We possess strong health, safety and environmental standards, with a strong focus on our customers and customer service. Our technical programs and team present unmatched services to provide technical solutions to virtually

Into Nigeria

Embracing the new also means expansion into previously unexplored markets. Earlier this year Mota-Engil Africa signed an agreement with independent oil producer Shoreline Group to create a new joint venture, Mota-Engil Nigeria. Not only has the creation of this division opened up access to Africa’s largest economy, but also the continent’s most prolific producer of oil. “Nigeria is a huge opportunity that we have not embraced before,” says Mota. “Before establishing the partnership, we held regular discussions with Shoreline Group to understand how we could better pursue these opportunities and enter into the market.” In Shoreline Group the Company has found a formidable partner. Founded in 1997, with its head office in Lagos and an additional office in London, the firm has operations across Sub-Saharan Africa. Its portfolio of 16 operating companies, with more than 3,000 employees, includes

Costain West Africa, Shoreline Power, GASLAND and TAFL, as well as others in the oil & gas sector. “At the moment we are in the process of tendering and identifying further opportunities, with the aim of establishing our first project in the market,” Mota adds. “People are on the ground, and we hope to materialise the first project sooner rather than later. Both Mota-

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

all lubricants related problems. We sell a total lubrication package and continue to believe that “if we can’t save you money, we don’t deserve your business”. With an increasingly proliferated market, and the number of small individual sellers of lubricants increasing, as well as the impending migration of the BP brand to Castrol, we find ourselves in the prime position to reconsolidate our marketing efforts and ensure that the marketplace is clear on our continued service, whilst also seeking to ensure that we retain and grow our market leadership position of 40 percent of market share as at August 2018. It is against this backdrop that we have forged a relationship with Mota-Engil, in aiming to support its construction development countrywide. It is such partnerships that help us to support local businesses across the varying industries, so as to ensure optimal performance of its equipment. We have confidence in our products that we are able to offer product performance guarantees to our partners. Furthermore, we offer modern lube dispensing equipment for our partners, in varying circumstances, so as to improve their efficiencies and stock controls within their premises. These improved efficiencies further enhance our relationships with our partners, therefore supporting our continued quest for market leadership.

Engil and Shoreline believe there is space to develop a key player in the market, a player which is highly qualified and can make the difference.” Mota is right to point to the size of the opportunity in Nigeria. According to the AfDB, the country’s infrastructure deficit constitutes around $3 trillion over the next 26 years, equivalent to about $100 billion annually.

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

FNC Engineering are registered with the National Construction Industry Council within the Building Category: 1 billion Kwacha and the Civil Category: 500 million Kwacha.

PACK WAS AGE PLA T LIGH EWATER NTS FOR T LIQ UID S TREATM DOMEST IC AN EPAR ENT A D IN ND ATOR | GR REUSE DUSTRIA EAS L E SE PARA TOR S

We are specialists in: • Civil • Building • Fabrication • Irrigation • Water • Borehole Infrastructure • Sewage Disposal

WWW.ECODEPUR.EU

E: fnccivil.building@yahoo.com | M: +265 999 27 93 58, +265 999 208 305 www.fnc-engineering.com

Oils Suppliers (Distributors) Ltd

Its more than just oil. Its liquid engineering.

Ha bp and Castrol Oils Suppliers Ltd Private Bag 141, BLANTYRE T: +265 1 878 303/494 | +265 111 914 467/469 F: +265 1 878 303 Lilongwe Branch +265 1 753842 Mzuzu Branch +265 1 1312082

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

This presents Mota-Engil Nigeria with a potentially enormous market in which to thrive, not only as a business but also as a key contributor to the Nigerian economy. Indeed, at the time of the joint venture announcement, Mota revealed that the value of the projects on the table could be worth as much as $1.8 billion.

Global reach

This new unit will sit under the wider Mota-Engil Africa business, which now constitutes one of three corporate divisions that are housed in the holding company Mota-Engil SGPS. Having started out exclusively in Africa in its first 30 years of existence, the organisation has since morphed into a global giant that operates far beyond the African continent. This no better reflected than by the fact that its three divisions – Africa, Europe and Latin America – operate 285 companies between them.

We are currently working on some partnerships to establish procurement bases out of China and Dubai to strengthen our integration and supplier base” Mota-Engil Latin America comprises 87 companies that generate more than $1 billion across eight countries, much of this coming from roads and highways projects in Mexico, Aruba, Colombia and Brazil. This has been a strong growth region for the Group, 2017’s revenue representing a 50 jump on the previous year. The European business is the largest in terms of number of companies managed, with 154 separate businesses operating across six countries.

Highway developments and waste management form a key part of the division’s annual turnover of $941 million, which largely derives from its historical home in Portugal and also from Poland, where it ranks in the country’s top 10 construction companies. In Africa, Mota is looking to reflect the wider company’s global reach in the way it approaches its own supply chain operations. Although much of the emphasis is on maximising local supplier networks, looking further

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

afield is certainly an option being explored with increasing interest. “We have an integrated approach to the supply chain, with bases run out of Portugal, Angola and South Africa,” Mota explains. “All procurement requests follow through not only locally, but also worldwide. We are currently working on some partnerships to establish procurement bases out of China and Dubai to strengthen our integration and supplier base.”

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

PROUDLY SHAPPING AFRICA’S INFRASTRUCTURES Presence in

Khwiki Construction Founded in 2004, KHWIKI Construction has evolved to become a construction contract specialist, offering end-to-end solutions. Our objective is to offer an assured experience when we are chosen to execute projects, emphasising clear communication to ensure our client’s objectives are the top priority. Working with Mota Engil has broadened our perspective and we are proud to serve its contractual needs.

SOUTH AFRICA . MOZAMBIQUE MALAWI . ANGOLA . TANZANIA KENIA . IVORY COAST . GHANA ALGERIA . LYBIA

www.qd-eng.com

PO Box 40575, Kanengo, Malawi Mines Ngoma: minessn@yahoo.com | +265 99 9954416

TERMCOTANK S.A. SWITZERLAND

B I T U M E N

Bitumen and Oil Products Distribution

QUALITY, SERVICE, VALUE +41 22 703 47 20 general@termcotank.ch

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M O T A - E N G I L

A F R I C A

Investing in people

If Mota-Engil Africa is looking internationally to optimise its procurement operation, employment strategy very much centres around providing opportunities for local people. Of the 12,600-plus employees currently on the Company’s books, some 91 percent are locals, a figure which rises to 94 percent in Malawi, 95 percent in Tanzania, 97 in Zimbabwe and 98 percent in South Africa. “This is a key factor for us,” says Mota. “We try to keep our expat base to the bare minimum, and to develop local resources. In some countries we have been more successful than others, and each time we see more local people taking more responsibility within our organisation. “Every year we run a trainee programme within the Group that integrates young people from across all our businesses and countries into one unique platform, allowing them to have visibility and integration with our workforce across all countries and regions where we are present.”

it is important for us to expand in the countries where we are into diversified business areas, such as mining, waste management and treatment, and concessions” As well as developing and upskilling its own employees, MotaEngil Africa also heavily involves itself in benefitting the lives of citizens in surrounding communities. This partly derives from the spirit of philanthropy and solidarity instilled by the Group’s founder Manuel António da Mota, who championed positive and active participation in society. In December 2009, a foundation was set up in the founder’s name and forms a crucial part of Mota-Engil’s corporate social responsibility activities. The primary aim of the Manuel António da Mota Foundation is to

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

promote, develop and support social initiatives, charities and cultural programmes covering education, health, environment and the arts. Although the foundation is based in Porto, the mottos it promotes can be found across all three corporate divisions, including in Africa. “We are very active in this area,” adds Mota. “Originally, we had an individual approach, but during 2018 launched the ME African Initiatives in partnership with the Manuel António da Mota Foundation, where the programmes in Africa are fully funded by Mota-Engil Africa.

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

TOP RANGE CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS

TRCEC executes various civil engineering works, which includes: • Surfacing: Construction or rehabilitation of existing paved roads, patching, over laying, chip sealing, slurry sealing, paving, car parks, driveways etc. • Asphalt production (Premix) • Bush clearing, ripping, harrowing, ridging • General civil engineering works: grading, compaction, excavation, bridges, dams, drifts, box culverts, concrete pavements, road construction and rehabilitation and masonry and irrigation works. • Hiring of Heavy Duty Earth Moving Equipment, Lifting/ Hoistimg (Mobile Cranes &Forklifts), Transportation (Haulage, Lowbed & Water Bowsers)

T: +265 211 960 007 / +265 888 900 786 | M: +265 888 821 135, +265 888 202 578 E: jsattar@africa-online.net / taufeeq@africa-online.net

“The primary focus is on education and health, and in time we will work on the basis of having one contract, one social action and/or programme, and we will dimension ourselves to achieve that objective through the course of the next period of years.”

Building a bright future

And it is over the next three to five years that Mota aims to solidify the Company’s leading status across the continent, building on the foundations built over the previous seven decades, both in terms of business and community relations. Mota-Engil Africa can also impact the bigger picture. According to AfDB’s 2018 African Economic Outlook, the continent has a compelling case for accelerating its infrastructure development. First, it is a continent of small and open economies that will rely on trade as their major source of growth, and

such international trade is no longer about manufacturing in one place and selling in another, the report says. Rather, “it is about cooperating across boundaries and time zones to minimise production costs and maximise market coverage”. Infrastructure is thus vital to the smooth running of these value chains. Second, given Africa is a relative latecomer in its economic development, the benefits to be reaped from improved infrastructure are higher than other parts of the world. Companies like Mota-Engil Africa, therefore, have the power to push forwards economic progress, especially given the wide reach the firm already has across the SubSaharan region. Outlining his key priorities looking ahead, Mota concludes: “We aim to establish ourselves as a leader in the continent in our areas of action. We

have achieved that in many of the countries we are in, but intend to achieve this in all countries where we are present. “If, in three years’ time, we have doubled the number of countries where we are market leaders, that will be a big achievement. For that to happen, it is important to perform and make a difference in the countries we have more recently moved in to, and this is something we are doing step by step. “On another note, it is important for us to expand in the countries where we are into diversified business areas, such as mining, waste management and treatment, and concessions. We aim to have a solidified presence across all sectors in all of the countries we are in.” Mota-Engil Africa Tel: -8.833092, 13.230582 info@ mota-engil.cv www.mota-engil.cv

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

A F R I C A N

M I N I N G

S E R V I C E S

Mining with

Integrity African Mining Services has blended Australian industry practices with a dedicated localisation focus to become one of West Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary sector operators Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

AEMS AN EXPERTISE AT HANDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REACH AEMS GROUP is a synergy of 3 structures: African Equipment Maintenance and Services - for all your mining heavy machinery maintenance and service issues African Institute of Technology - An advanced heavy equipment training center African Construction Corporation - For all your civil construction projects

AEMS-MALI Bamako en face du Stade du 26 Mars Mali Email: info@aems-mali.com Phone: 00223 20 77 54 85 Rental: 00223 65 95 03 35/00223 77 27 36 69 Maintenance: 00223 65 95 03 34, 00223 70 56 07 82 Commercial: 00223 65 95 03 37/00223 70 56 06 80 http://aems-mali.com

A F R I C A N

M I N I N G

S E R V I C E S

o achieve long-term, sustainable and ethicallysound success in West Africa is no mean feat for some of the region’s leading industrial operators, so to do so as an indigenously international entity is all the more impressive. However, that’s exactly what African Mining Services has achieved since the Australian Company’s inception in Ghana nearly 30 years ago. Leveraging an existing plethora of knowledgeable, innovative and ambitious Australian expats, a subsequent financial acumen and inner-belief entered the region with a faith that anything was possible. A host of niche mining industry practices, and unparalleled scope in the open cut contract mining arena later, and AMS continues to broaden its influence in West Africa as a now-trusted and reputed local provider. Operations Manager for the Company’s Senegalese activities, Darran

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

The mining region here is rich with gold deposits and the mining contracting competition is strong. As a result, operating with continued success is highly complex and subject to a very dynamic political and socioeconomic scene”

Twining further introduces the AMS model: “AMS predominantly performs exploration drilling, production drill and blast, grade control, hydraulic excavator and mechanical drive dump truck operations. “The mining region here is rich with gold deposits and the mining contracting competition is strong. As a result, operating with continued success is highly complex and subject to a very dynamic political and socioeconomic scene. However, AMS has evolved from a small Ghana-based business and expanded into the regional, francophone countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast and here in Senegal.” While the business’s aforementioned – and turnkey – array of services inevitably sets it apart from most competitors in the local market, to truly understand AMS’s success you need to delve into more personable attributes; Twining himself

African Equipment Maintenance and Services (AEMS) has been flourishing across West Africa since 2009. Largely operating within Mali, the firm provides adequate solutions to mechanical problems for companies working within the mining and public works sectors, helping to overcome the challenges that arise in a complex line of work. The Company specialises in the maintenance, installation and repair of mining machinery, public works, drilling, handling and generators, and also in offering rental construction equipment. With nearly 100 experts in the field, AEMS offers a unique and innovative way of performing meticulous diagnosis with its modern equipment, enabling it respond positively and diligently to any concerns that its customers may have. To date AEMS has been bringing its expertise to several institutions by achieving a number of exploits: • Rebuilt 16 dampers 777D. • Rebuilt loaders 988F. • Rebuilt bulldozer D9R. • Reconditioned and changed several organs. • Installed Caterpillar, Liebherr, O&K equipment. • Signed maintenance contracts with other parties. • Rented machines. • Completed a range of technical assistance. 2013 saw AEMS launching two new divisions to expand its expertise – African Institute of Technology (CDM-AITECH) and Africa Construction Corporation (ACC). With the ambitions of building a state-of-the-art

workshop, setting up five bachelor’s degrees covering multiple business laterals in the process, the firm has established itself as a construction company that has a significant internal dimension, differentiating itself from many of its competitors. AEMS prides its workshop on… • Being a dedicated organisation. • Providing expertise and quality of services. • Offering a choice of used parts. • Providing on-site diagnostics to reduce removal costs. • Making recommendations on a case by case basis. • Respecting deadlines and considering emergencies. • Being able to trace and monitor after sales performance. To date, the Company has worked with a number of firms, including, but not limited to: African Mining services, AUMS, Moolmans, Impact Africa Guinea, Songhoi Resources, Papillon Resources, Afrilogue Mali, Somilo SA, Atlas Copco Mali, Kama SA, Endeavour, Nevsun Mali, Segala Mining, Semos SA, Solaris Somagec, Somika, SMK, Senet, Glencar and Etasi. Driven by its overriding goal of being the alternative to branded original parts dealers and premium brand parts for vehicles, and in the aim providing optimal solutions to business requirements, AEMS continually implements the highest self-imposed standards.

T +223 20 77 54 85 E info@aems-mali.com

www.aems-mali.com

A F R I C A N

M I N I N G

S E R V I C E S

HALADJIAN

aladjian has been an independent spare part distributor for mobile machines for more than 50 years. Present in France and in Western Africa, Haladjian is committed to giving an alternative to OEM dealers, and thanks to its technical expertise on spare parts, we can reduce operational costs for our customers while increasing machine efficiency. The Haladjian team and the family owners are 100 percent dedicated to their customers. Partnerships with our leading customers are crucial, and that is why HALADJIAN is pleased to count AMS as a privileged partner. Haladjian and AMS do have a strong relationship, sharing the same objectives for product and service performance. As an independent company, HALADJIAN is committed to giving AMS the most suitable solutions for their applications, a customised service, and dedicated stock stored close to their operation sites. AMS is a pilot customer for HALADJIAN. Meeting AMS’s needs and expectations drives the HALADJIAN strategy in Western Africa, to better serve all its customers.

citing a family feel, complete trust and transparency, companionship, and an ability to work collaboratively to solve challenges among these core traits. Such capabilities and values have aided the Company’s flexibility, adaptability and resilience amid fluctuating market trends; and upon the 2005 Ausdrill Ltd takeover of the organisation, AMS has been able to add an extra level of clout to its attractive ethos in order to further capitalise on regional opportunities. “For me, there are some things we do really well, some things we do reasonably well, and some things I’d still like for us to improve upon,” Twining surmises. “However, our footprint expansion is testament to us

doing something right in the industry, and – driven by our COO (John Kavangh) and GM (Darren Wheadon) – we know we have the necessary tools to continue improving our proposition in the future. “These include our maintenance knowhow and asset management processes; our anti-bribery and corruption stance; our option to leverage off Ausdrill; and our ability to ingratiate ourselves locally and promote nationals.”

We wish total success to all the AMS team for their ongoing projects and all new ones!

Empowering and uplifting

It is perhaps this final parameter which has and will continue to dictate AMS’s ultimate success in the long-term, in West Africa.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

T +(33) 4 90 39 39 23 E export@haladjian.fr

www.haladjian-export.com/en/

+(33) 4 90 39 39 23 export@haladjian.fr www.haladjian-export.com/en/

OUR SOLUTIONS Parts and service for mobile equipments and fleet’s optimization +250 people

+55

years of history

Mining & construction market

Services

• On-site diagnosis • Repair/upgrade recommendations • Planned maintenance schedules • Performance follow-ups • Technical training & know-how sharing

Multi-brands Parts

• Ground engaging tools • Equipments and buckets • Undercarriages • Genuine and OEM mechanical parts • Machine safety and security systems

A F R I C A N

M I N I N G

S E R V I C E S

JA DELMAS

A Delmas has been a Cat dealer for more than 85 years, and present in West Africa through its Network of representatives for over 160 years. Operating in sectors such as construction, infrastructures, power generation and mining, the network stays ahead of its competition by striving for customer service excellence with an ever growing presence and the best people in the industry. JA Delmas is proud to develop its partnership with AMS on a regional basis. AMS has a range of exciting projects in West Africa, where we accompany them from greenfield to fully productive mining operations, as we have done for many other international mining customers.

While the region’s rich gold deposits and lucrative commodity zones will continue to lure a carrot in front of budding contractors, it is imperative that the successful exponent tackles the complex industry climate and fragile socioeconomic scene head-on. “There’s been huge changes in focus for national governments in the region over the years in terms of ‘what is good for living standards?’ or ‘what do we need international companies to bring to our country?’ and expectations can change from time to time,” Twining explains. “The trick to it all, from our perspective, has been the connections we have formed. Whether it’s a new country we’re entering like Senegal or the Ivory Coast, or a country where we’ve been operational for a decade like Mali; it’s all about making the right connections with people in decisionmaking positions and showcasing to them that our approach to mining will bring economic value to their nation and will put communities first at all times.”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

JA Delmas and its representatives seek to further reduce the cost per tonne for its customers by applying creative technology, process and skill to each site. Investment into the JA Delmas infrastructures has doubled in the past year, ensuring they can respond to the needs expressed by customers.

...it’s all about making the right connections with people in decision-making positions and showcasing to them that our approach to mining will bring economic value to their nation and will put communities first at all times”

Proximity and ease of doing business make JA Delmas a natural choice in West Africa. With the strong and reliable Cat equipment and a network of experts, this is the perfect recipe for success. More specifically, with AMS now extending its operations into Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal, the Network has improved its presence considerably through for example a certified rebuild facility, a brand new warehouse and large workshops. These service features are enriched with more oil analysis capacity, training facilities and customer reception areas. We wish AMS the best success in their future ventures into West Africa!

YOUR CAT DEALER IN WEST AFRICA ®

OUR SCOPE OF OPERATIONS · Construction & Infrastructures · Mining · Energy, Manufacturing & Services OUR EXPERTISE · Equipment & Spare Parts · Training · Maintenance Contracts · Technical Consulting & Support · Financing · Used & Rental Equipment · New Technologies OUR NETWORK · Benin · Burkina Faso · Cote d’Ivoire · Gambia · Guinea · Guinea Bissau · Mali · Mauritania · Niger · Senegal · Togo

Visit us on www.jadelmas.com © 2018 Caterpillar | All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, BUILT FOR IT, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” trade dress and Product Link, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillarand may not be used without permission.

A F R I C A N

M I N I N G

S E R V I C E S

He continues: “It’s actually one of the main reasons I enjoy working for AMS - you can’t always do it for money. You have to put forward a more wholesome proposition, get a foothold, and show you are a genuine company with integrity. We like to think we can do what we say we can do and that generates trust and a level of respect that continues to grow our reputation.” By keeping lines of communication

open, it has also helped the Company foresee industry or national challenges that other operators might walk blindly into. Working harmoniously to bridge cultures, objectives and even languages, a cycle of sustainability has had to be generated (often from very nascent beginnings) in each country. Twining continues: “With the localisation process, in each case we have to initially utilise expats but we do so to train nationals, so that the ratio between the two shifts in favour of the latter over the years. “Concurrently, we offer stateof-the-art training and development programmes to get people up to speed and to develop their skills; often using simulators so that they’re exposed to the complex conditions, hazards and challenges that they will eventually face when the time comes to be assigned onsite. “Essentially everything is geared around empowering and uplifting our nationals.”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

With the localisation process, in each case we have to initially utilise expats but we do so to train nationals, so that the ratio between the two shifts in favour of the latter over the years”

SERVING AFRICA WITH AMS SINCE 2008

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Human Resources company for over 25 years now, SAER-EMPLOI has been assisting its customers in their growth by providing them with qualified personnel whose daily management enables them to concentrate on their core business.

ADVANTAGES FOR THE CLIENT:

• Time saving, • Considerable reduction in personnel costs, • Compliance with labor legislation.

25 years

Over 10 000

9 subsidiaries

Over 300

in the domain in West Africa

Over 100 000

collaborators

jobs created

projects in the mining and construction sectors in West Africa

EXPERTISE

PRESENCE

• • • •

• • • • • • • • •

Recruitment, Payroll outsourcing, Provision of personnel Advice and assistance in Human Resources

Senegal Niger Burkina Cote d’ivoire Guinea Togo Benin Liberia United kingdom

Hamdallaye ACI 2000, Road 311, SAER-EMPLOI Building - Bamako, Mali Phone : +223 20 29 08 58 - Fax : +223 20 29 08 47 E-mail : info@saer-emploi.com

www.saer-emploi.com

A F R I C A N

M I N I N G

S E R V I C E S

VIVO ENERGY MALI

ivo Energy Mali - the company behind the Shell brand - is proud to supply African Underground Mining Services with its fuel and lubricants needs. The Shell brand has been present in Mali since 1934, and has a strong brand image in the country. Vivo Energy has an excellent reputation for its values and principles and is committed to be the leader in the Malian fuel and lubricants market. In addition to supporting the commercial mining sector Vivo Energy Mali also offers solutions for motorists and other businesses. Through our network of 35 retail service stations, and with a storage capacity of 5,200 square metres, motorists are provided with a comprehensive range of Shell fuels and lubricants, including: • Shell Diesel Extra • Shell Super Unleaded • Shell Helix Ultra • Shell Advance

Reliability and consistency

By showing an aptitude for local enrichment and sustainable talent progression, AMS has understandably strengthened its appeal to national governments and potential clients. And this is epitomised by the vast portfolio of projects attained over the years across Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and more recently Ivory Coast. Establishing, and then retaining, positive relationships with key clients in each case – Perseus, AngloGold Ashanti and Endeavour being prime examples – the sharing of information, skill-bases and resources that occurs consequently continues to breed new opportunities and fresh project leads. “In each case, what we bring is a sense of reliability and consistency, and this is what sets us apart once we begin working on a project,” Twining

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Even when things get out of control, or difficult, AMS can always stick it out with a financial, technical and consultancy footing which reduces risk across the board”

Vivo Energy Mali provides a wide range of Shell fuel and lubricants products to its business customers - both in the private and the public sectors - to support their growth. We provide cost effective solutions (including storage, distribution and technical advice) in the following areas of business: • Mining • Power • Construction • Road transport • Manufacturing • Agriculture

Please contact us to see how we can help: T +223 449 97 88 88

www.vivoenergy.com

Vivo Energy Mining: Technology leadership and expertise to drive down your costs Vivo Energy - the company behind the Shell brand in Africa - brings you Shell’s industry-leading products, services and technology, with an offer designed to meet your precise mining needs and reduce your Total Cost of Operations.

At Vivo Energy we know that as an African mining company you battle tough conditions everyday. We know that you continually strive to reduce your operational costs; that you rely heavily on your machinery, demanding fuel and lubricants products which ensure you get optimal use from it; that you require a constant, uninterrupted supply of these products; and that you have certain non-negotiables particularly around safety. Fortunately, Vivo Energy is in a position to provide you with complete solutions to all of these requirements. We are proud to put Shell’s high quality products, services and technology at your disposal. Our tailored offer will meet your precise needs, help you optimise your Total Cost of Operations, and ensure your mining business is more successful and sustainable. If you would like to reduce your costs and optimise the use of fuel and lubricant products in your mining operations, contact us at www.vivoenergy.com

Fulling Africa’s Future Shell trademarks used under license.

A F R I C A N

M I N I N G

S E R V I C E S

says. “Even when things get out of control, or difficult, AMS can always stick it out with a financial, technical and consultancy footing which reduces risk across the board. “Even where there are financial difficulties, we have the capacity to soldier on in full operational mode without diluting the strength of our employees, capital expenditures or overall operations.” Once again, by demonstrating these characteristics and such business strength, its cachet among national governments escalates accordingly, and AMS’s values eventually get rewarded with the best projects, and, resultantly, strong revenue growth. Twining elaborates: “This then puts us in a great position from an investment perspective, AMS now

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Even where there are financial difficulties, we have the capacity to soldier on in full operational mode without diluting the strength of our employees, capital expenditures or overall operations”

comprising one of the best fleets of equipment and machinery in the region. New technologies and innovations in the drill blast space find their way to West Africa via Ausdrill and ultimately means we can do things that our competitors can’t with more technically-advanced equipment. “While many other market operators have the same excavators or vehicles as we do, we have the ability and scope to operate them better. This comes from a capacity to upgrade, maintain, train and develop to better meet clients’ needs; and, in turn, people, partners and companies gravitate towards us.”

Bucking trends and exceeding expectations

In Senegal, as has been the case in every other presence point before,

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

ATC

Your preferred blasting partner in Francophone West Africa.

Leader in large-scale metal construction: mining, boilermaking / oil depots, irrigation, containers, transport / handling.

BURKINA FASO • MALI • GUINEA • SENEGAL

Burkina Faso Andre van der Walt Mobile +226 67 25 67 90 Senegal, Mali and Guinea Andre Labuschagne Mobile +221 78 42 15 814 www.aelminingservices.com

www.atcmali.com

AMS is already sowing seeds for future prevalence. The development of nationals, the formulation of positive business partnerships, the establishment of a collaborative forum with the Government, and a commitment to uplift the Kedougou region’s communities is already in full swing. Ultimately, it’s about leaving every project site, and its surrounding area, in a better shape than when AMS entered it. Onsite, this revolves around health & safety, waste management, supplier network development, and – of course – personnel improvement. Externally, corporate social responsibility initiatives are tied into client objectives and an ongoing drive to improve the lives of local nationals. “AMS is known as a good training and development company for national employees,” Twining affirms. “There is a massive focus on doing things to a high standard and

integrating Australian standards into African mining. And AMS has a good reputation for treating nationals with respect and enabling them to succeed. “I strongly believe an Australian culture and mining aptitude tends to reward us in terms of our national workforce’s attitude.” Twining goes on to attribute applicable notions of honesty and integrity as two of the Company’s overriding differentiators as the

business looks forward to continued success in West Africa in the years to come. “We operate according to a fiveyear strategy and have high hopes for upcoming projects in 2019, especially in Senegal,” he concludes. “We want to continue to buck trends and exceed expectations through our model and how we conduct ourselves. “I’m excited for the future, both here in Senegal and for AMS as a whole. We continue to align ourselves with opportunities that match with a kind of mining that revolves around honesty and integrity. And as such, it’s a good time to be wearing an AMS shirt.”

African Mining Services - Ghana Tel: +233 302 611333 enquiries@amsgh.com www.amsgh.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

P W

M I N I N G

Choice The Partner of

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

PW Mining has built up a formidable reputation in West Africa for being a reliable contractor to some of the region’s most important projects Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Donovan Smith

hanaian mining is on the rise. Currently the secondlargest African producer of gold, the West African nation is also a prolific miner of bauxite, iron ore and manganese, minerals which have helped the sector record revenues of around $1.27 billion in the second quarter of 2018. This is the culmination of a steady, sustained growth period since the start of 2016, which saw Q1 income reach a comparatively modest $577 million. “One thing you can always say is that West Africa is an exciting place,” comments Tony O’Neill, General Manager (Contracts) at Ghana’s PW Mining. “There are a number of mining projects coming online, and we are chasing opportunities across quite a few.”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

P W

M I N I N G

PW is a leading general contractor, operating in contract mining, civil engineering, building construction and property development, with industrial construction representing another area of expertise. While current mining opportunities appear aplenty according to O’Neill, PW as an engineering operator can be traced back 70 years when it was incorporated as H&D Flinn in Ireland. “By 1963 the Company had undergone massive expansion, playing a major role in some of the largest, most prestigious civil engineering projects ever undertaken in the country,” O’Neill adds. “To reflect its developing status, the name was changed to Public Works Ltd and later to PW Ltd.” Indeed, the firm began operating in West Africa in the early 1970s before the Ghana subsidiary founded in 1995. In 2007, PW Mining was formed

as a business unit to address the ever-growing mining workload being undertaken, with its footprint today stretching from Sierra Leone to the Republic of Congo.

Striking gold with Teranga

In Burkina Faso, the Company has undertaken a three-pronged series of work for Teranga Gold Corporation at its Wahgnion Gold Project. Having tracked the potential of this site for several years prior to being awarded its contract, PW initially secured the site earthworks development which it began in January 2018. Thereafter it signed up for a concrete works package, and finally a contract for pit development in the Nangolo Pit on site, rounding off a project that demonstrates to prospective mining clients in the region the breadth of its capabilities.

TONY O’NEILL AND PW MINING O’Neill has been involved with the Company since 1997, having worked in several engineering and management positions in the Irish construction industry. “At that point, I felt that the time had come to make a change of location and career direction, in the overseas market,” he recalls. “Therefore, when I spotted the recruitment advertisement by PW, I applied for a position. “I liked the thought of coming to Africa and experiencing new culture and practices. I was hired and initially I thought I’d give the expat life a couple of years. 22 years later and I have still not returned, and I have enjoyed every bit of my career here. I’ve been able to gain experience, both professional and personal, which I would most likely not have encountered had I remained at home.”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

MACSTEEL GHANA LIMITED

acsteel Ghana Limited is a subsidiary of Macsteel Service Centre South Africa. We represent Africa’s preferred steel supplier in the West of Africa supplying from our hub in Ghana. We stock and directly ship a wide range of steel and steel consumables to meet the needs of our clientele. Our keen focus on certification and traceability has made us the preferred steel supplier to the oil & gas and mining servicing industries. We have assisted PWM and PWG with their operations since 2014 and we are poised to serve better in 2019 and beyond.

T +233 302 979291/2 E sales@macsteelghanaltd.com

www.macsteel.co.za Commenting on its upcoming pipeline of work, O’Neill adds: “We have numerous opportunities but each one will be hard fought for by ourselves and our competitors. This is a very competitive period for contractors such as us. “The most exciting project right now is the move into the Esaase operations for Asanko Gold in Ghana. This opens up a new phase on the Obotan gold mine and all contract parties involved, and the local communities and other stakeholders share our excitement, recognising the benefits this new mining front will bring to Ghana.”

Back to the beginning

The Obotan mine also represents an important historical milestone for PW. “Our first venture into open pit mining remains a precious memory,” recalls O’Neill. “Starting in 1997, we performed all contract mining at the Obotan Gold Mine for the complete lifecycle for Resolute Mining from Australia.

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

P: +233 302 979291/2 M: +233540120998 / +233247002145 E: sales@macsteelghanaltd.com Plot No 37, Alajo Link Road, Off Olusegun Obasanjo H/way, North Alajo. Accra, Google Maps: Macsteel Ghana Ltd Accra. Digital Address: GA-064-5614

www.macsteel.co.za

s ula Dio

AFRICA METAL sarl

Bobo

A MET Dio ulas so

RIC

Africa Metal sarl works in the field of metal construction, civil engineering and leasing of handling equipment.

Authorised Distributors for:

o 4B Ou P: 2 agad o ug o u B

EKMAF 01 BP 6870 Ouaga 01 Ouagadougou Burkina Faso Mady Korgho E ekmaf.burkina@gmail.com T+226 702 54924

Daouda Kabore | africametal@outlook.com | +226 209 76330

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

P W

M I N I N G

“This project demonstrated that we had made the jump from a wellknown and respected civil engineering contractor into a fully-fledged mining contractor.” From here, the Company routinely broke into new markets and built up a formidable track record of completing milestone projects. “North Mara in Tanzania (2002), Youga in Burkina Faso (2007) and Syama in Mali (2008) were landmark projects for us, clear stepping stones which have taken PW Mining to its current position in the African mining sector,” adds O’Neill. More recently the firm secured contract mining work at Obotan from Asanko Gold, a happy return for PW

after the mine was reopened.

Standing out

For O’Neill, a key factor in PW’s successful track record is its ability to respond flexibly and make decisions quickly thanks to its relatively flat organisational structure and private ownership. “One of our key objectives as a company is to deliver top class value and service to our clients by providing cost effective, quality workmanship which is executed with due regard to all HSE parameters, and to deliver completion of our contracts on agreed timelines,” he explains. “These points are critical to us, and we strive to achieve all of them on all projects.”

PW Mining has built up a reputation for excellence across the African mining industry

“One thing you can always say is that West Africa is an exciting place... There are a number of mining projects coming online, and we are chasing opportunities across quite a few”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

I want us to strengthen our reputation to the point that our mining clients consider us to be a strategic partner – they believe that we are the best contract mining company in Africa” This value and service proposition has been boosted by the opening of a new centralised equipment maintenance workshop in Tema. Around 4,000 square metres in size, the facility consolidates operations for heavy equipment and transport and caters for in-house component rebuilding. The site also has a purposebuilt customs bonded area to improve clearing times from the port. “During 2018 we imported additional dozers, and articulated and rigid dumptrucks to support our load and haul operations,” says O’Neill. “These purchases not only serve to replace equipment reaching the end of effective service, but also to grow our fleet to enable readiness for a quick start up on newly secured projects.

“In that vein, a new CAT 6030 excavator arrived in Ghana in Q4 2018 and throughout the year the production fleet has been supplemented by further procurement of support equipment.”

People and partners

While investment in state-of-the-art equipment and facilities has been crucial to PW’s ability to serve clients, the firm is also reliant on its team of boundary-pushing employees. To ensure the Company has the best chance of attracting and retaining the requisite talent, it provides generous compensation and benefits packages, industry-leading working conditions and opportunities for training and professional development.

For O’Neill, the latter is especially important. “We have always believed in encouragement of innovation and initiative,” he says. “If staff are up for a challenge, we will recognise that and will certainly provide the opportunity to confront it. “Many of our staff recognise that PW will encourage them towards levels of performance that previously they may not have attained. By offering these opportunities we build up a loyal team of employees.” PW can also draw on a loyal base of partners that make up its procurement and supply chain network. These companies specialise in sourcing, inspecting, shipping and clearing goods across West Africa, facilitating a seamless operation, while major suppliers of equipment and materials are utilised locally where possible. “Partnerships are vital,” says O’Neill. “They should be based on all facets of the business relationship, and while cost is vitally important, we feel it is equally important not to become blinkered by this single parameter. “Time and again we observe the good-fast-cheap triangle at play. You can get any two but not all three. We have built up solid relationships with key partners, reaching the optimum position with them in terms of value, quality and expediency.” And it is this threefold value that O’Neill hopes and expects to continue delivering to its own clients in the future. He concludes: “I want us to strengthen our reputation to the point that our mining clients consider us to be a strategic partner – they believe that we are the best contract mining company in Africa, they wish to partner with us on a repeat basis and they know us for our integrity, excellence, and quality of delivery.” PW Mining Tel: +233 30518112 pwm@pwmil.com www.pwmil.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

C P C

E N G I N E E R I N G

HITTING THE

Sweet Spot CPC Engineering, thanks to its agile setup and full suite of engineering and drafting expertise, is able to support clients across continents throughout the entire life of a mining project

Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

ustralia has long supported the African mining industry. According to the AustraliaAfrica Minerals and Energy Group, there are more than 185 ASX-listed mining and other resource companies operating over 430 projects in 37 African countries. This amounts to an estimated footprint of more than $40 billion based on current and potential future investment. “At the moment there is no shortage of opportunities to work,”

says Rod Davies, General Manager of CPC Project Design at Perth-based CPC Engineering, a company supporting a range of mining projects across multiple regions including Australia and Africa. “Companies are always trying to progress projects and expand plants, although a slowing impact both in Africa and Australia has been the sourcing of financing for such plans. The world is becoming more risk averse, but by February after the Christmas shutdown we tend to see investment picking up

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

and we are starting to see those green shoots again.” The opportunity for Davies to join CPC, by his own admission, came out of the blue, but it was too good to turn down – the GM headhunted on recommendation from colleagues of his retiring predecessor. It is an industry he has always held a passion for, stemming from a young age. “I like big machines and how they do things, to put it simply,” says Davies. “I loved the idea of working

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

in big processing plants and felt as if it would be like having a giant train set to play with. I actually started out in a metallurgy processing plant, rather than in engineering.”

Sweet spot

CPC’s size and scope of expertise was a key draw for Davies, this being a key differentiator for the firm which has been in operation since setting up in Kambalda, Western Australia, in 1970. Today the company employs over 350 qualified and skilled personnel

AFRICA

split between design and engineering units, a combined team which is able to provide a full suite of services from studies and fabrication through to construction and maintenance. These services are conducted from offices and workshops located in Perth, Kalgoorlie, Kambalda, Port Hedland, Ravensthrope and Esperance, perfectly positioned to serve Australian mining clients, many of which are based nearby. “We’re one of few engineering houses that cover the entire

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

C P C

E N G I N E E R I N G

discipline,” says Davies. “We have metallurgists and process engineers and can start right away with the design of a plant, taking it all the way through to mechanical and electrical phases, the full scope. “We are also the perfect size for our clients and can react quickly to their requirements and are backed up by reliable systems. I like to call it a sweet spot that we are in – we are not a giant multinational and can move quickly. Our clients can also pick up the phone to our CEO.” It is also from these Western Australian facilities that CPC supports its clients’ projects based in Africa, the company also ensuring staff are on the ground to oversee the work and provide crucial engineering and design support.

A diverse portfolio

Closer to home, the firm has a number of ongoing projects with clients covering numerous areas of mining and engineering. Davies cites work with AngloGold Ashanti in WA, where CPC is supporting the study and design stage at the Boston Shaker underground mine supporting infrastructure at the Tropicana site, located nearly 330 kilometres east-northeast of the town of Kalgoorlie. Ground work on this is expected to begin by Q2 of 2019 after final investment decisions are taken. “We are also on a project with Talison Lithium at its Greenbushes operations south of Perth,” continues Davies. “We have just finished the studies for a second new crushing

CPC IN AFRICA Many of CPC’s clients rely on the firm’s expertise to deliver projects in Africa, including Melbourne-based Syrah Resources which developed the Balama Graphite mine in the Cabo Delgado province of northern Mozambique. As well as delivering the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study for the project, CPC was also awarded the engineering and procurement contract for the mine’s design phase, a process which was completed inside 12 months and managed from the company’s Perth office.

BGRIMM

GRIMM is a leading Chinese company operating in the minerals industry, specialising in the production of mineral processing equipment using the latest technologies. The firm, founded in 1956, carries 60 years of experience in its ranks, a formidable track record that has seen it cater to needs across a mine’s life, from production through to closure. As well as supply leading equipment, BGRIMM also consults with clients and provides engineering services and is a leading light when it comes to research and development. For example, it is the major research undertaker in National ERC for Comprehensive Utilization of Metallic Resources as well as National ERC for Clean Extraction and Energy Saving in Nonferrous Metallurgy. Its research capabilities have seen it awarded dozens of patents and qualify similarly large numbers of individuals in disciplines such as metallurgical engineering and mechanical engineering. BGRIMM operates under the following vision and values… Corporate vision: To be a world leader in technology and equipment for development and utilisation of mineral resources.

Following the completion of the engineering phase, a team from CPC joined the Syrah construction and commissioning teams on site to ensure smooth project delivery.

Core values: Turning rock into gold by delivering efficient solutions; creating value to achieve reciprocal benefits with clients.

Ongoing work on the African continent includes study phase support for Blackrock and its graphite asset in Tanzania, the client requesting maximised local input in terms of employment and procurement, the latter very much managed on a best for project basis. Having completed the DFS, CPC will continue providing engineering and project management services into project delivery

Xxxxxxxxthe xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx “Taking advantage of technical resources of BGRIMM and BGRIMMMAT, we deliver technology, equipment and packaged solutions featuring high efficiency and low energy consumption for the comprehensive utilisation of mineral resources. We strive to acquire remarkable social and economic benefits whilst leaving a lighter trace on the earth.”

CPC is also assisting AVZ Minerals in the DRC with feasibility studies on what is thought to be a significant lithium deposit. The drill core samples have already arrived in Perth with testing set to commence before the flow sheet verified and optimised.

T +86 10 6329 9261 F +86 10 6329 9632 E bkjd@bgrimm.com

www.bgrimm-mat.com Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

680m3 Flotation Cell Larger size for larger benefit Leading performance for value recovery Sustainable technology for chemical & energy saving

Premier Supplier of Equipment: Flotation Cell & Column Magnetic Separator Vertical Mill & Attrition Scrubber Agitator Tank

Serve the Mining Industries with Innovative Technologies Who we are

What we own

How we do

• Premier Chinese institute in the mineral Industry

• 60 years’ history and experience

• Provide comprehensive solution

• Leading technology

• Expertise from mining to mine closure

• Provide consultation of R&D and engineering service

• Manufacturer of mineral processing equipment

• Clients over 50 countries

• Supply advanced mineral processing equipment

BGRIMM Machinery & Automation Technology www.bgrimm-mat.com

T +86 10 6329 9261 | F +86 10 6329 9632 | E bkjd@bgrimm.com

C P C

E N G I N E E R I N G

ANDRITZ

NDRITZ Separation is the world’s leading separation specialist with the broadest technology portfolio and more than 2,000 specialists in 40 countries. For more than 150 years, we have been a driving force in the evolution of separation solutions and services for industries ranging from environment to food, chemicals, and mining and minerals. As the OEM for many of the world’s leading brands, we have the solutions and services to transform your business to meet tomorrow’s changing demands – wherever you are and whatever your separation challenge.

T +65 6512 1800 E separation.sg@andritz.com

www.andritz.com/separation

BMI GROUP

e deliver innovative waterproofing and protection systems for the mining industry, designed to transform the way people live and work. Providing protection, added value and peace of mind for engineers, installation companies, general contractors and owners alike. Artist impression/technical drawing and real life image of a CPC project

plant and are now entering the detailed design phase for Talion’s main contractor MSP. “This is a key part of the site’s expansion, and the first new plant CPC designed for the project is now approaching 80 percent through construction.” In New Zealand’s Foulden Hills, CPC is engaged in a somewhat less conventional project involving diatomaceous earth that was

discovered by gold prospectors in the early 1870s. “Plaman Global’s operation, which we did the study work for, will entail digging up black diatomaceous earth, refining it and turning it into animal feed. The diatomaceous earth is a natural product formed from microscopic fossils and rich in natural organic matter, which helps with animals’ growth, digestion and reduces the need for antibiotics as well.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

BMI Group is a standard industries company, like GAF, the leading manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing solutions in North America. Together, we are the largest roofing and waterproofing business in the world.

E bmi.engineering@bmigroup.com

www.bmigroup.com

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

SEPARATION

FILTER PRESS SUPPLIER FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST GRAPHITE RESOURCE ASK YOUR SEPARATION SPECIALIST As a separation specialist with a successful history in the mining and minerals industry for more than five decades, ANDRITZ SEPARATION is ideally equipped not only to supply and start equipment and systems but also to support customers in maximizing process

efficiency over the complete plant lifecycle. Thousands of references are available showing best practices over long-term partnerships with customers in different segments of both the mining and minerals treatment industries all around the world. This makes

ANDRITZ SEPARATION the right choice to solve any customer problem today and in the future. All challenges are addressed by project development and execution in close collaboration with the customer. Thus ANDRITZ SEPARATION stands for long-term reliability.

andritz.com/separation

TERANAP TP – The Bituminous geomembrane - Mining environmental protection solutions for 45 years - Excellent ageing performances - Technical assistance on site • Better interface friction angle (savings about embankments and earthwork) • Better dimensional stability (no wrinkles on Teranap so no stress cracking, workforce time saving) • Excellent puncturing resistance • Possibility to get rid of geotextiles • Wind uplift resistance • Easy connection to concrete (and details) • Installation under extreme conditions • Certification for potable water • Excellent chemical resistance

bmi.engineering@bmigroup.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

C P C

E N G I N E E R I N G

SKILLED MATERIALS HANDLING

CPC continually updates health and safety policy to ensure safe operations

killed Materials Handling specialises in bulk materials handling equipment.

We are committed to working with our customers to design, manufacture and supply robust reliable, fit for purpose bulk materials handling equipment. An innovative approach to engineering design and manufacturing, supported by 30-plus years of experience, partnerships within Australia and overseas ensures that we deliver optimal equipment and ongoing support and spare parts globally for all materials handling requirements. To date we have supplied 1,000-plus conveyors to 60 clients worldwide in the energy, mining, cement, agriculture, food and waste handling sectors. T: +61 3 9544 4188 E: smh@skilledmaterial.com.au

www.skilledmaterial.com.au “I didn’t know you could feed diatomaceous earth to animals, and if you look carefully enough you can find this sort of product for people to eat as well.” CPC’s work is not just limited to Africa, Australia and New Zealand, however. Davies also points to a project with repeat customer First Quantum Minerals in Panama, a huge copper deposit spread over a concession that consists of four zones totalling 13,600 hectares. CPC assisted First Quantum with the design stage in Perth, the project now advancing into the commissioning phase.

refreshing our safety practices is absolutely essential,” says Davies. “When we start a new project and recruit blue collar workers or unskilled labour, we must make sure we not only choose the right people, but that our induction processes are spot on. “Standards are routinely checked and kept fresh. We require everyone working on a job to go to a different area on a weekly basis and carry out an inspection on how other people are working. Talking about safety is so important. These peer reviews are a crucial part of our management philosophy for safety.” Regarding CPC’s own employee base, Davies doesn’t deny that it is a Uncompromising standards challenge to find adequately skilled Successful delivery of these projects engineers to join the organisation. all around the world would not be While the company’s cohort of possible without an uncompromising engineers is made up of multiple stance on standards, both in terms of nationalities, they are all Australian quality and HSE (health, safety and residence, and many have come environment). through the ranks to become key “Maintaining vigilance and continually assets having acquired valuable

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

TRUE AUTOMATION

rue Automation, based in Perth, Western Australia, provides system integration services to many prestigious clients from around the world. Continuing this spirit, True Automation is proud to have successfully delivered the control system for CPC’s Balama Graphite Project in Mozambique for the miner Syrah Resources. The highly productive collaboration between True Automation and CPC started with the design phase and continued through to site commissioning and performance optimisation of the plant. In addition, True Automation continue to provide resources to ensure the ongoing successful operation of the plant. T +61 1300 880 641, +61 8 6118 0900 E admin@trueautomation.com.au

www.trueautomation.com.au

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

CHAIN CONVEYORS

SIDE WALL BELT CONVEYOR

SPARE PARTS

true automation Innovative Process Control Solutions True Automation specialise in providing advanced process control solutions and industrial automation systems to the mining and minerals processing sectors. We offer an extensive range of engineering services to ensure we deliver outstanding solutions to satisfy our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; business requirements. With a strong customer focus, we are dedicated to working closely with our clients to deliver high quality and cost effective control systems. Our goal is to deliver control systems that are effective, intuitive, scalable, reliable and maintainable. Suite 166, 580 Hay Street Perth Western Australia 6000 T +61 1300 880 641, +61 8 6118 0900 E admin@trueautomation.com.au www.trueautomation.com.au

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

C P C

E N G I N E E R I N G

experience and training. “We are a competitive payer and can offer tremendous experience,” Davies adds. “Four or five years ago we took on a lot of young engineers who are now in their early 30s and very good – we now need to promote them, offer more opportunities and retain them. “It is about keeping the right balance between younger and more experienced engineers to ensure a continual passing on of knowledge.” In terms of environmental stewardship, CPC has a detailed Environmental Management Plan

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

It is not unusual for supervisors to be walking around with iPads now, not paper and hard copy design drawings”

structured to meet the requirements of the AS/NZS ISO 14001 (2004) Environmental Management Systems standard.

Looking ahead

Executing projects to these exacting standards will also require CPC to stay abreast of key technological trends influencing the mining sphere. “This sector is inherently conservative, and the development cycle of a project can be a number of years,” says Davies. “This means when something new comes along you have

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

CPC employs over 350 qualified and skilled personnel

CPC is based in Western Australia, serving clients with operations here and in Africa

“We have metallurgists and process engineers and can start right away with the design of a plant, taking it all the way through to mechanical and electrical phases, the full scope”

to be aware of it, otherwise it can be three or four years before you can actually implement it. “We come across the saying that we need to be at the leading edge of technology, not the bleeding edge. By that I mean it’s a race to be first to second place, i.e. let someone try it first and make sure it works. “There have been some fantastic developments that have made their way into the mining industry – we are extracting more at faster speeds than ever before. “Further, connectivity in mines

is massive and engineers like us are using bigger and bigger programmes. It is not unusual for supervisors to be walking around with iPads now, not paper and hard copy design drawings.” Keeping a keen eye on developments like this will ensure CPC remains a relevant, reliable supporting partner to mining operations at home and abroad. And it is this continuation of the sweet spot position the company currently occupies that is a key priority for Davies moving forwards. He concludes: “I want to consolidate

the growth we have experienced over the past couple of years. That requires replacing projects we have finished with some new ones and keeping our team as strong as it is now. I am optimistic for the year ahead.”

CPC Engineering Tel: +61 (8) 9365 0300 cpcprojects@cpceng.com.au www.cpcengineering.com.au

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

LU C A R A

B O T S W A N A

A Diamond

Legacy Lucara Botswana is mining for the nation at its Karowe resource, its large premium diamonds being extracted and sold using leading-edge technology operated by upskilled local experts Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

AFRICA

otswana’s affinity with diamonds stretches back many decades. Serious exploration began in the 1950s in the Tuli Block along the Limpopo River, and in the years since the West African nation has become renowned for its diamond production capabilities. Such ventures have also proven to be a vital economic contributor to Botswana, providing employment to thousands of citizens and generating enormous revenue which has funded important infrastructure projects. “The market is stable and will not drop off,” observes Naseem Lahri, Managing Director of Lucara’s Botswana division, the first wholly private entity to be mining diamonds in the country. “Diamonds are so unique – there will always be a demand.” Lahri is the first Botswanan woman to be promoted to the position of Managing Director in a national mining company, initially joining the organisation in 2013 following a long and fruitful journey with Debswana, the joint venture between the government and De Beers. “I worked in auditing for a couple of different companies over several years when an opportunity to work with a colliery arose,” she recalls. “I enjoy working in challenging environments and mining certainly fits into this category, so I decided to give it a chance and stayed there for two years. “The experience opened up my mind to the world of mining – the challenges, the opportunities, the excitement. After working for 12 years with Debswana, who owned the colliery I started at, I felt the time was right for a new challenge and took the opportunity to work for Lucara. “The company had a lot of prospects with a new mine being set up, so it presented a chance to start a new project almost from scratch, and I have never looked back.”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

L U C A R A

B O T S W A N A

The Karowe resource

Lucara’s Karowe mine lies in the central eastern portion of Botswana, located around 20 kilometres away from the town of Letlhakane, which is home to approximately 26,000 people. A state-of-the-art facility commissioned in 2012, it is known for its production of large Type IIA diamonds in excess of 10.8 carats which have included landmark finds such as the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona and the 813 carat Constellation. “Our niche is that we sell exceptionally large stones,” Lahri says. “It is a niche market and we don’t tend to sell finer diamonds, so we are relatively sheltered from ups and downs in the wider industry. “In fact, our portion of the market – the Type IIA which only makes up one to two percent of the entire diamond population – is growing and remains a thriving business.” In monetary terms, the company expects Karowe to generate $170-200 million in revenue this year, building on the 2.4 million carats worth of diamonds it has sold to date. This has included 180 diamonds each selling for more than $1 million and 10 stones fetching more than $10 million apiece. The operation is therefore an extensive one, reliant upon a team of around 1,200 workers at any one

time, 300 of which employed directly by the company. Some 98 percent of these employees are Botswana nationals, a key priority for Lahri being the upliftment of the surrounding community and ability of Lucara to give back to the nation. “Community engagement is vital to us,” she says. “For example, the name Karowe, which means precious stone in the native language, was named by the local people, and we have also engaged the population to name our biggest diamonds like the Lesedi La Rona.”

TROLLOPE BOTSWANA

rollope Botswana commenced operations at Lucara Diamond Corp. – Karowe Diamond Mine on June 26, 2018, and is the first step for parent company Trollope Mining Services towards expanding its geographical footprint into Africa. Trollope Mining Services is a Level 4 BBBEE rated company which provides opencast mining, crushing and screening, plant hire and rehabilitation services while operating in the civil and mining industries. Trollope Botswana is responsible for the mining of waste and ore material as well as the rehandling of ore material into the crusher from stockpiles, with a fleet consisting of 39 pieces of equipment mining a total of 600,000 bcm/mth. The current depth of the pit is approximately 132 metres deep and Karowe is planning to go to a total depth of about 326 metres.

Naseem Lahri, Managing Director of Lucara’s Botswana division

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

T +27 (0)11 281 6000 E admin@tmsgroup.co.za

Karowe operations

www.tmsgroup.co.za

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

L U C A R A

B O T S W A N A

Cutting edge technology

As well as supporting the community through direct employment, Lucara ensures 80 percent of its procurement activity is carried out locally, an approach which also involves encouraging international suppliers to establish a local base in Botswana. This is no better demonstrated than by two recent technological investments. The first is in the form of new XRT equipment imported from Germany, a first of its kind system which uses x-rays to assist the diamond recovery process, complementing the use of autogenous milling techniques to optimise revenues and minimise diamond losses.

“We have been investing in technology which has not been used in the diamond industry before, and this kind of XRT is one example,” Lahri says. “We requested that the German manufacturer set up a local maintenance team, and this has helped to transfer the skills needed to operate and maintain these machines into our organisation. By the end of this year our workforce will be ready maintain without OEM supervision and could be sought after around the world to train other miners. “There are a lot of diamond skills in Botswana – this is just one example of us upskilling the local population, a key part of our strategy, which also involves promoting from within and detailed succession planning.”

MEDUPI PLANT HIRE

edupi Plant Hire was incorporated in Botswana in 2010. Medupi concentrates on its core competency area which is plant hire, roads construction and mining and remains a focused enterprise in a highly competitive market. Medupi is synonymous with Health Safety Environment and Quality and timely completion of contracts in Botswana. Our major clients are Lucara Botswana and Mupane Gold Mine, but in the past we have had successful and mutually beneficial working relationships with Botswana Ash, the former African Copper mine, Tati Nickel, and BCL mines.

Jakes Visser T +267 71784292

Lesedi La Rona diamond

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Medupi Plant Hire (pty)Ltd Jakes Visser | Cell: +267 71784292

Tel/Fax 4970205 Email serioussystem@gmail.com P O Box 11336 Pota, Palapye

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

L U C A R A

B O T S W A N A

The same local onboarding process occurred when the company acquired Clara Diamond Solutions in 2018. A pioneering digital sales platform and another first for the diamond mining industry, Clara uses proprietary analytics with the latest cloud and blockchain technologies to sell rough diamonds individually, based on polished characteristics and demand. The system is transforming the sales process, driving efficiencies and unlocking value for diamond producers and manufacturers. “From a market perspective, people

THE BENEFITS OF CLARA Lucara’s new acquisition provides many benefits to producers and buyers of diamonds. • Eliminates diamond sales by assortments; facilitates diamond sales “stone by stone” achieving best possible pricing for producers.

generally buy stones in lots, meaning they often end up with diamonds they may not want,” explains Lahri. “With Clara, buyers and manufacturers can buy exactly what they need, and likewise they can sell any excess stock through the platform to free up working capital. “This system also cuts out the middleman, meaning producers of diamonds like us and manufacturers can save money by selling and buying in this way.”

A lasting legacy

In creating a cutting-edge operation at Karowe and with it a formidably skilled workforce, it is clear to see how Lucara is working to give back to both the local community near its mine and Botswana as a whole. Indeed, for Lahri the notion of legacy is of paramount importance, not least because she is a Botswana national herself.

• Manufacturers purchase only the diamonds they want, eliminating the need to re-trade and finance unwanted inventories, achieving higher margins. • Continuous sales versus fixed sales cycles – smooths out revenue streams. • Clara is integrated with blockchain technology, so every rough diamond is tracked with a secure and immutable record of its origins and ownership, providing peace of mind for consumers. Diamond sorting

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

TOMRA SORTING MINING

s the world market leader in sensor-based ore sorting, TOMRA Sorting Mining is responsible for developing and engineering cutting-edge technology made to withstand harsh mining environments. TOMRA Sorting Mining maintains its rigorous focus on quality and future-oriented thinking with technology tailor-made for mining. Lucara and TOMRA forever changed the diamond industry with the introduction of TOMRA XRT solutions to replace DMS and XRL processes. After the recovery the 1109ct Lesedi la Rona and 810ct Constellation, their partnership forged a new gold standard approach that is now operating all around the world.

T +49 160 364 27 52 E geoffrey.madderson@tomra.com

www.tomra.com/mining

XRT DIAMOND SORTING SENSOR-BASED ORE SORTING SINCE 1988.

RESOURCE RELIABILITY

RENTAL & MAINTENANCE • Equipment Rental • MARC Contracts • Maintenance

CONTRACT MINING • Load & Haul • Drill & Blast • Crushing & Screening

P.O Box 1024, Orapa, Botswana T +267-297 6994 | M +267-71571566 | E sseaman8@gmail.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

L U C A R A

B O T S W A N A

Karowe at dusk

“This country has given a tremendous deal to me and I want to give something back through our successes with Lucara,” she says. “Our Botswana first ethos is therefore at the forefront of what we do, evidenced by our corporate social responsibility activity.” Lahri points to two recent examples in the farming sphere. “In October 2018 we launched an integrated farm project in Mokubilo, another first of its kind in Botswana,” Lahri continues. “This pioneering farm is managed

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

by a board made up of members of the community and is already selling eggs, and will be supplying a range of other foods like cabbages, peppers and maize in a sustainable way. All of our CSR projects must be sustainable and have total community buy in and impact.” The second development involved the construction of an abattoir facility in Letlhakane. Handed over to the local council, the slaughterhouse enables local livestock farmers to utilise a safe and reliable asset in order to bring their goods to market.

A key priority for Lucara Botswana is to go underground, the company looking to undertake a feasibility study in line with this

“Botswana is politically and economically stable. The government is very open to private investment and is willing to listen to companies like Lucara and welcomes what they can offer”

By continuing to invest not only in its own operations but also the wider community, Lucara is building on its already established reputation in Botswana, a reputation proven by the government’s embracement of its investment in the country. “We want to invest even more,” Lahri adds. “The major priority for us is to go underground, and at the end of this year we will have a decision on a feasibility study which will tell us whether this is a viable option. “I am cautiously optimistic the project will go ahead, and if it does

it will provide the opportunity to contribute towards the country’s vision for 2036, as it will extend our life of mine by another 10 years. “We are also looking at other prospecting licenses and are carrying out some exploration with a view to adding more assets to our footprint in Botswana. This is very much my mandate.” Looking ahead to the outcome of this year’s feasibility study, Lahri concludes by restating her wider optimism regarding the future development of her beloved country.

“Botswana is politically and economically stable. The government is very open to private investment and is willing to listen to companies like Lucara and welcomes what they can offer. I am therefore optimistic for a bright future.”

Lucara Botswana www.lucaradiamond.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

B U S H V E L D

M I N E R A L S

THE VANGUARD OF

Vanadium

anadium is a mineral on the rise. A grey, soft and ductile high value metal invaluable to sectors such as alloys, chemicals and especially steel, its value has risen by 400 percent in the space of two years. With demand for vanadium on the rise, huge opportunities exist for companies able to find and extract the metal, especially outside of China, and AIM-listed Bushveld Minerals is one

Bushveld Minerals CEO Fortune Mojapelo discusses the Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey to become an increasingly prominent Company in the global vanadium market

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Donovan SmithÂ

such firm with bold growth ambitions. It is one of only three producing primary vanadium operations and one of only two vanadium focused play companies in the world. Further, the South African organisation is leveraging the mineral to develop and promote Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) in the growing global energy storage market through Bushveld Energy, its energy storage developer and component manufacturer.

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

Bushveld Minerals currently commands four percent of the global vanadium market, and through development of projects at its Bushveld Complex the firm aims to increase that share to five percent by 2019.

Gathering momentum

The past year has been the busiest in the Company’s relatively short history to date. Incorporated in January, 2012, Bushveld Minerals spent its first years exploring for vanadium – it completed a scoping study on the Mokopane Vanadium Project in April 2014 followed by a prefeasibility study in February, 2016. “On 6 April 2017, through the acquisition of Vametco, the Company transitioned from an exploration Company into a significant global vanadium producer,” recalls Bushveld Minerals’ CEO Fortune Mojapelo. “This laid the groundwork for our growth

into a mid-tier low cost, vertically integrated primary vanadium platform. The acquisition was further aligned with the Company’s aspirations in the global energy storage space by providing capacity for potential electrolyte manufacturing.” Fast-forward to the present day, and Bushveld Minerals is comprised of three main divisions – Bushveld Vanadium, Bushveld Energy and Lemur Holdings, the Company’s coal business. Bushveld Vanadium itself is split into three operations. Recently acquired Vametco is the primary low-cost vanadium mining and processing operation with a 142.4Mt JORC resource, including 26.12 Mt Reserves with in-magnetite vanadium grades averaging 1.96 percent V2O5. The Brits Vanadium Project comprises prospecting rights on several farms adjacent to Vametco. The mineralisation is outcropping and a continuation of the Vametco

deposit strike with similar or higher vanadium grades. Historical drilling has shown grades of as much as 2.6 percent V2O5 in-magnetite. In March 2018, an exploration programme commenced which showed positive drilling results. Finally, the Mokopane Vanadium Project is home to one of the world’s largest vanadium deposits with a 298 Mt JORC resource including 28.5 Mt Reserves. A key priority for the remainder of the year is to secure a New Order Mining Right for the project, and subsequently develop the resource.

Expansion at Vametco

“In 2017, Vametco commenced a three-phased expansion project with the aim of increasing annualised production capacity to more than 5,000 mtV during 2019,” Mojapelo explains. “Phase One of the expansion plan was successfully

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

B U S H V E L D

M I N E R A L S

AQUANIC

or 27 years Aquanic has grown into a group of companies with various related business lines in civils and fluid management solutions. We achieve service excellence through application of our extensive knowledge, skilled workers, experience in designing and installation by implementing the best option which is cost effective, sustainable and manageable. Our business is built around environmental legislation, clients’ standards and procedures and design criteria, assisting clients in achieving their goals.

“We adopt a rigorous approach in analysing market dynamics for each of our chosen commodities to understand industry structure, current and future supply/demand balance and implications for the underlying price” completed on time and on budget in the September, 2017 quarter, during which Vametco reached an annualised production capacity of 3,035 mtV. “Phase Two of the expansion plan was successfully completed on time and on budget in June, 2018, during which Vametco reached an annualised production capacity of 3,750 mtV, through the installation and commissioning of the third primary milling circuit and secondary crusher.”

Aquanic, in partnership with Bushveld Vametco, is the contractor for the civil works on the new Magnitite Tailings dump. All earthworks, drainage, HDPE and geotextile lining along with weekly survey and plotting is part of our work.

www.aquanic.co.za Phase Three will increase the site’s annualised production capacity to over 5,000 mtV by the end 2019, enhancing its position in what is a structurally challenged market. This project will also permit the development of downstream operations and facilitate product diversification.

Immediate priorities

Beyond expanding output at Vametco and further exploring and developing the Brits Vanadium and Mokopane Vanadium projects, Mojapelo outlines his plan to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. “This is a move that will allow South African investors access to our story while broadening the Company’s access to capital to facilitate its aggressive growth plans and enhance its profile further in the global capital markets,” he says. As the Company grows, Mojapelo also explains how it will need to simplify in terms the organisational

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

CYCLONE ENGINEERING PROJECTS

ur expertise is to operate and manage cyclone tailings storage facilities (TSFs). The field of expertise, apart from the cycloning, has been expanded into spigot TSF and paddock TSF construction, with the full range of TSF construction/management covered. Hydraulic mining of old TSFs is part of the package and is done by remotecontrolled self-propelled guns and remote-controlled guns mounted on excavators.

T +27 11 660 9466

www.cyclones.co.za

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

FLUID AND WATER MANAGEMENT TURN KEY SOLUTIONS

Our Services: Mining Civils Reservoirs HDPE Piping & Lining Specialized Boreholes Mining Rehabilitation

Nico: 082 553 2116 www.aquanic.co.za

SHAPING THE FUTURE. WORLD SKILLS ON YOUR DOORSTEP Tailings disposal and hydraulic reclamation of tailings is our business. We specialise in the operations and management of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) in the mining industry. Cycloning, spigotting and daywall paddocking form part of our portfolio. Apart from the operations and management of TSFs, our expertise expands into the reclamation of TSFs by means of hydraulic monitoring.

5 Begin Street T: +27 11 660 9466 Krugersdorp 1739 C: +27 82 789 9458

www.cyclones.co.za

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

B U S H V E L D

M I N E R A L S

structure to improve Bushveld’s exposure to the underlying cash flows of its assets, and develop capacity in areas such as human resources, finance and business processes. Regarding Bushveld Energy, having already delivered its first VRFB project with Eskom this year, immediate priorities include growth of the VRFB project pipeline across Africa, generating interest with downstream stakeholders, developing its own electrolyte manufacturing plant, positioning itself as a key low-cost electrolyte supplier while securing offtake agreements. Finally, the Company expects in the second half of 2018 to be in a position to outline its business model, cashflow capabilities

and valuation in Bushveld Minerals For Lemur Holdings, a 30-year concession for an initial 60MW and associated transmission lines was secured in May, 2018, with plans to complete SEIA and Bankable Feasibility studies for the 136 million-tonne coal Imaloto Power Project in Madagascar.

Four pillars of success

The hallmark of Bushveld Minerals’ project approach lies in four core principles it strictly adheres to. First is choosing the right commodity. “We adopt a rigorous approach in analysing market dynamics for each of our chosen commodities to understand industry structure, current and future supply/demand balance

TATA CHEMICALS

part of the more than $100 billion Tata Group, Tata Chemicals is the world’s second largest producer of soda ash with manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Tata Chemicals South Africa is located in Durban harbour and has a bulk storage facility with a capacity to store 30 kilotons of soda ash, and the facility also boasts low-cost handling of goods from ship to shore and a complete supply and logistics solution. The Company continues to play an uplifting role through social support as part of its drive initiative to improve the quality of life of the people it serves.

T +27 31 205 9252 E rmpofu@tatachemicals.com

www.tatachemicals.com

A rigorous and dynamic approach to commodities

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

Se rv Tata Chemicals South Africa is a regional leader in bulk chemicals handling.

140 Johnstone Road, Maydon Wharf PO Box 948, Durban 4000 South Africa

Outlook Creative Services

ing S

oci ety th rou

gh Science

Situated in the Port of

Tel: +27 31 205 9252 Direct +27312742675 Fax: +27 31 205 1811 Cell: +27 829235946

n ba Dur

www.tatachemicals.com

Outlook Publishingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awardwinning in-house team is now utilising its extensive production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

VISION By embracing technology we will have surpassed the needs of thousands of our customers throughout Africa, in doing so enabling them to take their businesses to new frontiers. By creating a climate without boundaries and limitless possibilities and by encouraging initiative and lateral thinking we will have taken ordinary people and created extra ordinary results. MISSION STATEMENT Provide lateral solutions to business through technology. METHODOLOGY We provide business solutions through services and technology to mainly manufacturing and distribution companies. We do this by designing and implementing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions using SYSPRO and providing ancillary requirements and training. COMPANY OVERVIEW

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

The company was established in 1994 and renamed Intuitive IT Solutions in 2014. The owner has had extensive experience in the industry before moving into SYSPRO support as well as supplying hardware and infrastructure based on each unique sites requirements. Within the organization we have specialists in the Financial, Distribution and Manufacturing arenas. Together we have amassed over 40 years of support and implementation experience. E: Ingrid@iitsolutions.co.za | C: +27 (0) 82 568 9332 T: +27 (0) 11 453 0016 | F: +27 (0) 11 454 2512

www.iitsolutions.co.za

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

B U S H V E L D

M I N E R A L S

and implications for the underlying price,” Mojapelo says. “Vanadium is in a structural deficit, with limited supply and a growing demand.” Commodity chosen, the next pillar revolves around cost and stability to deal with price fluctuations. Mojapelo adds: “Vametco, the Company’s flagship asset, is one of the lowest cost primary producers while enjoying some of the highest grades. The Company’s strategy is for the assets to be in a position of generating cash in every phase of the commodity cycle.” Third, the project must show a clear path to achieving production, as demonstrated by the ongoing success at Vametco. “We therefore target brownfield processing assets that can be acquired at a fraction of their replacement cost or develop greenfield projects that have a low up-front capital expenditure and are scalable,” Mojapelo says. Such production should also be able to scale up, again highlighted by the three-stage Vametco development. Bushveld Minerals intends to increase production from 5,000 mtV in 2019 to 10,000 mtV in the medium-term. Adherence to these pillars could not be successfully achieved without the relevant personnel and expertise on board. The management in place in the Company’s subsidiaries are highly experienced operators in the commodities they are focused on. Vametco’s team, for example, combines more than 100 years’ experience in vanadium mining and processing. “Bushveld Minerals has over the years attracted a highly experienced team with multi-disciplinary skills who all share our long-term vision,” adds Mojapelo. “Our policy is that the remuneration arrangements, including pensions for subsequent financial years, should be sufficiently competitive to attract, retain and motivate high-quality executives capable of achieving the Company’ objectives, thereby enhancing shareholder value.”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Looking ahead

With the expertise in place and formidable vanadium assets being further explored, developed and mined, Bushveld Minerals is set to play a leading role in the rapidly rising global industry. Add to this the snowballing demand for battery and energy storage technology and the likely continual rise in vanadium’s value, and the Company appears to be on course to deliver prosperity for its shareholders and other stakeholders, not least the immediate communities in which it operates. Mojapelo concludes: “Having

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

“The transformation to a producer with healthy cash flows, while very satisfying, is only a step in our journey to build one of the most significant lowest cost vertically integrated vanadium companies in the world”

completed the transformational acquisition of Vametco, we look forward to continuing to diligently execute the strategy that we have articulated across all of our platforms. “The transformation to a producer with healthy cash flows, while very satisfying, is only a step in our journey to build one of the most significant lowest cost vertically integrated vanadium companies in the world.” “The transformation to a producer with healthy cash flows, while very satisfying, is only a step in our journey to build one of the most significant lowest cost vertically integrated vanadium companies in the world.”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N O P E X

D R A

G LO B A L

Growing

Globally Minopex and DRA Saudi Arabia are proving to be a formidable multi-commodity operator as its African and Middle Eastern ventures affirm the Group’s market-leading status Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

year has passed since Africa Outlook last spoke with Minopex, a member of DRA Global, and in that time, the Company has achieved unprecedented growth; expanding both from a commodity and geographic perspective to capitalise on burgeoning opportunities and a favourable mining climate. The O&M (operations and maintenance) outsourcing provider has affirmed its position as the biggest operator of its kind in the world, not simply through continuous improvement, but by strategically broadening each and every element of its reach – not least in the Middle East via its DRA Saudi Arabia subsidiary. “In the Middle East we opened up operations under our DRA Saudi Arabia banner three years ago, and it’s been a huge success as the first outsourcing enterprise of this type in the country,” confirms the Company’s Managing Director, Rashid Kader. “Working with the biggest client in the commodity sector we have been able to demonstrate our multi-commodity expertise to complement ongoing

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

developments in Africa across our gold and base metal operations.” Iron ore and zinc are two additional areas of progression in recent times as an indication of the continuous enhancements being enjoyed across the Minopex group. But it is perhaps through this Middle Eastern influence that the Company has best demonstrated its overall scope, flexibility and appeal. “Realistically in the Middle East, it’s all about relationships and trust, so we started off in the region on a consulting basis, assisting Ma’aden with their plant and mining operations,” Kader recalls. “We assisted them because the skills base is very low in the region, but from these beginnings our relationship has grown from a consulting role into a operating partner. They realised we could change their loss-making business into a profitable one. And we did.” While admittedly being something of a learning curve for DRA as much as it was for the client, all of the requisite skills and experiences were in place to make the Greenfields operation a success.

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N O P E X

D R A

G L O B A L

Kader continues: “They didn’t have the local inhouse skills so logistically it was a challenge, but we carried out the work as a local entity – DRA Saudi Arabia – and from there it’s grown. “The Middle East traditionally has three pillars of industry: oil, tourism and mining. With the former drying up, governments are now putting a lot of emphasis on the latter, but without the readymade skills to fully capitalise, we have become instrumental in applying our skills and knowledge to grow the sector.”

“We know up front that we have to put a lot of focus on training, and uplifting the local communities, converting the number of expats working on-site to a growing number of locals in each operation,” Kader explains. “Corporate social responsibility goes hand-in-hand with the industrial influence we have in each case, and there is a huge expectation among respective governments for us to come in, to help generate more local employment opportunities, and to ultimately help enrich their economy.” The next advantage then derives from Minopex’s multi-commodity expertise, again making the business a strong proposition regardless of the application required. And to facilitate this turnkey status on an everbroadening scale, the need for skilled, motivated and loyal personnel is every bit as important to the Company as it is to the country it is operating within.

Rashid Kader, Managing Director

Industrial influence

International expansion is no new thing for Minopex of course, the Company having made a name for itself in Africa over the years via its ability to mobilise in new regions quickly and effectively. From due diligence and strong market research, the rest of its core industrial capabilities are given licence to flourish. And the biggest appeal to prospective new countries then comes from the Company’s track record in training the national workforce and helping to build the domestic infrastructure.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

“...there is a huge expectation among respective governments for us to come in, to help generate more local employment opportunities, and to ultimately help enrich their economy”

PROLUBE MARKETING

rolube Marketing, a specialist lubrication equipment supplier, was established in 1985. Since then, the Company has completed numerous projects supplying complete systems to lubricate machines such as grinding mills, crushers, material handling equipment, mining machinery and process plants in the platinum, gold, steel and mineral industries. The experience gained by Prolube personnel, has enabled the Company to design and supply lubrication systems for all applications. For assistance in lubrication applications you can contact Prolube Marketing at:

T +27 11 866 1460 E prolube@netactive.co.za

www.prolube.co.za

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

PROLUBE

Market leaders in the “Fluid Handling” Industry

Prolube Marketing specialise in providing fluid handling systems and products across a wide spectrum of mining, power generation, heavy industry and processing applications. • Centralised Grease Lubrication Systems • Centralised Oil Lubrication Systems • Spray Lubrication Systems • Oil Circulating Lubrication Systems

(0027) 011 866 1460 prolube@netactive.co.za

www.prolube.co.za

Supplier of Performance Chemicals for the Mining Industry in Africa. ChemQuest is a SNF Company capable of supplying reagents to all mineral processing operations in Africa with over 20 years’ experience. ChemQuest represents SNF Floerger with water soluble polymers – flocculants for all mining water treatment applications, CLARIANT for specialty collectors and frothers in mineral flotation applications, PJAC for activated carbon in gold operations and many other chemicals. ChemQuest provides customer-based chemical solutions to enhance metal recovery with a strong focus on products safety, technical services and investment in products research and development.

chemquest@icon.co.za www.chemquest.co.za

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N O P E X

D R A

G L O B A L

Kader continues: “Essentially, we try to make sure throughout all our HR schemes that people are custodians of their own lives. They share in the growth of the Company. Because we’re not listed, you work for your own growth as shareholders, and the success of this approach can be seen in the fact that we have very few staff members who stay with us any less than eight years. “I have been at Minopex for 19 years myself, and if you compare this to the Middle East where the average turnover is around one year, then you can see how successful we are at identifying a skilled individual, developing them, and getting the most out of their skill base in a way that enriches both them and us.”

As strong as ever

Aforementioned notions of diversification not only enhance the

overall business proposition, but it helps to safeguard against fluctuating markets and challenging industry trends; as are common place in the mining sector. Diversification isn’t just present from a geographic or commodity standpoint though. Kader goes on to note that the most significant area of variation derives from its value chain and from being both an O&M and EPCM player where Minopex and DRA have a role to play. “We can cater for projects from studies, to design, to construction of a plant, and everything in between,” he says. “We will see a dip in some sectors while others pick up, but we are big and flexible enough to mitigate those challenges, and to still remain as strong as ever in the markets that are still thriving.

“We can cater for projects from studies, to design, to construction of a plant, and everything in between”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

“Being as widespread as we are from a geographic and portfolio perspective is also great from a supply chain and procurement perspective as well. A single mine owner will look after around seven operations at any one time, maximum. But as an outsourcing entity, we are often buying for as many as 14 or 15 different operations, which gives us much more buying power.” This is hugely beneficial for its clients too, who are able to leverage this buying power to evolve their sites at the most competitive premium. For Minopex, it means its attentions from a capital expenditures point of view can be turned more extensively towards acquisitions, as Kader elaborates: “We’ve been very busy over the past year acquiring many companies; each helping us to increase our footprint.

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

Future Engineering Ontrock Engineering is a 100% wholly citizen-owned company duly incorporated in Botswana in 2007 and started operations in 2013. We are based in Palapye, specializing in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil Engineering and Instrumentation services. We also offer supply of engineering spares and materials on the noted disciplines.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

“We are accountable and responsible for turning your resource into a profitable revenue stream”

CIVIL ENGINEERING

+267 4922673 rocky@ontrock.com

INSTRUMENTATION

www.ontrock.com

“There’s no passing the buck,” Kader picks up. “We are accountable and responsible for turning your resource into a profitable revenue stream and we are ready and willing to offer ether the full ‘A-Z’ list of services to achieve that, or alternately an ‘A-B’ customised selection of whatever the client specifically needs on a tailored basis. “Quite often clients will come to us for just the one aspect but then realise that we can offer a whole lot Agility and scale more, and that’s a big plus point. Ultimately, as Kader affirms, Minopex and DRA’s overriding advantage comes Different clients, in different markets, in different countries all inevitably from its one-stop-shop status. need different things; and no matter From studies, all the way through what that is, we have the agility and to the construction of a plant, and scale to find and apply the appropriate succeeded by maintenance and solution.” operation of said plant, potential Further differentiators emanate clients needn’t look for numerous from the Company’s skill base separate service providers when this which allows for almost immediate one caters for all necessary segments in a package that has an unrivalled mobilisation when opportunities arise in different regions. And, furthermore, track record included. “Additionally though, with each acquisition we inherit an increase in technologies and personnel skills which lends to an improvement of our value-added services to clients. We are able to offer the best technical expertise out there to help clients get up and running, and these acquisitions are playing a massive part in facilitating our recent business growth.”

Unit 12, Makwapa Complex Palapye, Botswana

through the Company’s reputation as a leader in operational safety. Having achieved more than eight years without a lost time injury, its track record has another string added to the bow, as Minopex and DRA strives to compound its market-leading position in the future. Kader concludes: “We have proved time and time again that we can turn even a loss-making operation into a profitable one, and we want to continue doing so on a growing global scale. Our aim now is to expand, largely in the Middle East and AsiaPacific, where everyone is talking about us. “We don’t want to grow so fast as to dampen our influence, but from this year to next, even further global expansion is certainly our primary aim; capitalising on an outsourcing option that is becoming more and more popular across all sizes of clients in the mining industry.”

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

T H E TA

G O L D

M I N E S

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

M I N I N G

AFRICA

R E S O U R C E S

The Gold Rush Reawakens Theta Gold Mines is reviving a giant goldfield that sparked South Africa’s mining industry into life more than 130 years ago Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

ummer, 1886 – two prospectors arrive at a farm in Transvaal, South Africa, and discover gold. An ordinary event at first glance. Natives had been mining gold for centuries with varying degrees of success, with small mining towns popping up and closing down as and when gold was found and exhausted. The gold sighted at Pilgrims Rest, however, was different. It ran for miles underground and was considered an endless treasure, a discovery which would change the face of Transvaal and jumpstart what was known as the Gold Rush. Within a decade, South Africa’s first incorporated gold mining company was formed. Traansvaal Gold Mining Estate (TGME) came into being in 1895 and to this day continues to hold mining claims to the gold field at Pilgrims Rest. “TGME has been owned by a number of public and private companies,” explains Bill Guy, Chairman of Theta Gold Mines, formerly known as Stonewall Resources. “These included Rand Mines, who acquired TGME in 1968, operating it until 1998 when it was sold to Simmer and Jack, a private company which held TGME until 2010, when it was sold to Stonewall. Stonewall listed in 2012 to focus on the underground mining potential.”

Now listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, Theta Gold Mines is progressing the open pit resources of the goldfield which contains 43 historical mines across a prospective area of 62,000 hectares. The development involves refurbishing the processing plant which has not produced commercial volumes since 2015. “While our corporate head office is in Sydney, Australia, in South Africa we have two teams that are active all year round,” continues Guy. “The environmental and legal teams actively manage and progress the permits of the 620-square-kilometre mining tenure, ensuring compliance with South African legislation and mining regulations. “At the mine site itself and the TGME plant, approximately 22 staff and contractors maintain the offices, machinery sheds, work areas and large infrastructure storage facility at Sabie, a few kilometres south of Pilgrims Rest.”

for the expansion of the 2012 JORC gold resource as we are aggressively updating geological data base and drilling holes. “The historical mine plans and drill data have been put into GIS packages and digitised into 3D. The reef is projected to the surface and is targeted for exploration. This large historical gold field has experienced very little modern exploration, but we have made over two million ounces of gold discovery this year.” The most significant project underway is at the Theta Hill mine. The development is immediately adjacent to the Company’s carbon in leach plant at Pilgrims Rest and has been the focus of recent drilling activity.

Exploration and expansion

In bringing TGME back to life, Theta Gold Mines is busy developing a number of exploration and expansion projects. “This year the Company has developed a strong exploration culture,” says Guy. “This has allowed

Theta Hill Mine

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

T H E T A

G O L D

M I N E S

“Theta Hill Mine expects to release its first feasibility study in the first quarter of 2019,” Guy continues. “As the Company begins its steady conversion of this large 5.75-millionounce gold resource and resource gold ounces are pushed up the value chain from inferred to indicated to probable, confidence will grow.” The feasibility study will prove vital, providing timelines and costing for production at the site.

MINING MAGNATES Theta Gold Mines boasts a leadership team with formidable industry experience. Here is some background on Bill Guy and Managing Director Rob Thomson: BILL GUY Bill Guy is a professional mining executive and geologist with over 25 years’ experience in exploration and resource development in Asia, Australia and Europe, most recently as the Managing Director of Longford Resources. In previous executive and geology roles he has been involved in all aspects of the mining industry inclusive of capital raisings, project acquisition, development, and discovery with Jupiter Mines.

The Company also plans to make Theta Hill something of a flagship regarding its minimal environmental impact. Using a technique called contour haul-back, often used by the coal industry for mining shallow thin seams, Theta Gold Mines will be able to reduce earth works and leave the natural contours of the hill intact. This, creation of local jobs and the restoration of a 130-year legacy will all help build a strong case to support the rehabilitation of mining in the local area.

Setting a new standard

Indeed, this sustainable approach is a key differentiator for Guy. “Theta Gold Mines is an upcoming sustainable gold producer out of Africa,” he says. “We also have low capital requirements in comparison to our peers regarding reaching production, helped by our existing permitted gold plant, tailing dams, roads, water, grid power and remnant staff from gold production in 2015.”

ROB THOMSON Rob Thomson commenced his mining engineering career in underground gold mining in Southern Africa. In multiple roles as executive director, CEO and hands-on site project director and general manager, he has progressed eight exploration projects through late stage exploration, studies, permitting, financing, construction and mining operations.

100

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

TORQUE AFRICA EXPLORATION

orque Africa Exploration is a South African based specialist drilling company with extensive knowledge and experience in ALL TYPES of drilling. The Company’s head office and workshop is located in Rayton, Gauteng, with further branches in the Western and Northern Cape. Torque Africa Exploration has worked as far afield as Pakistan, Mauritania, Ethiopia and Tajikistan (Central Asia). We are sought after for our knowledge and experience, giving affordable and personal services for any type of drilling. Torque Africa, the drilling masters.

T +27 82 829 6016 E info@torqueafrica.co.za E quotes@torqueafrica.co.za

www.torqueafrica.co.za

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

BENTLEY GEOLOGY GEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SERVICES CONSULTANT Bentley Geology offers expert mineral resource management, mineral exploration planning & management, studies & fatal flaw analyses, stock exchange reporting & strategic planning. Phil Bentley (Principal) has over 30 years multi commodity international exploration and mining experience. Bentley Geology (Pty) Ltd 9A Trilby Street, Oaklands Johannesburg 2192 South Africa T: +27 11 728 6745, T: +27 83 603 7126 E: pnbentley@gmail.com

www.bgeology.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

101

T H E T A

G O L D

M I N E S

The Company is also championing a new perception of South African mining. Its move away from underground operations has been driven by capital requirements, strong surface exploration potential and cost structure, and Guy wants this to drive surface mining as a viable option nationwide. “South Africa is perceived as a place with deep mines which have high costs,” he explains. “The company goal was to break away from that perception and present a new lowcost open pit model, even though our underground projects are low cost in nature. “Very recently companies like Pan Africa, a company with a large market cap and our nearest neighbour, is going open cut after a long history of underground mining.”

Corporate citizen

Beyond its core activities in the mining domain, Theta Gold Mines is actively involved in a number of social projects

102

Very recently companies like Pan Africa, a company with a large market cap and our nearest neighbour, is going open cut after a long history of underground mining” in its surrounding communities. A flagship scheme is the ongoing support for a local school in the form of funding for three teachers and admin staff, and providing teaching materials. The Company also sponsors a meal programme, helping children fulfil nutritional requirements which in turn boost capacity to learn during the school day. Further, the school buildings are regularly maintained by Theta employees. “The staff also cut firewood for the local community and provide general assistance around town,” adds Guy. “This year we also sponsored the South African Gold Panning Championships,

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

which have been held on the Company’s mining claims each year at Pilgrims Rest for the last 21 years. “The event attracts a large number of tourists, as it is also a family day with races and events and has had a very positive affect on the local economy. One our drillers won the men’s professional event and will be attending the World Gold Panning Championships in Tankavaara Gold Village in Finland in August 2019.” Ensuring the firm adheres to the highest CSR standards is a full-time compliance officer, while the Company itself is 26 percent owned by local South Africans through a system of

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

“The Company will be in a very strong position in the new year with one of the largest resource bases on the ASX”

“South Africa is perceived as a place with deep mines which have high costs... The company goal was to break away from that perception”

trusts which has been in place for almost a decade. Looking ahead, Guy is optimistic for 2019 for many reasons, including the impending feasibility study, ongoing plant refurbishment and further exploration potential to be uncovered. He concludes: “The Company will be in a very strong position in the new year with one of the largest resource bases on the ASX. “South Africa is the historical home of gold, and still today one of the top 10 gold producers in the world. We believe as the new President implements his new policies the world’s attention will once again turn to this great resource-rich nation.”

Theta Gold Mines Tel: +27 13 768 1271 admin@stonewallmining.com www.stonewallresources.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

103

B A S S A R I

R E S O U R C E S

Striking Gold

in Senegal

Bassari Resources has made significant progress at its Makabingui Gold Project, the company looking to showcase the West African nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential as a major mining player Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

104

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

AFRICA

enegal – one of Africa’s westernmost nations situated in the heart of an underexplored stretch of gold deposits. The Birimian gold belt, which also extends into neighbouring Mali and Guinea, is beginning to see its potential uncovered as more and more exploration work yields promising finds. This is very much the case for Australian-listed Bassari Resources, which holds permits covering some 312 square kilometres in the Senegalese portion of the deposits. Alex Mackenzie is the company’s founder and CEO, and since 1985 has been consulting to the mining sector and held directorships in a number of industry players covering Senegal, Ghana, Solomon Islands, Ecuador, Brazil and Australia. His confidence in West Africa’s mining industry, and especially Senegal’s, is unwavering.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

105

B A S S A R I

R E S O U R C E S

Thickner

A map highlighting the Makabingui Gold Project feasibility study

“There is huge potential in West Africa, and some very large deposits,” he says. “Wherever someone drills in the Birimian belt they find gold, and my prediction is that Senegal will follow Mali, which holds one third of the Birimian belt versus Senegal’s two thirds. This gold belt is likely to become one of the biggest in the world. “Senegal has many plusses compared to other countries, including the fact it is a democracy with no security problems.”

MAKABINGUI GOLD PROJECT – AN INTRODUCTION The Makabingui Gold Project in Senegal is Bassari Resources’ most advanced project. It is situated in the Kenieba Inlier, an area located in the east of the country and home to several multimillion-ounce gold deposits. The feasibility study for Makabingui was completed in June 2014, shortly followed by an underground scoping study in September of the same year. In November 2016, Bassari and joint venture partner WATIC obtained exploration permits to develop the gold deposit from Senegal’s Ministry of Mines. Another feasibility study was completed in 2017, confirming the potential highlighted in the first study and reaffirming the decision to bring the site into production, something which Bassari intends to achieve this year.

Makabingui marches on

Mackenzie knows what it takes to realise the potential of gold projects in the country, his main area of focus since 1993. He unearthed the promise of the Sabodala gold and Grand Cote mineral sands projects and has worked closely with Mineral Deposits Ltd to bring these developments to fruition, at the same time building up a strong relationship with the Senegalese government. This experience has been vital in bringing Bassari’s Makabingui Gold Project to where it is today. Catching up after first speaking to Africa Outlook in early 2018, Mackenzie

106

Conveyor

reveals: “Bassari has an outstanding technical team with experience in discovering and developing many gold deposits in Africa. “Our key achievements at Makabingui in 2018 are threefold, the first being the discovery of substantial extensions to the gold deposit of 1,000,000 ounces at a grade of 2.6 g/t. “The decision was also made to change the mining plan from a four-

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Worker accommodation

Proud to provide

Bassari Resources with a faster & smarter modelling solution

Leapfrog Geo

Setting the Standard in

geological modelling

Leapfrog Geo is a workflow-based 3D geological modelling tool. With an advanced implicit modelling engine, you can bypass time-consuming wireframing and instead build models directly from various sources including drillholes, points, field maps and surfaces. Models update dynamically when new data is added to a project, making it easy to keep models current.

www.leapfrog3d.com

pit programme so as to initially mine the high-grade pit containing 110,000 ounces at a grade of 7.6 g/t. Thirdly, we signed a project finance loan agreement with the Coris Bank of Senegal.” This fund, worth $13 million, will run over the ensuing months and enable Bassari to bring Makabingui into production this year, a key priority for Mackenzie as it will generate substantial cashflow which in turn will allow the company to continue its expansive drilling programme both here and elsewhere. “We believe further infill drilling, drilling to the east, and the eightkilometre strike to the south will convert Makabingui into a much larger deposit at very good economic grades,” he continues. “In addition, we expect a drilling programme at our other deposit, Konkoutou, to develop into another Makabingui-size find.”

Indeed, Mackenzie believes the potential held within Bassari’s permits is almost unlimited. “We have identified some 30 gold targets on our permits, of which we have only drilled two to date,” Mackenzie adds. “International consulting geologists have reviewed all our prospects and have reported that six of our targets have potential for more gold ounces than Makabingui’s one million-ounce reserve.” In the meantime, however, Bassari’s overriding objective is to commence production at the aforementioned Makabingui before the end of 2019. The securing of the project finance was a crucial step towards realising this goal, and the site is already welldeveloped in terms of infrastructure, the company having built a 300,000 tonne per annum process plant, a 500 megalitre water storage dam, 85,000 litre capacity fuel tanks, roads, communications infrastructure and

a sizable mining camp for up to 120 workers. Bassari is also reviewing the option of solar power alternatives as a means to reduce its carbon footprint and energy costs, and will continue to build on its locally-based network of supply chain partners, something which has enabled the firm to established a sound reputation in the community. In what is set to be a landmark year for the project, Macksenzie is also bullish about the gold price for the foreseeable future, all of which combine to set out an exciting, rewarding path ahead for Bassari Resources in Senegal.

Bassari Resources Tel: +613 9614 0600 admin@bassari.com.au www.bassariresources.com

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

107

S C H N E I D E R

E L E C T R I C

M M M

POWERFUL

Prospects We have been in the market for a very long time and have never seen this high level of opportunity and excitement. “Mining companies have had a challenging time due to drops in commodity prices, but fortunately this has been turning around in a sustainable way for the last three years. It has been tough, but it is improving all the time.” Marc Ramsay and Schneider Electric (SE) are vehemently optimistic when it comes to the African mining industry.

108

Schneider Electric, through its Mining, Metals and Minerals division, is helping African miners to maximise the potential of their assets by deploying digital, sustainable solutions

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Donovan Smith

As VP of Industry and End Users in Angolphone Africa for the French multinational’s Mining, Minerals and Metals (MMM) division, Ramsay is witnessing a shift in what is a very mature industry, made up of customers looking to maximise returns in the shorter term and mitigate safety risks on their aging assets. “We are very excited to see that the mining industry is transforming from the traditional major mining houses that dominated the landscape to a more inclusive environment of mid-

M I N I N G

AFRICA

R E S O U R C E S

through the business. It also has the most insightful commitment to open architecture and open standards in its technologies, such as the adoption of ethernet as a communication protocol, long before the market standardised on it,” Ramsay adds. “This has proven to be a significant validation of the strategy as we have seen with the latest trends relating to IoT and industry 4.0.”

EcoStruxure

sized localised mining companies,” he continues. “We also are encouraged to see the progress that has been made between government and the mining industry in working together to find long-term solutions that provide a stable base for investment, investment which will benefit the African economy and direct communities surrounding the operations.” Ramsay joined Schneider Electric in 2013, moving to the MMM unit in 2015 and bringing with him a wealth of first-

hand industry experience, especially in the realm of deploying technology across the mining value chain. Lured by the company’s commitment to sustainable industry and reputation for being an employer of choice, the two also share the same outlook when it comes to tackling pressing issues in the mining sector. “I felt that SE had the most ambitious and forward-thinking approach to addressing mining questions, like reducing carbon footprint through the efficient utilisation of energy

Ramsay’s comments on Schneider Electric’s innovative ethos is no better demonstrated than by its EcoStruxure open standard and open protocol IoT platform. An enabler of scalable digital services that can be easily accelerated via the cloud, EcoStruxure is built into all new products to ensure they are connected, integrated and automated. This facilitated two major recent usecases which help miners to optimise operations. The first revolves around application and analytics, solutions which aggregate data and convert it into operational intelligence and insights across categories including energy control, asset performance and supply chain management. Second, EcoStruxure provides a level of hardware and software interaction with connected products to allow critical real-time automation and control decisions to be made at the operational level. Such connectivity can be seen on the ground, Ramsay pointing to an example with Australian miner Roy Hill, which recently integrated its supply chain at its enormous iron ore operation in Pilbara. “SE helped build a remote operations management environment that manages the entire 55 million tonne per annum iron ore mining value chain from a remote location, approximately 400 kilometres from the mine site,” he adds.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

109

S C H N E I D E R

E L E C T R I C

“Another recent project saw us work with African Rainbow Minerals for the development of a centralised control room to improve operational efficiencies, increase systems availability and redundancy and improve collaboration.”

Partners for life

Another key point of difference identified by Ramsay is the company’s ability to provision for a mine’s entire asset lifecycle. Whether it’s upstream 3D design, simulation or the building of assets, or technologies geared towards optimising operations and monitoring production, Schneider Electric MMM is expertly-placed to serve as a loyal

M M M

partner in every stage from project conceptualisation through to mine closure. Key to this has been the recent merger of a leading British-based software firm AVEVA, and its wideranging and agile design, engineering and construction solutions capabilities, amounting to around 4,500 people in 40 countries. This, however, is just one example demonstrating the power of Schneider Electric’s network. Worldwide the company utilises the expertise of more than 55,000 partners which are already ahead of the curve when it comes to deployment of IoT solutions and other industry 4.0 technologies.

AN INTRODUCTION TO SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC MMM Schneider Electric MMM’s purpose is to assist customers in extracting the maximum value of SE technologies in the specific application of mining, metals and minerals. Its core set of products and services help to manage and optimise the use of energy in mining assets, backed up by 165,000 SE employees around the world who develop, supply, and provide aftersales services for such solutions. In March 2018, SE completed the merger of the UK-based AVEVA, a move which has greatly added to its capability to support African mining clients. The MMM division covers English-speaking Africa with more than 500 employees spread across three major business hubs and more than 15 satellite offices. The company also draws on a network of 200 certified partners that can supply, integrate, manufacture and support its range of products and solutions. “Three of our core values are diversity, inclusion and empowerment,” Ramsay adds. “Our global presence of multiple cultures and gender diversity is evidence of this commitment and we believe that it is a key differentiator, both for our ability to provide a unique, highly localised experience to our customers but also to dynamically adapt to a changing world, all the while providing a compelling employee value proposition to our people.”

110

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

MBATINI CMIS

M Africa.

batini CMIS is a BBBEE Level 2 Company based in the Limpopo Province of South

We specialise in medium voltage substation maintenance and commissioning including periodic relay secondary injection testing and CT analysis. Our client base is all over the Africa continent and have done test and commissioning work in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, DRC and Mali. We are proud approved service providers for Schneider Electric and have performed factory acceptance testing in Schneider factories in France and China. We pride ourselves in well trained employees, which is our most valuable asset, and top quality test equipment. T +27 15 293 0760, +27 87 086 3047 E admin@mbatini.co.za

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

YOUR HEAVY CURRENT INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICAL PARTNERS WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EQUIPMENT TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, TEST, COMMISSION AND SERVICE ELECTRICAL SUB-STATIONS We carry out construction and maintenance of industrial installations from low voltage up to medium voltage. We are highly experienced in medium voltage infrastructure installations. Apart from the general electrical installations, we specialise in Installation, factory acceptance tests, commissioning and routine maintenance of low and medium voltage switchgear and relays. (Voltages up to 33kV)

Tel: 015 293 0760 , 087 086 3047 E-mail: admin@mbatini.co.za Fax: 086 585 2842

Digital deployment

Schneider Electric MMM helps customers maximise value from the firm’s full suite of solutions geared towards the mining industry. These include: • Mine and pit: W.A.G.E.S. management and asset maintenance systems. • Material handling: Integrated systems for mining conveyors and automated slacker and reclaimers. • Processing and plant refining: Process control solutions which provide simple and seamless integration of mining and mineral processing automation, aligning business objectives with requirements across the mine. • Environmental management: Includes extensive solutions for the distribution, protection and management of electrical systems,

water management systems, solar and micro-grid technologies. Further, SE also provides solutions which monitor the environmental impact of mining operations. • Integrated operations: Solutions covering energy management, asset management, supply chain operations, weather intelligence and remote operations. • IT and facilities: Standalone or fully integrated IT infrastructure solutions, and facilities management solutions. • Electrification and power: Low and medium voltage equipment, transformers and grid automation technologies. Smart and robust power technologies, such as Masterpact MTZ and Premset, that can operate in water flooding environments.

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

111

S C H N E I D E R

E L E C T R I C

The MMM division in Africa also relies on partnerships, with anywhere between 1,500 and 2,000 points of sale being part of a large and structured partner network based on specialisation and technical capabilities, 200 of which are classified as top-tier and more than 50 of those specifically experienced in African mining solutions. Together, this forms an unrivalled base of localised response and knowledge through which SE can deliver for clients. “Further, in Q2 2019 we will be launching a technology market place portal called Exchange, which enables partners to develop applications and market them via our digital portal,” says Ramsay. “This is a really compelling aspect for Africa and its burgeoning hub of digital entrepreneurs.” Supporting local innovation is central to the legacy Schneider Electric wants to build on the continent, Ramsay adding: “Access to education has been improving across East Africa particular over the past five years, which is opening up opportunities for us to invest in new entrepreneurs for the new digital economy, which is very positive. But we do need to remain vigilant on developing on developing foundational skills like engineering and artisanal qualifications to maintain the stability in the core industries.”

M M M

The building blocks are there and when utilised will lead to unprecedented prosperity for a continent that suffers from poverty but also has great wealth”

can to improve electrical safety, such as introducing more automated and remote management of power to take Corporate citizen people out of high-risk situations, and Much, if not all of Schneider Electric decentralising the electrical protection MMM’s work is carried out with some to minimise human impact.” aspect of sustainability in mind, be it Coming back to local populations environmental, social or economic. living near mine sites, Schneider Ramsay explains: “Sustainability is a large subject with many dimensions, Electric operates with a ‘Life is On’ mantra, with more optimised use of from production and operational energy and more access to energy. efficiency through to the micro“This has led us to develop easily economic ecosystem surrounding the mine or plant and the individuals within deployable products and solutions that the local communities living nearby. enhance the life of local communities,” “Safety of the people that work with Ramsay continues. “By utilising our alternative energy management electricity on mines is a concern for technologies and safe and simple us, and we are doing everything we

112

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

distribution, we can provide individuals and households with free access to energy through the power of the sun, and sunlight is an abundant asset for many parts of Africa.” An example of this philosophy in action comes from collaboration with the University of Johannesburg to build improve lives in the local community of Gwakane in Limpopo. The two organisations worked closely together to develop local business interests such as bakeries, develop better access to water and reduce malaria infections. “The success of community outreach projects not only depends on the

M I N I N G

R E S O U R C E S

technical solution provided but also on the social and cultural acceptability of the solution and of the solution provider,” says Professor Johan Meyer, Head of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at UJ. “Initially, we trained entrepreneurs from the village to sell and maintain our solar powered portable LED lamps, with its mobile phone charger, the Mobiya TS 120S,” adds Zanelle Dalglish, Head of Sustainable Development for Schneider Electric Anglophone Africa. “The units are especially suited for the demanding rural environment of Gwakwani, as it is an energy efficient, eco-friendly and robust portable lamp producing 120-lumen light output.” Training and education also form an important pillar of the company’s efforts to drive local sustainable development. “We have a Schneider Electric Academy here in South Africa and offer globally accredited training

Schneider Electric MMM is helping mines become more efficient

programmes,” Ramsay says. “We also provide free online and certified education through our Schneider Electric Energy University and partner with local institutions to participate in post graduate research. “It is a no brainer to advance skills, and schemes such as an upcoming hackathon-style events to help progress ideas about energy issues will generate new perspectives and do their bit to help address this dynamic environment.” Internally, the company also runs employee development programmes based on electronic online courses mixed with external cooperation with tertiary educational institutions like Vaal Technical College. “The educational aspect also applies to our mining customers,” adds Ramsay. “With all this technology coming on board, we must educate, not overwhelm, showing the true

value that digital solutions can have on a mining business. It is about framing the problem and then choosing the right technologies.”

Optimistic outlook

By continuing to work with mining players across Africa, both in educating the benefits of digitisation and deploying Schneider Electric’s industryleading power management solutions, the MMM division is primed to deliver growth across the region. Ramsay plans to extend its reach to new markets and remains optimistic about the wider picture that is the region’s socioeconomic development. Excited about the role Schneider Electric and his MMM unit can play in this, he concludes: “We are very optimistic about South Africa and Africa at large. “This is a very diverse and erratic environment which requires a longterm view and short-term agility, but there is absolutely no doubt that this continent can be the largest combined economy on the planet leveraging extended periods of peace, ongoing eradication of corruption and crosscountry collaboration. “The building blocks are there and when utilised will lead to unprecedented prosperity for a continent that suffers from poverty but also has great wealth. “We see a huge flow of urbanisation and are excited to play a leading part in providing electricity to those that do not have access, because we believe that this is a key to human development. After all, my kids remind me that without electricity there is no Wi-Fi.”

Schneider Electric Tel: +27 11 254 6400 marc.ramsay@se.com www.se.com/za/en

WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

113

Complementing the production of Africa Outlook, Asia Outlook and EME Outlook magazines, Outlook Publishingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award-winning in-house team is now utilising these same specialist production

Outlook Creative Services

skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division. For more information on how we can work with you in providing a plethora of completely flexible and customisable production services, please visit: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

DESIGN:

E D I TO R I A L :

Stephen Giles +44 (0) 1603 959 656 steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com

Tom Wadlow +44 (0) 1603 959 657 tom.wadlow@outlookpublishing.com

Devon Collins +44 (0) 1603 959 661 devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com

Jonathan Dyble +44 (0) 1603 959 660 jonathan.dyble@outlookpublishing.com