Africa

Under new ownership, the South African fast food franchise DoRego’s has achieved a significant turnaround. Gerald Brown talks to Gay Sutton about revamping the brand and introducing operational management improvements.

Anvil Mining is about to become one of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s leading copper producers. A defining characteristic of the company’s presence in the DRC is the degree to which it is taking a leading role with a carefully crafted corporate social responsibility strategy. President and CEO Bill Turner talks to Jayne Flannery.

Anglo Swiss mining giant Xstrata has raised its cash offer to buy Australia’s Sphere Minerals by 20 per cent to A$514 million (approximately €365 million).

Zug, Switzerland-based Xstrata said the offer was final and would lapse if shareholder acceptances stayed below 50 per cent by 12 November. 8.1 per cent of Sphere’s shareholders had accepted the initial offer as of 2 November.

Webb Construction is playing an increasingly major role in support of West Africa’s mining boom, as Ben Sansom reports.

2010 has been a stellar year to date for Rockwell Diamonds Inc. CEO John Bristow talks to Jayne Flannery about the trends and factors moving in the company’s favour.

2009 was an awful year for the diamond industry, with markets recording an unprecedented plummet in prices of around 50 per cent. As the global recession hit, it seemed that diamonds were no one’s best friend. Girls the world over were finding themselves compelled to downgrade and weigh up cheaper options.

Owen Silavweand Aaron Botha talk to Gay Sutton about a transmission line project that will make Copperbelt Energy Corporation the export route for DRC’s power for another generation; and the construction of a new hydro power plant in an area of historic significance for Zambia.

Electrical contractor Cegelec Morocco has found itself poised to capture some very promising new markets, as CFO and business development director Michel Bouskila explained to John O’Hanlon.

Since its creation in 1946, Cegelec Morocco has been an important partner to the large state electricity, mining and water enterprises, as well as the country’s oil company SAMIR in providing electrical engineering services. It employs over 2,000 people, many of them highly specialised engineers.

The saying “Go West, young man” has been a part of our language for over 150 years; and while its origins may have referred to America’s growing empire, the idea has been followed to the letter by one gold mining company, as Andrew Pelis discovers.

For the past 16 years, Avocet Mining Plc has had its focus on South East Asia, firstly mining tungsten and latterly, gold. However, a major refocus is now underway that has indeed seen the company go west—specifically, to West Africa.

Antrak Air Ghana is emerging as West Africa’s most important regional airline. William Asare, quality assurance manager and acting head of flight operations, talks to Jayne Flannery about the factors behind the success story.

The global aviation market has undergone a testing time in recent years; however, Antrak Air Ghana has taken analysts by surprise. To date it has been a tale of ongoing expansion with steadily soaring revenues and profitability.

The automotive industry certainly suffered during the global financial crisis and the knock-on effect for many lower tier affiliates was devastating. Jackie Barclay, managing director at Acoustex, tells Andrew Pelis how reduced order volumes lead to a re-think on inventory strategy that saw the company ride out the storm.