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Kinieiro work nears completion. (Image source: Robex)

Energy

After announcing plans for a merger this month with a rival West African gold miner, Robex remains on track to deliver first gold at its Kiniero mine in Guinea this December, as it looks to complete work on the power plant

Robex and Predictive Discovery Limited (PDI) announced plans to merge on 5 October.

In a 6 October presentation to investors, Robex said that power station concrete works at Kiniero are now complete.

It leaves the power station erection and installation of auxiliary equipment still to finish, as well as the signing of an agreement for the supply, installation and operation of a separate solar PV plant.

The main power supply will come from Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine Machinery (HHI-EMD), which signed an agreement with Sycamore Mine Guinea SAU, now a part of Robex, for eight gensets for the Guinea mine and to support further work in the area.

HHI-EMD is supplying eight sets of 4MW class gensets to supply stable electricity in the mine region, with the units shipped in three instalments from May 2025.

Hyundai said at the time of the award that it plans to “further expand the supply of power generation equipment to off-grid mining regions” on the back the order.

It underscores the strength of demand among natural resources companies and the conviction that thermal gensets still provide the most robust source of power supply in remote, off-grid regions.

PDI’s key asset is the Bankan project in Guinea, which is advancing towards a final investment decision in 2026 and is currently contemplating its power supply options.

This will also likely incorporate a hybrid model, but built around a thermal power source, with the main source of power generated through a heavy fuel oil (HFO) plant in combination with a solar farm, the company noted in a recent feasibility study.

It again highlights the continued pull of HFO power plants as a dependable source of electricity for critical and remote mining and industrial applications in West Africa.

As well as the Kiniero mine, Robex also operates the producing Nampala gold mine in Mali.

Read more:

New gensets planned for Sadiola mine

Building reliable power for mining operations in Africa

Bankan Gold HFO power project emerges

Transport sector poised for growth in Africa

Construction

Saint Gobain has announced a new ‘Lead & Grow’ strategic plan, which envisages around €12bn (approx. US$13.95bn) in growth capex and acquisitions globally over the 2026-2030 period
 
With a focus on light and sustainable construction, the group says it is raising its profitable growth trajectory in the years ahead, and aims to increase its exposure to the non-residential and infrastructure sectors.
 
“In the current geopolitical context, Saint-Gobain benefits from the powerful operating model it has established and optimised country-by-country, based on local value chains,” said Benoit Bazin, Saint-Gobain’s chairman and CEO.
 
The group outlined growth plans across major developed regions, including Asia, North America and Europe, but it is also active across the African continent.
 
Its latest investment in Africa is a new cement plant in South Africa, opened this year to support local manufacturing and sustainability efforts.
 
It also dovetails with another of the group's corporate messages in priortising local manufacturing capabilities: Make it Africa, to Build Africa, or MABA.
 
“We will also expand into new growth markets: in infrastructure, particularly thanks to our established leading position in construction chemicals, and in non-residential, where the group holds key advantages,” added Bazin.
 
The widening of the group’s product offer over the past few years has opened up new opportunities in non-residential (including educational and healthcare facilities, hotels and data centres) and infrastructure (transport, energy), the company added in a statement.
 
In the data centre segment, it highlights solutions including focusing on speed of construction, low-carbon partitions and concrete, airflow management and improved thermal insulation.
 
On the infrastructure side, it said it was targeting niche areas in the bridges and tunnels segment, such as technical waterproofing, specialty admixtures, expansion and injection grouts, repair and protection mortars.
 
And on the airports side, it highlighted products for runway reinforcement, fire-resistant and fire safety glass, solar controlled façades, technical flooring and acoustic partitions.
 
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Epiroc’s Minetruck MT65 S. (Image source: Epiroc)

Mining

Epiroc AB has secured a large order for mining equipment and digital solutions from Asante Gold Corp. for a gold mine in Ghana
 
Canadian mining company Asante Gold ordered a fleet of underground mining trucks, loaders, face drilling rigs and production drilling rigs for its operations at the Chirano Gold Mine, a combined underground and open pit gold mine in southwestern Ghana.
 
The equipment order is valued at around (US$12mn), Epic said in a statement.
 
Asante Gold also ordered a digital situational awareness solution that will increase efficiency by keeping track of the machines and providing near real-time production metrics such as tonnages moved, cycle time and meters drilled. Epiroc will also provide tools, spare parts and service support, it noted.
 
“We are very pleased to support Asante Gold with our top-modern loaders, trucks and drilling rigs,” said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s president and CEO.
 
“The digital situational awareness solution will boost operational efficiency as well as safety through improved production monitoring.”
 
Asante Gold ordered a fleet of the Minetruck MT65 S hauler, Scooptram ST18 S loader, Boomer M20 S face drilling rig and Simba E70 S production drilling rig.
 
The machines are part of Epiroc’s Smart series which means that they are automation ready.
 
Delivery of the equipment has begun and will continue for the next few months, the Epiroc statement added.
 
“We are excited to collaborate with Epiroc to upgrade operations and increase gold production at our Chirano Mine,” said Dave Anthony, Asante Gold’s president and CEO.
 
“The Epiroc mine equipment fleet is world class and brings advanced technology, plus reliability. This strategic partnership marks a significant step towards unlocking Chirano’s full potential and we are confident it will generate lasting value for years to come.”
 
Read more:
 
 
 
 

Mr. Guo Shuangqing, assistant chief marketing officer of SF Technology. (Image source: Huawei)

Logistics

Huawei unveiled its SMART Logistics & Warehousing Solution, which integrates leading digital and intelligent technologies to enhance service quality, reduce costs, and increase efficiency across logistics and supply chain operations

HUAWEI CONNECT 2025 recently hosted a transportation summit titled "Creating a Digital & Intelligent Foundation for Comprehensive Transportation and Logistics," bringing together global leaders, key customers, and partners from the transportation and logistics sectors. The event served as a platform to discuss emerging trends in intelligent transformation and exchange innovative practices.

Rapid digitalisation, intelligentisation, and decarbonisation are reshaping transportation, supply chains, and logistics worldwide. Advanced technologies are improving the efficiency and security of critical infrastructure, including ports, airports, railways, and road networks. Multimodal transport and cross-industry integration are also driving substantial growth in the sector.

Delivering the opening address, Ma Yue, vice-president of Huawei and CEO of Huawei's Smart Transportation BU, highlighted Huawei’s commitment to technological innovation. “As a leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei remains committed to technological innovation. By fitting the right technologies to increasingly diversified scenarios, the company helps optimise the flow of passengers, freight, businesses, revenue, and information, laying a robust foundation for industry transformation.” He emphasised the importance of open collaboration in addressing the complexities of upgrading transportation systems and noted Huawei’s work with global partners in supporting over 100 ports, more than 200 logistics enterprises, and Intelligent Transportation Systems across 70 cities

Guo Shuangqing, assistant chief marketing officer of SF Technology, shared that his company has developed an air logistics digital twin platform based at China’s first cargo airport. “This platform allows for TB-level data processing with millisecond-fast response time. It fosters smooth collaboration among millions of elements and has successfully managed a cargo throughput of 1.9 million metric tons without any switching errors. SF Technology and Huawei will maximise respective strengths to expand capabilities in coordinating multiple airports, thus leading to a substantial efficiency increase across the entire air logistics sector.”

Dr Rachad Nassar, Huawei's global business & strategic partners director, added, “Huawei is enabling a smarter, safer, and more efficient future for transportation and logistics. With its comprehensive ICT intelligent foundation and its innovative technologies, such as intelligent sensing, broadband connectivity, cloud-based digital platforms, and AI, Huawei is turning concepts like Mobility as a Service and Logistics as a Service into reality—unlocking the full potential of digital intelligence.”

Qiu Shikui, vice-president of Huawei's smart logistics and warehousing BU, explained, “The logistics industry is currently grappling with key challenges such as high OPEX, low efficiency, complex data coordination, and underutilised AI. To address these common needs, Huawei, alongside its customers and partners, has launched the innovative SMART Logistics & Warehousing Solution. Built on the '1+N' architecture, it combines a smart operations cloud with intelligent coordination across logistics parks and yards to provide end-to-end digital and intelligent services. It focuses on platform-based services, digitalized operations management, intelligent allocation, automated relocation, and unattended transportation, enabling secure data collaboration, AI-based planning, and automated logistics yard operations.”

To date, Huawei has supported a massive infrastructure network worldwide, including over 100 ports, more than 200 logistics and warehousing enterprises, 300 urban rail lines in 70+ cities, over 180,000 km of railways, road networks exceeding 200,000 km, over 300 urban transportation cities, and more than 210 airlines and air traffic management bureaus. Huawei continues to collaborate with customers and partners to advance the logistics and supply chain sector globally.

Afreximbank leads US$1.35bn facility in US$4bn syndication to strengthen Dangote’s refinery operations and growth

Finance

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the signing of a US$1.35bn financing facility for Dangote Industries Limited (DIL)

This forms part of a larger approximately US$4bn syndicated financing arrangement for DIL, Africa’s largest industrial conglomerate, with Afreximbank acting as the Mandated Lead Arranger for the syndication.

This transaction — one of the largest syndicated loans in recent African financial markets — will be used to refinance capital invested in the construction of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex, the world’s largest single-train refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. The financing will reduce initial operational expenditures, strengthen DIL’s balance sheet, and support its ongoing growth.

Afreximbank’s contribution of US$1.35bn, the largest share among participating banks, highlights its commitment to major infrastructure projects that drive Africa’s industrialisation, energy security, and intra-African trade.

Since the refinery complex commenced operations in February 2024, Afreximbank has continued to provide financial support for crude supply and product offtake, ensuring smooth operations and reinforcing its role in Africa’s most significant refining project.

Commenting on the deal, Benedict Oramah, president & chairman of the board of directors at Afreximbank, said, “With this landmark deal, we once again demonstrate that Africa’s development can only be meaningfully financed from within. It is only when African institutions lead the way that others can follow. The journey to utilise African resources for its own economic transformation is well underway. Through the Bank’s funding support, we are enhancing the capacity of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Ltd to produce and supply high quality refined petroleum products to the Nigerian market, as well as for export to the entire continent and the world. Our energy security is in sight.”

Aliko Dangote, CEO, Dangote Industries Limited, added, “Afreximbank’s contribution to this milestone financing underscores our shared vision to industrialise Africa from within. This refinancing strengthens our balance sheet and accelerates with ease the refinery’s suppy of high-quality refined petroleum products across Africa.”

The syndicated facility attracted strong interest from major African and international financial institutions, reflecting confidence in Africa’s industrial growth and in Dangote’s vision for transforming the continent.

FLS strengthens Delmas site as a global polyurethane hub. (Image source: FLS)

Manufacturing

FLS has completed a significant upgrade to its polyurethane manufacturing facility in Delmas, Mpumalanga, positioning the site as a key global hub for the production of its advanced NexGen wear-resistant material

This development forms part of a wider modernisation programme by FLS, aimed at strengthening supply chains, increasing manufacturing efficiency and enhancing
sustainability across its global footprint.

Brad Shepherd, director service line - screen and feeder consumables at FLS, said the investment at Delmas aligns with the company’s global strategy to standardise and optimise production processes.

“This is a milestone for us,” commented Shepherd. “We are integrating cutting edge technology and modern manufacturing methodologies across all our polyurethane plants, and Delmas is leading the way. The upgrade enables us to respond more quickly and reliably to customer needs across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.”

The centrepiece of the upgrade is the introduction of purpose-built infrastructure to produce NexGen screen media - a polyurethane material developed by FLS to deliver extended wear life, reduced maintenance and improved operational efficiency. In on-site trials, screen panels made from NexGen have demonstrated up to three times the wear life of conventional rubber and polyurethane products, making it a gamechanger for industries that rely on high performance screening solutions.

Warren Walker, head of global manufacturing - polyurethane operations at FLS, explained that Delmas is the first of the company’s five global polyurethane plants to complete this transition. “We have installed new, latest generation polyurethane machines, precision tooling and dedicated preheating ovens for inserts,” he said. “This allows us to significantly increase our output while ensuring consistent quality.”

The facility now includes two trommel screen media stations and three screen media stations, each tailored to produce NexGen products. One of the standout technologies introduced is a programmable auto- calibrating polyurethane machine capable of adjusting material hardness to suit
specific applications.

“The flexibility to produce varying hardness levels is critical,” Walker noted. “It means we can tailor our screen media precisely to the customer’s application, ensuring optimum performance and longevity.”

To complement this, a high capacity polyurethane machine capable of pouring up to 42 kg per minute is in operation at the facility. This system is particularly suited to applications requiring large volume pours, such as flotation spare parts and vertical mill components.

The Delmas facility already benefited from a significant upgrade in 2019, when a state-of-the-art six-axis machining centre was introduced for tooling precision, along with robotic welding systems for manufacturing screen media panel inserts and a CNC controlled spiral welding machine to produce wedge wire products. The latest round of investments builds on this foundation and brings the facility to the forefront of global polyurethane production capability.

Energy efficiency was a key consideration in the new layout and equipment design. “We have incorporated smart energy saving features like individual temperature control on each casting table station,” Walker remarked. “This avoids the need to heat large surface areas unnecessarily and contributes to our carbon reduction goals.”

Further supporting these goals is the installation of 300 kW of solar generation capacity at the Delmas site, completed in 2024. Plans are already in place to expand this by another 500 kW in 2026, along with the integration of a battery energy storage system (BESS), enabling greater energy independence and resilience.

FLS’s offering from Delmas extends beyond screen media manufacturing. The facility is equipped to handle the complete fabrication of vibrating screens, from raw material processing and in-house machining to assembly and factory acceptance testing. This vertical integration allows the company to deliver customised solutions with tighter control over quality and lead times.

Shepherd emphasises that FLS operates both as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a screen media specialist, supplying screen panels for all types and brands of vibrating screens, feeders and trommel screens.

“We don’t just supply products,” he said. “We work closely with our customers through our network of on-the-ground specialists to assess site conditions and select the best screening media for their specific needs.”

He notes that many older processing plants are treating materials that differ from their original design specifications. In these cases, screen efficiency can often only be improved by optimising the screen media. “This is where NexGen makes a real difference,” Shepherd commented. “Combined with the correct aperture design, it allows customers to get more life and better performance from their screens.”

Unlike injection-moulded polyurethane, which can compromise the structural integrity of screen panels, FLS’s proprietary process retains superior mechanical properties, resulting in a tougher more durable product. “We have never used injection moulding because it reduces the quality of the end product,” Shepherd explained. “Our process delivers a product that stands up to the toughest operating conditions and offers lasting value.”

Walker adds that the expansion at Delmas not only supports FLS’s global operations but also contributes meaningfully to the South African economy. “Our commitment to local manufacturing is evident in the scale of our investment and the jobs we have created,” he said. “We have expanded our workforce, prioritised local recruitment and significantly grown our apprenticeship programme.”

A strong focus has also been placed on developing female artisans. In 2024, six women from the local community were recruited into a three year trade apprenticeship programme, receiving training in welding, fitting and boilermaking.

“Our investment during a period of economic uncertainty underlines FLS’s long term commitment to South Africa and to our customers in the broader EMEA region,” said Walker. “We are not just building products – we are building skills, opportunities and partnerships that will power sustainable growth for years to come.”