Africa

Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, has familiar water supply and hygiene problems. Managing director George Ndongwe tells John O’Hanlon how Lusaka Water & Sewerage Company aspires to become a world-class utility.

South Africa’s automotive sector has undergone fluctuating fortunes over the past four years, reaching its peak in 2007 before the financial meltdown of 2008. Gert Harmse, plant manager for Feltex Fehrer’s Port Elizabeth facility, explains the impact of these challenging times.

Rakesh Rao, CEO of Crown Berger Kenya Ltd, East Africa’s largest paint maker, talks to Jayne Flannery about maintaining the company’s leading position in the region.

Although the global economy is still struggling to recover, Crown Berger Kenya can point to the healthiest of balance sheets. Firmly established as East Africa’s leading paint maker for over 50 years, profits after tax rose by a heady 180 per cent during the last financial year, while overall revenue rose by 34 per cent to $31.5 million.

Leading East African motor group CMC Holdings Ltd is poised to extend its reach. Chief executive Martin Forster talks to Jayne Flannery about the group’s expansion.

Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto has made a A$3.5 billion bid approach for Africa-focused Riversdale Mining, in a move likely to spark a bidding war.

France’s Technip has won a major contract from Algeria’s national oil company Sonatrach to refurbish and revamp its Algiers refinery.

The lump sum turnkey contract, which is worth around 67.9 billion Algerian dinars (approximately €690 million) will last 38 months and cover the execution of the complete scope of works, including the design, supply of equipment and bulk material, construction and start-up.

With flotation on the Hong Kong stock exchange planned for next year, LontohCoal is gearing up to become a major coal producer. CEO Tshepo Kgadima explains to Gay Sutton what it will take to develop the potential of the Lubimbi mine in Zimbabwe.

ABB has won an order worth $43 million from South African electric utility Eskom to supply equipment for a new thermal power plant being built in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

The new Kusile coal-fired plant comprises six supercritical combustion units with a total generating capacity of 4,800 MW.

Eskom, the South African electricity utility, is to receive additional government support for its 440 billion rand build programme.

The South African government has pledged to inject 20 billion rand to strengthen Eskom’s balance sheet, ensuring it can complete its programme while remaining financially sound.

The R20 billion injection, originally announced in principle two weeks ago, was confirmed yesterday by Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba.

In previous eras, fortunes have been made in Africa through gold, diamonds and oil. Today, the smart money is on telecommunications, as Alan Swaby learns in discussion with BT South Africa.