Africa

Zimbabwean ferrochrome producer Zimasco is emerging strongly from the economic downturn. CEO Sydwell Jena talks to Gay Sutton about turning a challenging situation into an operational advantage, and about the company’s plans for growth.

South Africa-based consulting port and coastal engineers Prestedge Retief Dresner Wijnberg is finding success all over the world, with its projects designed and built to withstand the toughest challenges that nature can throw at them, as Julia Smith discovers.

E.H. Hassim Builders World is one of a number of Indian owned businesses that has successfully steered its way through South Africa’s turbulent history for over     100 years.
Alan Swaby talks to business development director Hassim I. Dockrat to find out more.

Golden Star Resources has made its name by succeeding where others have failed.     COO Scott Barr talks to Gay Sutton about developing gold mines and sustainable job creation in Ghana.

Russia has signed a deal to provide South African nuclear power stations with uranium until at least 2017.

The contract, signed in Moscow following talks between Russia’s president Dmitry Medvedev and South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma, comes into effect next year.

The deal involves South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom and Tenex, a unit of Russia’s nuclear company Rosatom. Tenex will provide South Africa’s only nuclear plant, Koeberg, which is operated by Eskom, with uranium supplies for 10 years.

Toyota is investing considerable resources in developing its South African supply chain. VP of purchasing and engineering Nigel Ward explains to Gay Sutton the value of collaborative supplier relations and Toyota’s philosophy of respect for people and mutual trust.

African Barrick Gold has reported a half year net profit rise of 217 per cent.

Profits at the miner soared to $99 million (approx. €76 million) on the back of increased production and the rising price of gold.

Revenue rose by 64 per cent to $424 million (approx. €326 million) and production by 23 per cent to 356,208 ounces. Realised gold prices jumped by 28 per cent to $1,155 (approx €888) per ounce.

De Beers, the name synonymous with diamonds, reported increased earnings for the six months ended June 30, with both sales volumes and prices increasing significantly following an increase in demand for rough diamonds.

In a statement released today, De Beers reported net earnings of $301 million, up from $3 million a year ago. Production increased by 133 percent to 15.4 million carats and sales of rough diamonds were up 84 percent to $2.6 billion.

Mining group African Minerals has signed a deal with a Chinese steelmaker for a $1.5 billion (£989 million) investment that will help it develop what could be the biggest iron ore mine in the world.

The memorandum of understanding which has been signed with Shandong Iron & Steel—one of the world's largest mill operators—is subject to due diligence and the two parties agreeing a discount for the iron ore produced.