Issue 26
Atlatsa Resources Corporation
PGM Specialists Target 2020 Steady-State Production IncreaseAtlatsa Resources Corporation is striving for mid-tier PGM production status as part of its ongoing ramp-up phase in South AfricaWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Arron Rampling Atlatsa Resources Corporation is well on its way to achieving its mission of becoming a significant mine-to-market platinum group metals (PGM) company in South Africa as it carefully, yet proactively, positions itself for an expected market turnaround in the coming years.The Company’s focus revolves around a 2020 production target with ramping-up phases and diversification within its operations being carried out at present with that goal in mind.Known purely as Atlatsa – previously, Anooraq Resources Corporation – the black economic empowered (BEE) business was incorporated in the Province of British Colombia, in Canada, before later combining its PGM assets with those of Atlatsa Holdings, a private 100 percent BEE South African company. This combination affected a reverse takeover of Atlatsa under Toronto Stock Exchange rules, with the latter now holding 62 percent of the company.Chief Executive Officer, Harold Motaung, picks up: “In 2007, Atlatsa announced a major BEE transaction with Anglo American Platinum Limited (Anglo Platinum) pursuant to which the two entities combined their PGM joint venture interests under a new group structure, the Bokoni Group.“The transaction was completed in July, 2009, under which Atlatsa acquired 51 percent of the Bokoni Platinum Mine (formerly Lebowa Platinum Mine) and took operational control of the mine.”The resultant structure has gone from strength to strength since then and now controls one of the last remaining significant high-quality PGM resources in…
Ministry of Health Swaziland
Preventative and Curative Progress, NationwideThe Ministry of Health in Swaziland has been striving towards its 2015 targets, and has been rewarded with some key healthcare milestones which address some of the continent’s most pressing illnessesWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Eddie ClintonThe Ministry of Health in Swaziland has reached a series of pivotal milestones in the country over the years, as it continues to plan for and implement sector improvements for the benefit of the population.Fitting under the Government of the Kingdom of eSwatini’s umbrella and working alongside stakeholders and partners, the aim of the Ministry of Health has, in recent years, been to meet its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); working in tandem with the wider communities to spread the influence of its health programmes to every corner of the country as soon as possible.Incorporating ongoing research and development - not only of the situation within Swaziland, but of global healthcare trends and technologies to combat common illnesses - the Health Ministry has now brought the nation to as advanced a stage as it has enjoyed in its history and is looking forward to even further progress in the future.“This requires assessing the current situation, proper planning and budgeting, effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all health sector activities,” the Ministry states. “The Ministry of Health is surely on the move for positive initiatives and historic progress in its strides to building a healthier nation now, and in the future.”To achieve these targets, and the overriding MDGs, the Ministry’s activities are based on its mission of “providing preventative,…
Price Forbes (Pty) Ltd
Success is on the BooksThrough successful talent selection and working with like-minded organisations, globally recognised insurance Group, Price Forbes is successfully demonstrating its capabilities in a new marketWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Callum PhilpSince its establishment in 2012, Price Forbes Group Limited’s South Africa division, Price Forbes (Pty)Ltd, has witnessed exponential growth in a mere three years, in part due to its extreme client focus, Greenfield business and Group backing.The origins of the Price Forbes name can be traced back to 1893. The business today is the result of a 2004 merger of two highly professional brokers, Prentis Donegan and Price Forbes. 2006 saw the formation of Price Forbes & Partners Limited, a truly independent London and Bermuda-based global, specialist broker that is 100 percent owned by management and its employees.“The establishment of Price Forbes (Pty)Ltd in South Africa in 2012 was a significant step towards achieving the goal of being a global insurance specialist,” says Warren Bolttler, CEO of Price Forbes (Pty) Ltd. “Even with the well established brand name, we are still the new kids on the block in Africa. Therefore, we need to quickly demonstrate our capabilities to a new market.“As our customer base grows in this area, we can offer more competitive rates than ever before. Additionally, backed by the Price Forbes brand that has existed for almost a century as a global household name from its base in London, UK, we have been able to leverage the Group’s reputation to fulfil our South African operating model; known for its direct partner relationships…
Brink’s Africa
A Global Standard for ExcellenceBrink’s Africa is following the successful international model of one of the world’s leading logistics companies through its commitment to customer satisfaction and reliable servicesWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Tom Cullum Brink’s is replicating its globally successful business model in Africa as it strives to compound a recent Group restructuring in every operating region.The company’s international expansion began, in earnest, in 1991 and reached South African shores in 1996. Nearly a decade on, and Brink’s’ influence on the continent now comprises offices in Botswana, Namibia and Kenya also; forming an extensive platform from which to build the notoriety that Brink’s Global Services (BGS) now enjoys.“The international line of business has grown steadily since its inception. In recent years the focus has moved to understanding and working within BGS customers’ value chain to drive sustainable growth and maintain our strong and trusted global position,” explains the company’s Operations and Security Director, Richard Lewis.However, while established as a huge worldwide organisation, Brink’s’ operations in Africa resembles that of an SME business model with the ability to make entrepreneurial, flexible and quick decisions to best suit customer needs.All of this ensures that the business is able to deliver on a promise and ethos that has been synonymous with the Brink’s Group ever since its inception in Chicago in 1859.“The wider Brink’s Group allows us to almost work like an SME in Africa, being quite small and flexible which is important in an industry where things can change very quickly,” Lewis states. “This is one of our main…
Broll Namibia
Maximising Property PotentialBroll Namibia looks to capitalise on its position as a market leader by playing a key role in developing Windhoek’s central business districtWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Stuart Parker Since 2003, Broll Namibia has swiftly grown to a leadership position in the commercial and retail property sectors and now manages a property portfolio exceeding N$2.5 billion.A subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies (O&L), the property management and development company has once again been the top performing company in the 2014 financial year 12 Seasons Awards; winning in the categories of Creating Excellent Trust Relationships with Customers, Best Company to Work for and Overall Best Performing Operating Companies.Not long after Broll Namibia was established, Broll & List Property Management achieved the significant milestone of an ISO 9001:2008 certification, a set of voluntary international standards that have been upheld since 2004. With an assortment of significant commercial developments under its belt including extensions and refurbishments to supermarkets, leisure centres, financial offices, shopping centres and residential, Broll Namibia is a driven organisation that strives to maximise its development performance from now into the future.As the Broll Property Group continues to implement new strategic service lines such as the newly established facilities management department, this will strengthen Broll Namibia’s current offerings and act as a springboard for the Company’s strategy to offer a much wider repertoire of professional services.Construction boomBroll Namibia’s main focus for the next five years will be to further expand and develop high quality commercial developments within the Namibian market. “In order to cater for the…
Stefanutti Stocks Botswana : Industry Excellence from Experts
Via an extensive localisation strategy, Stefanutti Stocks Botswana strives to grow its presence as the construction partner of choice.
Airtel Zambia
Seamless and Exceptional MobilityAirtel’s influence in Zambia has developed rapidly and nationwide through a commitment to mobile saturation, which will continue to take previously unheard-of services to every corner of the countryWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Donovan Smith Airtel is one of the leading mobile operators across the African continent and is in the midst of an exciting evolution within Zambia following the recent announcement of a new Managing Director and an expansive network investment plan.Airtel Africa is a subsidiary of Indian telecoms giant, Bharti Airtel, and currently has a presence in 17 countries across the continent. As one of the newer developments as part of the wider continental strategy, its operations in Zambia fit into a sector already occupied by MTN and Zamtel, but the company’s immediate progression under former MD, Charity Chanda Lumpa has been extensive.Offering the full range of expected personal tariffs, business tariffs and 3G connectivity, a company of Airtel’s stature differentiates itself on levels of scale and the speed of embracing new advancements; an aspect which has already been seen through its saturation of mobile money services into the Zambian market, and its plans for future network investments under the stewardship of new MD, Peter Correia.Network investmentsHaving previously worked for the likes of Siemens, Vodacom and Econet, Correia’s experience in the industry will inevitably see a continuation of the development already enjoyed by Airtel in Zambia, and in particular, across its network expansion.This year has already unveiled a plan to invest a further $50 million into this strategy over the next 12 months, with…
Airtel Rwanda
Rwanda’s Operator of ChoiceAs a company driven by the vision of making mobile communications affordable and accessible to all, Airtel Rwanda has major plans to increase its customer reach through rural network expansionWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Donovan Smith Airtel Rwanda has already made waves in the telecoms industry since entering the country three years ago. With big plans all-round to launch value-added voice and non-voice services, expand the network and adopt seven new service centres, the company is positioning itself to gain an increased market share and accelerate growth in rural areas.In 2014, Managing Director, Teddy Bhullar told Africa Outlook how network growth was being driven by consumer feedback in order to develop the company footprint in Rwanda. The response pointed towards a desire for increased data services across a wider reach.Speaking in 2015, Bhullar feels Airtel is on its way to accomplishing this: “The high mobile penetration rate of 72 percent in Rwanda has helped in our decision to add a further 126 sites for 2G and 100 3G/3.75G sites to our portfolio, and we recently commercially launched 4G alongside partners in the city of Kigali and soon in major towns around the country. Similarly, our competitive packages represent our strong drive to connect as many people as possible through the power of Airtel,” says Bhullar.Operator of choiceBoasting a 15 percent market share, Airtel Rwanda has become the operator of choice for data and affordable smart devices. The Airtel Money platform is also steadily taking centre stage. “Availability, affordability, innovation and speed-to-market are the key reasons for…
Lodestone Brands
Taking Businesses to the Next LevelLodestone Brands is looking to expand its acquisition portfolio across Africa, building on an initial six years of success in the FMCG marketWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Callum Philp Lodestone Brands is aiming to apply the same, vast amounts of experience and expertise that helped initiate the company, to produce the next generation of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) entrepreneurs.Incepted in 2009, with the initial investment from Standard Chartered Bank of $170 million, the company is a brainchild of former Tiger Brands CEO, Nick Dennis alongside partners John Seymour and Shaun Bruyns.The idea was to achieve sustainability and longevity through the acquisition of a series of market-leading FMCG brands, to take them to new levels of success, and to establish Lodestone Brands as a top-two player in each of its core operating sectors; being sugar confectionery, beverages, and baby care. “When meeting with Shaun initially, I said I wanted to continue to work on something that had longevity,” CEO, Dennis recalls. “Shaun then spoke to John Seymour, and we decided to see if we could replicate, in a much smaller way, what had been achieved at Tiger.“It was about building a branded FMCG business and using our experience, including learning from previous mistakes, to try and get things done in a far shorter time frame.”Seymour adds: “The brief was essentially to combine Nick’s unparalleled strategic and operational expertise in fast moving consumer goods, with Shaun’s and my financial and investment skills, and to build a business by way of acquisition.The next levelThe subsequent…
Morgan Abattoir
Blue-sky Thinking Breeds Livestock InnovationBy keeping abreast of industry and economic changes, Morgan Abattoir looks to grow its business in a sustainable mannerWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Josh Hyland As one of the oldest abattoirs in South Africa, Morgan Abattoir has always adapted to take advantage of market trends in order to remain competitive, no matter the economic circumstances. Its latest investments and adoption of biogas to power its facilities will assist in the long-term sustainability of the business via efficient waste recycling and environmental practices.Originally built in 1927, the Abattoir has undergone drastic changes over the years, in particular when the former South African Meat Board provided the opportunity for municipal or state-owned abattoirs to be bought by private organisations or individuals, as current Managing Director Dirk Groenwald explains: “Previously, abattoirs had certain quotas given to them regarding the amount of animals that may be slaughtered by certain auction houses. Therefore, farmers had to market their livestock for slaughter directly to the livestock agencies.“These agencies then informed the farmer where the cattle would have to be sent – or the agencies would collect the cattle – and transport it to have it slaughtered. With prices dictated by market factors on the day, this certainly presented a challenge and a fluctuation in spending costs.”Now that privatisation has become a reality, farmers can liaise directly with abattoirs and this has shaped Morgan Abattoir into the business it is today, focusing primarily on cattle slaughtering to supply beef carcasses and offal to butcheries, wholesalers, supermarket groups and other institutions.In 2006, the…
Omnicane
Sugarcane Experts Diversify to Remain SustainableInvestments made in value added services, including electricity generation for self-sustainable operations, has allowed Omnicane to try its hand in a whole host of associated industriesWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Josh Hyland Mauritius’ sugarcane industry is more than three centuries old, representing 85 percent of the arable land in the country and heavily contributing to the GDP. During this time, the industry has contributed significantly to infrastructures, education, housing, public welfare and much more.For just shy of 90 years and previously known as MTMD, Omnicane has been a key part of the cultivation and production of refined sugar, adopting a leading position in the modern sugarcane industry, harvesting 237,610 tonnes of cane in 2010.“We were born of Mauritius’ centuries-old sugar industry, and strive to be an inspiration for sustainable development through our latest activities not just in farming sugarcane, but in bioethanol, thermal energy and electricity generation,” says the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Jacques d’Unienville.“Prior to Omnicane, there was a single product: sugarcane. Thereafter, we diversified to demonstrate our ability to work in harmony with partners and shareholders, and to show our new multi-facetted approach to business. Then the name Omnicane was born, Omni from the Greek meaning ‘all’ and cane the source of our activities,” he further details.The company introduced stream and electricity production on a year-round basis through a dedicated and highly efficient cogeneration power plant, refined sugar EEC Grade II from a specialised refinery, and hydrous ethanol from a state-of-the-art distillery. All of this was made possible through significant investments…
Huhtamaki South Africa
Responding to Global Packaging MegatrendsGlobal packaging leader, Huhtamaki Group is growing its presence in the world’s fastest developing regions, beginning with AfricaWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Tom Cullum With more than a century of experience in the design and manufacture of moulded fibre packing solutions, Huhtamaki Group has responded to shifting market trends and now has the capacity to offer fully customised solutions in protective moulded fibre packaging. “We offer egg cartons, fruit trays, wine carriers, cup carriers and protective buffers for consumer electronics and other products,” stated the Company.Huhtamaki today manufactures in six continents, operating around the globe and continuing to form important partnerships and to make acquisitions “where it counts for customers”. As well as growing organically, currently, the company is growing its presence in some of the world’s fastest-growing regions including Africa and the Middle East.“This is so that we are well placed to serve both global and local customers – wherever you see your next opportunity,” said the Company.Global megatrendsAs global megatrends such as rapid urbanisation and demographic changes drive growth in Africa, Huhtamaki Group believes that by responding to these trends and growing the business in line with them will enable the company to reach a larger audience.The Company added: “In the 1970s we started to expand our presence and technical capabilities outside Finland and we haven’t stopped since. Simply put, we’ve expanded with our customers, as their consumer markets have grown.“It’s why we define our purpose as being able to help great products reach more people, more easily...So we can support you, through…
Filmatic Packaging Systems
Filling Market Gaps to Provide the Full PackageFilmatic Packaging Systems is already the biggest industry player in Africa, and is now excited about replicating its successes further afield, following a 2015 strategic partnershipWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Ben Wigger Filmatic Packaging Systems has grown to become the biggest machine manufacturing design company in Africa, and is now looking forward to the next stage of its evolution which will see its products reach an even bigger intercontinental audience.Expanding in line with market demand and its early successes since inception in 1979, the company has similarly evolved its product range to cater not only for the dairy industry, as was initially targeted, but to engineer machinery for the packaging of water, juice, oil, sauces, cosmetics and personal care.“All products that are liquid and can be filled, we can cater for,” states the company’s Sales Director, Riaan Van Zyl. “We started mainly in the dairy industry 36 years ago with filling and capping machines, but have evolved into supplying full turnkey solutions, developing all the equipment that is necessary in the filling line to meet the demand for high-speed production lines.“There has always been demand for quality filling and capping machines such as those we designed, but we redesigned our old designs in 1999 to install a completely new range of equipment with all the new features necessary to meet our turnkey demands.”Filmatic has subsequently evolved from that milestone to manufacture more than 2,000 contemporary, state-of-the-art machines including rotary fillers, cappers and labellers to name but a few; all of which…
Agama Biogas
Biogas to Play an Important Role in Rural AfricaManaging Director, Gordon Ayres says AGAMA’s biogas digester gives “people in poverty a fighting chance to escape”Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Tom Cullum AGAMA Biogas (Pty) Ltd, a division of consulting and engineering Group, AGAMA Energy, demonstrates that there is no time like the present to utilise biogas in Africa. Through the manufacture of biogas digesters, the company hopes to expand the reach of its low cost solution to as many areas on the continent as possible.As one of the fastest growing renewable energy sectors in the developed world, with annual market growth exceeding 30 percent a year, biogas has become an important contender in the race to becoming green; even more so of benefit to developing countries where it has been widely used as a source of energy and waste treatment.“Our idea grew at such a rate that a division of the wider AGAMA Energy Group was dedicated to the project, and it has a huge number of advantages that will enhance people’s lives here,” details Gordon Ayres, Managing Director of AGAMA Biogas.The capturing of methane through the use of biogas technology has an immensely important role to play in rural energisation, poverty alleviation and development, increased efficiency and competiveness; all resulting in improved management of greenhouse gas emissions.“The biogas solution fits Africa like a hand in a glove; it reduces the odour on the streets, reduces waste and the spread of disease, and transforms this into onsite energy production to meet household gas cooking needs and slurry for…
Gilbarco AFS
True specialists in Fuel ManagementSince the acquisition of AFS Group, Gilbarco AFS has increased its presence across Africa to offer an unrivalled fuel management solution and accompanying services to the continentWriter: Emily Jarvis Project Manager: Arron Rampling For AFS Group, the journey began in 1995 when it first brought a revolutionary technology to Southern Africa that would change the fuel and fleet industries. The FuelOmat technology was designed to securely authorise and control all fuel issued to fleet vehicles, thus minimising fuel losses and significantly increasing efficiencies and reducing costs associated with fuel. AFS deployed the technology in both retail and commercial applications, and had resounding successes in both market segments. This technology was specifically useful in the open cast mining environment, where large volumes of fuel are dispensed annually.“We look to use technology through innovative software and cloud solutions to give customers a way to monitor not just their fuel and fuel losses, but also give them the ability to use the fuel information to drive productivity, efficiencies and to monitor fleet utilisation,” says Eoin O’Neill, General Manager of Global Mining at Gilbarco AFS.An open cast mining environment usually has a high operating expenditure on fuel, which is often in excess of 30 percent of the total operating expense. Of this percentage, it is not uncommon to see around five percent in wastage or losses, depending on existing control measures. In any business, trimming large expenses such as fuel can be crucial to success. Gilbarco AFS has seen impressive results from the implementation of its solutions, and…
Palabora Copper (Pty) Ltd
Resourcing for SuccessPalabora Copper has built a reputable presence in South Africa for nearly 60 years, leveraging a natural resource which manifested billions of years previouslyWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Arron Rampling Palabora Copper (Pty) Limited has capitalised on the world-leading potential of the Palabora Igneous Complex for more than half a century, combining its long-standing optimisation of operational procedures with an ever-developing adherence to internal facets and the progression of its employees.Known previously as Palabora Mining Company prior to 2013, the company has built its esteemed reputation in South Africa as the country’s only producer of refined copper, providing the nation with 85 percent of its overall copper requirements.Beginning life in 1956, the business has developed to now produce more than 60,000 tonnes of the mineral each year, supplying South Africa with the aforementioned majority, and exporting the remains to ensure the full fruits of its efforts reap rewards.Arguably though, the potential of the Palabora Igneous Complex site far precedes the company’s comprehensive growth throughout the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s.“Some two billion years ago, a series of violent volcanic eruptions, which took place over a period of millions of years, gave rise to a rich body of minerals, which became known as the Palabora Igneous Complex,” the company’s website explains. “The unique ore body outcropping at a small saddleback hill, later to be called Loolekop, contains a unique variety of minerals; copper, phosphates, magnetite, uranium, zirconium, nickel, gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Two other volcanic pipes nearby contain vermiculite and phosphate. “Now, as the most extensive site…
Senet
A Silver Anniversary for the Gold and Copper Processing SpecialistsSenet has built a significant reputation across numerous mining commodities over its 25 year life and continues to diversify, expand and evolve with the future in mindWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Arron Rampling SENET is celebrating its 25th year of operations while looking towards the next 25 as it gears up for future industry booms in the mining sector in Africa.Despite its core copper and gold markets being engulfed in a general slowdown of late, the indigenously South African project management and engineering organisation is taking steps to ensure that its internal processes are being optimised in order to strike while the iron is hot once the industry picks up speed again.Since its inception in 1990 as a conveying and bulk materials handling business in the mining sector, the company has grown and diversified, building a formidable reputation as a significant player across the African continent by providing an all-encompassing process plant design solutions range.This range comprises all levels of project feasibility studies, process plant design, project management, procurement and construction services, heap leach stacking using state-of-the-art equipment, mineral beneficiation, bulk materials handling and conveying; all within the mining domain.“Our services cover everything from conceptual desktop and feasibility studies of mineral processing plants, to project design, project execution and construction up to the point of commissioning,” explains SENET’s new Business Development Director, Darren Naylor, who also emphasises what a great achievement it is to have been successful for so long in such a fluctuating and challenging industry.“To reach our…