Africa

Now one of BAT Group’s most modern and strategic plants, the Heidelberg factory in South Africa has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last three years. Bernd Meyer, demand chain general manager for the Southern Africa area, talks to Gay Sutton about how he approached changing an entire company culture.

South Africa's Afripalm Resources has signed an agreement with Steel Authority of India (SAIL) to build a steel mill in South Africa, according to a report in the Business Day newspaper.

The paper said the two companies would carry out a feasibility study for a R21 billion plant with a production capacity of between three to five million tonnes of steel a year.

Under the terms of the agreement, Afripalm will also establish a distribution business for SAIL’s products in South Africa, the paper said.

Royal Dutch Shell is receiving bids for stakes in four of its Nigerian oil fields, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Companies bidding include Essar, Afren and Perenco, said the report. Essar is bidding with Nigeria’s Energy Equity Resources, and French company Perenco has teamed up with Switzerland’s Addax & Oryx Group and Oando. The UK’s Heritage Oil is also said to be bidding alongside the Nigerian contractor Shoreline Energy International.

Private equity firms are also thought to have expressed interest in the stakes.

2011 will see Taggart South Africa emerging as a one-stop-shop for bulk materials handling projects for all southern Africa’s mining projects, plus the ability to offer full EPC and EPCM services to its clients.

Tullow Oil has announced a new discovery of oil and gas offshore Ghana, close to the Jubilee Field.

The company said it discovered 73 metres of net hydrocarbons in the field, in which it has a 22.896 per cent stake. The well is located in the West Cape Three Points licence, outside the Jubilee unit boundary.

Irish engineering group Kentz has announced the acquisition of South African engineering services firm RNE Engineering and Projects for €7.4 million (R73 million).

Kentz said the deal will enable the group to offer a wider range of niche engineering, procurement and construction solutions in southern Africa, as well as supporting the opportunity to jointly tender for certain EPC contracts.

Swiss food giant Nestlé has opened a new state-of-the-art factory in Nigeria’s Ogun state.

The NGN12 billion (approx. €57 million) Flowergate factory will be primarily dedicated to the production of the company’s Maggi branded range.

The 12 hectare facility—Nestlé’s 27th in Africa—will offer jobs to 180 people and indirect jobs to hundreds more.

West Africa-focused Stellar Diamonds has reported “encouraging” initial diamond recoveries from drill core samples of the company's Droujba kimberlite pipe in south-east Guinea.

The company recovered 538 diamonds from 291.62kg of kimberlite, including five commercial-sized diamonds larger than 0.85mm.

The majority of the diamonds recovered are classified as white, colourless and transparent.

Hans Paulsen, managing director of Zamtel, Zambia’s only total communications solutions provider, talks to Jayne Alverca about the restructuring programme that is creating the foundation for a brighter future.