Africa

Three years ago, construction commenced on a new coal-fired power station in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, near the town of Lephalale, close to the border with Botswana. Named Medupi—which means ‘rain that soaks parched lands, giving economic relief’—the plant will consist of six 800 megawatt units which will come online progressively, with a completion date of 2015.

National Starch, a subsidiary of the former UK group ICI, was taken over by Netherlands-based AkzoNobel as part of its acquisition of ICI in January 2008, but isn't considered part of AkzoNobel's core business. AkzoNobel is the largest coatings and specialty chemicals company in the world.
In 2009 National Starch had revenue of $1.2 billion from sales of specialty starches to local and multinational customers in the food, papermaking, consumer and industrial markets. With 2,250 employees around the world, it operates 11 plants in eight countries.

Coal might not be environmentally popular but electricity in South Africa is dependant upon it, as well as those involved with getting it to the power station, as Alan Swaby reports.

Lewis Group is very much a part of the retail scene in southern Africa, having been around for all of 76 years; but its new and dynamic CEO Johan Enslin is determined that the group will make an even bigger impact over the next three years, as John O’Hanlon reports.

The coal mining sector in Zimbabwe has been hit hard by the economic downturn and an ailing transport infrastructure. Andrew Pelis talks to Fred Moyo, managing director of Hwange Colliery Company Limited, about the company’s efforts to meet the challenges head-on.

With gold losing none of its investor appeal, mining prospects once considered uneconomical are once again in favour, as Alan Swaby learns.

It’s certainly not true to say the streets of Johannesburg are paved with gold but just over 100 metres below some suburban streets, gold could soon be mined in substantial quantities.

Eritrea’s economic prospects are looking up with the approaching opening of Bisha Mining’s operation. General manager Stan Rogers gives Ruari McCallion the lowdown.

If ever a case were needed for the FIFA World Cup coming to South Africa, then Autopax offers the perfect illustration of the many benefits, as Andrew Pelis discovers.

Pretoria-based Autopax runs coach transportation services across South Africa. It is owned by the state agency PRASA—the South Africa rail authority—and primarily runs long distance coach journeys within the country and across its borders into neighbouring states. 

Acquisition by one of the world’s largest gold producers has impacted very positively on Ghana-based Abosso Goldfields Ltd. Executive director Mike Ezan talks to Andrew Pelis about the improvements made and stability gained.