Africa

Kentz Pty has been awarded a US$45 million, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the 75MWp Kalkbult solar photovoltaic project in the Northern Cape area of South Africa.

Awarded by Scatec Solar which is developing the Kalkbult solar PV project, this is a key component of Phase 1 of the South African Department of Energy's 3,725MW Renewable Energy IPP Procurement Program.

While the excitement and glamour of oil and gas production centres around the wells themselves, nothing would ever get done without the support of experienced service providers.

Elsewhere in this publication there is an account of what the South African Oil and Gas Association (SAOGA) is doing to coordinate and encourage South African based businesses to be part of the overall development of Africa’s oil and gas industries.

In the midst of South Africa’s emergence as a centre of oil and gas activity, the opening of One Eighty Engineering Solutions’ new materials testing centre will provide local specialised services. 

South Africa-based Filcon Filters has set an ambitious target of 25 percent annual growth over the next three years. Directors Vernon Clarke, Tony Henfrey and George Canning talk about running a knowledge-based business.

With more than 40 years of ship repair experience, this SAOGA member is looking to expand into the oil and gas sector. General manager James Wrensch explains.

The next big expansion of Africa’s oil and gas production will be on the east, and South Africa is ideally placed to play a key role in its support and development.

For all South Africa’s undoubted bounties in terms of minable minerals, the same can’t be said for its oil & gas resources—at least not yet.

Abengoa has begun construction on two concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in South Africa.

The 50 MW solar power tower Khi Solar One and the 100 MW parabolic trough plant KaXu Solar One were two of the 28 renewable energy projects announced in late 2011 by the South Africa Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE intends to bring 17,800 MW of renewable energy online by 2030.

Air Products today announced the award of a contract to supply two oxygen plants at the site of a copper smelter being built in Zambia by Kansanshi Mining Plc. 

The scope of the agreement includes Air Products supply of two 750 metric ton per day oxygen plants, and all air separation unit (ASU) related equipment and design. The construction of the facility will be undertaken by Kansanshi Mining Plc, with cooperation from Air Products. The ASUs are planned to be on-stream in 2014.

This Kenyan tea and coffee producer has paved the way to growth with diversification into retail and is cutting costs by generating its own electricity.

Just look at the international growth of chains such as Starbucks and it seems that coffee has entered a truly golden era. In the 12 months to September 2011, world coffee exports increased by 9.4 percent to a historical record of 103 million bags – or over 6 million tonnes!