African Review of Business and Technology articles from April 2006

African Review of Business and Technology archives from April 2006

Editor's note.
April 1, 2006... THE GENERATING SET industry just keeps on growing, and so too does our Genset Buyer's Guide. On page 45 we present our annual overview of the industry, followed by 11 pages of listings with all the details you will need to select and source...

Safmarine has announced significant enhancements to its SAFARI service between Asia and Southern Africa.(Safmarine and Rennies Holding Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... SAFMARINE HAS ANNOUNCED significant enhancements to its SAFARI service between Asia and Southern Africa. These include an eighth vessel in the core Safari (Safari 1) service; the introduction of a direct call at Cape Town; and the formation...

Universal Communication Services (Pty) Ltd.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... UNIVERSAL COMMUNICATION SERVICES (Pty) Ltd (UCOMS) together with Laro Computing has formed UCOMS Africa Limited, a Nigeria-based affiliate that will drive the companies' business in key West African countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra...

UNIDO.(United Nations Industrial Development Organization launches a microfinance scheme for miners)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... UNIDO is to initiate a microfinance scheme in Zimbabwe for artisinal and small scale miners. The initiative is being undertaken as part of the Global Mercury Project that is ongoing in the country. UNDP and the global environment facility are...

The International Monetary Fund.(debt relief to Uganda)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY Fund (IMF) has extended 100 per cent debt relief to Uganda under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative. A statement released recently by the IMF representative in Uganda, Peter Allum, says under the Initiative,...

Kenya Airways.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... KENYA AIRWAYS IS to purchase six 787 Dreamliners from Boeing. The airline plans to replace its current 767s with the Dreamliner beginning with the delivery of two airplanes in 2010, and four in 2011. Kenya Airways was the first carrier to...

Kenya's National Housing Corporation.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... WITH ITS ALLOCATION of Ksh1.2bn in the current financial year, Kenya's National Housing Corporation has launched its '90 towns housing programme'. The NHC will spend Ksh33.6bn to construct 20,000 housing units in 90 towns across the country....

Repsol YFP.(prospecting for off-shore oil)(Woodside Energy Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... REPSOL YFP, A Spanish oil company which together with Woodside Energy (UK) Ltd, an Australian company, has been prospecting for off-shore oil in Sierra Leone since 2003, says prospects are good. Speaking in Freetown, the general manager of...

Nigeria's Ajaokuta Steel Mill.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... NIGERIA'S AJAOKUTA STEEL Mill has reported its first exports 24 years after it was first established. A spokesman for Global Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd, which manages the company, told the Nigerian press that 1,800 tonnes of reinforcement...

China Development Bank.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... RELTEL WIRELESS, A private telephone operator that is keen to take advantage of the expanding Nigerian telecom market has received US$20mn of financial support from the China Development Bank. This has been facilitated through Huawei...

Vodacom, South Africa.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... VODACOM, SOUTH AFRICA'S leading cellular network, is rewarding its loyal Prepaid customers by introducing Vodacom Talking Points--a loyalty awards system whereby recharge points can be accumulated to exchange for call discounts, SMS bundles...

Equatorial Guinea.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... Equatorial Guinea: China's CNOOC is taking its first exploration interest in the country. The firm will explore Block S, where waterdepths extend from 30-1,500m.

Libya.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... Libya: Spain's Repsol-YPF made its seventh discovery in Block NC 186 of the Murzuk basin. The firm's K-1 well flowed 2,300 barrels/day on test. Two discoveries, A and D, are already flowing a combined 50,000 barrels/day.

Mozambique.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... Mozambique: Two licences in the offshore Rovuma basin are to be explored by a venture between Norway's Hydro, with 90 per cent, and the state's Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, with 10 per cent. The licences are Areas 2 and 5, lying east...

Nigeria-Sao Tome e Principe.(China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. acquires the offshore oil field)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Nigeria-Sao Tome e Principe: China's Sinopec plans to become operator of Block 2 of the Joint Development Zone, the formerly-disputed offshore area between the two countries. The firm signed to take over the interests offered to US firms...

Uganda.(Hardman Resources and Tullow Oil PLC found oil )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Uganda: A venture between Hardman (operator, 50 per cent) and Tullow (50 per cent) found oil with the Waraga-1 well. The upper of two zones showed light crude of about 40[degrees]API gravity. Testing had not been completed at press-time. The...

The Namibia Tourism Board.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... THE NAMIBIA TOURISM Board has released the latest tourist arrival statistics. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) says some 150,000 foreign visitors checked in at various airports in 2004. Germany remains the country's most...

South African Airway.(Briefly)
April 1, 2006... SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS' (SAA) new reservations and inventory system, Amadeus, has gone into operation. This information technology innovation is a precursor to the airline joining the Star Alliance on 10 April. The system will allow SAA to...

New high-tech maps of Africa.(Garmap launches African Road Atlas Version 2.0)
April 1, 2006... GARMAP[TM] HAS ANNOUNCED the release of the African Road Atlas Version 2, a significant upgrade to the product. John Gallacher of Garmin[R] Brand says: "Version 2 is a major advance and a must-have for adventurers and travellers in Southern...

Business confidence falls in SA.(South Africa)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... POOR PERFORMANCES FROM government services, water companies and especially electricity services, as well as disappointment with aspects of the 2006/7 budget has seen the South African Chamber of Business (Sacob's) business confidence index...

Nigeria welcomes South Korea.(Commercial Review)
April 1, 2006... FOLLOWING A THREE-day state visit to Nigeria by President Moo-Hyun Roh, the Republic of Korea is to pay signature bonuses for 60 per cent equity in oil blocks OPL323 and OPL321 which had also been sought by India's Oil and Natural Gas...

22 states discuss integration.(African Union meeting over rationalising integration )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... TWENTY-TWO STATES of the African Union from the Eastern and Southern African region are meeting in Lusaka at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre to discuss the rationalisation of integration in Africa. The states are being...

Randgold Resources doubles its profits.(Commercial Review)
April 1, 2006... A 54 PER cent increase in production and a buoyant gold price has helped Randgold Resources report a net profit of US$41mn for the year to December 2005, more than doubling its 2004 earnings of US$18.8m. The company's Morila joint venture...

Mozambique and SA strengthen ties.(South Africa)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... South Africa has become Mozambique's leading investment partner. Economic adviser to Mozambique's ministry of industry and commerce, Sergio Carlos Macamo, told delegates at the PriceWaterhouseCoopers South Africa/Mozambique investment seminar...

Kenya's health ministry gets transport management system.(Commercial Review)
April 1, 2006... TRANSAID HAS BEGUN work on a major new programme funded by DANIDA which will see the charity's proven transport management system introduced to the Kenyan Ministry of Health. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The programme will require Victor...

Bank transfer service launched.(Commercial Review)
April 1, 2006... STANBIC BANK OF Kenya has partnered with Nile Commercial Bank (NCB) to launch a value transfer service which will enable businesses based in Uganda and Kenya to transfer funds in and out of southern Sudan. At the launch ceremony, Stanbic...

LME copper soars to new highs.(Commodity Report)
April 1, 2006... HAVING REACHED A what-at-the time was an all-time high of US$5,100 a tonne on the LME on 7 February, London Metal Exchange (LME) copper prices have gone on to new record highs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After the 7 February peak, copper...

Gold vulnerable.(Commodity Report)
April 1, 2006... SPOT GOLD HAS been trading in the US$535-575 a troy ounce range since early February when it reached US$574.60 a troy ounce, its highest level in 25 years. Speculator activity has been the main driver behind gold's rise in recent weeks....

Fund buying supports platinum.(price hike, Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. to raise production)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... HAVING REACHED AN all-time peak of US$1,083 a troy ounce in early February, spot platinum has remained essentially range bound at US$1,006-1,020 a troy ounce as fund buying and profit-taking took turns to keep the market volatile. However, by...

Kenya tea prices drop after rain arrives.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... KENYAN TEA PRICES fell during the first half of March as consistent rainfall in Kenya boosted hopes of an end to the severe drought that has been affecting East Africa. Kenya's tea production was one of many of the country's crops severely...

Robusta sees three-month lows as near-term sentiment turns bearish.(robusta coffee futures)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... AFTER THE EIGHT-month high seen at the end of January, robusta coffee futures have since come under pressure. The downturn came initially as a result of a weakening in the New York arabica market but subsequently was due to speculative and...

Exchange rates.(Financial Forecast)
April 1, 2006... Exchange Rates The currencies shown below are valued at the middle rates between buying and selling on 27 March. The rates are an indication of the value and are not intended to be used as the basis for transactions. The publisher...

Forecast movements against the dollar.(foreign exchange rates forecast)(Table)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Forecast movements against the dollar 27 Mar 2006 end-April June Country (actual) 2006 2006 Japan (Yen) 117.7 115-120 118-122...

Stable dollar, soaring rand.(Financial Forecast)
April 1, 2006... AGAINST THE GLOBAL currencies listed here the US dollar has been remarkably stable over the last month, one in which the new chairman of the rate-setting Federal Reserve has been settling in. All eyes are now on the new interest rates he is...

Mauritania becomes an oil producer.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... MAURITANIA'S FIRST OILFIELD came on stream at the end of February, making the country self-sufficient in oil and providing a substantial new revenue stream for the government. Production from the Chinguetti field, in deep water about 90km off...

Angola.(TOTAL S.A. found oil)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... FRANCE'S TOTAL MADE a discovery with the Mostarda-1 well, drilled in the ultra-deepwater Block 32. The well tested 5,347 barrels/day of light (30[degrees]API) crude from one zone of a multi-zone reservoir. Waterdepth was 1.758m. Mostarda is...

Nigeria.
April 1, 2006... THE GROUP PLANNING to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex at Brass signed its third outline sales agreement. France's Suez LNG Trading signed a memorandum of understanding covering the purchase of 2mn tonnes/year of LNG for 20 years,...

Executives' calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2006... APRIL 21-24 Build and Con Kenya NAIROBI International Trade Event for Building and Construction industry. IEO, Dubai. Tel:+971 4 2828664. Fax: +971 4 2828638. e-mail: info@ieo.ae...

Addis is latest destination for Emirates.(Business Travel)
April 1, 2006... EMIRATES HAS LAUNCHED a thrice-a-week service to Addis Ababa. The Dubai-based airline has already recruited Ethiopian nationals to manage its passenger, airport and cargo operations. Addressing a conference in Addis, Senior VP Nasser Bin...

EgyptAir orders blended winglets.(Business Travel)
April 1, 2006... EGYPTAIR HAS ORDERED six sets of Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets to be installed on new deliveries of its 737-800s. The components reduce drag on a 737-800s by up to five per cent with corresponding block fuel burn reductions....

Golden Tulip grows in Morocco.(Golden Tulip Hotels International Inc., business expansion)(Consortium Morocco-Kuwaiti for Development)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... GOLDEN TULIP HAS announced its expansion into Morocco through the signing of a management agreement for the five existing Farah hotels. The superior first class and luxury units are located in strategic destinations and have all been under...

Five-star hotel slated for Kampala.(Business Travel)
April 1, 2006... A SAUDI ARABIAN investor plans to construct a five--star hotel worth US$40mn in Kampala in preparation for the 2007 Commonwealth Summit. According to the executive director of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) Dr Maggie Kigali, Prince...

New FoodTech expo.(international food and beverage trade fair )
April 1, 2006... WITH THE WORLD eyeing Africa's potential for business, the new FoodTech Africa exhibition from 23-25 July will provide opportunities to meet important industry players and buyers. The new international food and beverage trade fair for...

Virgin Nigeria launches Dakar route.(Business Travel)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... VIRGIN NIGERIA LAUNCHED its maiden flight to Dakar, Senegal on 16 March in continuation of its regional routes network roll out. Head, Public Affairs of Virgin Nigeria, Mr Larry Agose, announced this in Lagos, saying: "The inaugural...

Fostering a competitive climate for investors: robust growth is critical to unlock Africa's optimum potential, writes Moin Siddiqi. Without it, Africa will remain uncompetitive and the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved.
April 1, 2006... THE AFRICAN CONTINENT is one of the least competitive regions on the global average scale, reflecting mainly institutional weaknesses, which, unless addressed, are likely to hinder the efforts of many countries to grow faster over the medium-...

AMSCO advises on achieving goals.
April 1, 2006... AFRICAN COUNTRIES NEED to develop robust private sectors, underpinned by thriving SME segments, if they are to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set out for 2015. That's the message from Ayisi Makatiani, CEO of AMSCO (African...

Wafritel welcomes the world.
April 1, 2006... SIX YEARS ON and the sixth West African International Telecommunications and Information Communication Technology Exhibition (W.Afri.Tel) looks set to deliver the goods yet again. The event will be held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 20-22 June this...

Mobile banking upgrade.(Celpay Zambia)
April 1, 2006... IN AN EFFORT to step up its services to clients, the African mobile banking hub Celpay Zambia, has recently upgraded its mobile banking services platform to the latest Fundamo technology. The upgrade is part of an exercise which will see...

Kenya sets up ICT framework.
April 1, 2006... THE KENYAN GOVERNMENT has set up the National Information and Communication policy to provide framework for a liberalised ICT industry and also the roadmap for the next five years. In a recent ICT one-day conference held in Nairobi,...

Credit cards take-off in Kenya.(Information Technology)
April 1, 2006... FORTY-THREE-YEAR old high school teacher John Irungu uses a credit card to pay school fees for his two teenage children. Similarly, Charles Ouma, an upcoming businessman, uses a card for most of his transactions. Such has become the...

Data protection with UPS: safe, reliable power is taken for granted by the developed world, yet the need for UPS (uninterruptible power supply) solutions grow daily, as the world economy relies on always-on computing. How much more real is the need for power right across the continent, asks Karen Young.(Information Technology)
April 1, 2006... POWER CUTS MAY make the headlines, but managing power is much more about being aware of potential problems. Despite the marketing efforts of most of the UPS industry, purchasing an uninterruptible power supply should be based on a realisation...

Big shake-up for Nigeria's banking sector: the restructuring of Nigeria's banking industry has seen the weak go to the wall. Many banks have had their licences revoked, others have merged or been taken over. We present a guide to the institutions that have emerged from this painful but necessary process.(Banking)
April 1, 2006... AS REPORTED IN detail in the March issue of African Review, Nigeria's Central Bank introduced drastic new recapitalisation rules at the beginning of 2006. A massive 12-fold increase in minimum capital requirement was demanded, to N25bn. The...

A decade of success in South Africa: Scania's operations in Southern Africa are built on an earlier business model developed in South America. The assembly plant in Johannesburg, is the hub of the company's regional operation.(Vehicles)
April 1, 2006... WITH MANY YEARS' personal experience of organising Scania's business in South America, it did not take long for Scania SA MD Ulf Grevesmuhl to adapt the Brazil-as-hub model for running the reestablished business in southern Africa when he...

Ghana and Switzerland strengthen ties: Emmanuel Yartey reports on the growing bilateral links which are being focused on power and the SME sector. Here in SSA only Burkina Faso and Zambia are in the same partnership league.(Trade)
April 1, 2006... LONG BEFORE GHANA gained political independence in 1957. Switzerland was keen to forge economic links with the West African nation, and in 1960 the countries established diplomatic relations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Georg Zubler,...

Strong growth predicted for global air cargo market.(Air Cargo)(Industry overview)
April 1, 2006... THE WORLD'S BIGGEST aircraft manufacturer says the global air cargo market is poised for strong growth through 2024, with a flurry of new orders being seen already. Boeing Co predicts that the total dedicated freighter fleet will double from...

Flower trade growing by Boeing: Cargolux Airlines International SA, with its head office in Luxembourg and 85 offices world-wide, offers over 35 years' of experience and expertise in the air transportation of perishables.(Company Focus)
April 1, 2006... CARGOLUX'S TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED B747-400 freighters, of which the company owns 14, with number 15 to join the fleet in July 2007 and number 16 in July 2008, provide the correct thermal environment for clients' delicate floral shipments....

Walvis Bay: the new gateway for SADC; Walvis Bay harbour on Namibia's Atlantic coast is well-established as the country's largest port, the main base for its sea fishing industry and the servicing centre for offshore oil exploration. Now, writes Roger Murray, plans are being made to transform it into a regional trading hub.(Shipping)
April 1, 2006... AMBITIOUS PLANS ARE now being implemented to turn Walvis Bay harbour into a major trading hub as the western gateway for member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) via the Walvis Bay Corridor, which connects the...

Solar lanterns light the way.(Walvis Bay Port Authority contracts Tideland Signal Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE PORT AUTHORITIES in Walvis Bay have chosen Tideland Signal's MLED-120SC lanterns to mark the channel into the harbour. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The system opted for is a self-contained version of Tideland's popular diode-based...

Volvo Penta IPS for commercial boats.
April 1, 2006... VOLVO PENTA'S NEW propulsion system for boats--Volvo Penta IPS--is now being launched for commercial operation. IPS has created a sensation in the marine world. It delivers unsurpassed performance, comfort and fuel economy compared with...

Safmarine adapts as trade shifts East.(Safmarine Container Lines)
April 1, 2006... THERE IS MUCH growth in Africa at the moment, according to Alan Jones, Africa Region Executive of Safmarine, the ship owner and operator which celebrates its 60th year of existence in 2006. "Trade growth between Asia and South Africa is...

Port of Ngqura injects R100mn into sand bypass system.(Shipping)
April 1, 2006... SOUTH AFRICA'S DEEPEST container terminal, the port of Ngqura, is to take delivery of one of the world's most sophisticated sand bypass system which will halt beach erosion and sand build-up on the port's harbour. Resident engineer, Chris...

Full refurbishment service available from Yorpower.(Yorpower Manufacturing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... YORPOWER MANUFACTURING is the only refurbished genset specialist in the UK that has ISO 9001:2000 certification, says the company. Users of reconditioned generating sets need just the same equipment standards that they would expect from a new...

Cosmos introduced by Atlas Copco.(Generating Sets)
April 1, 2006... A GLOBAL REMOTE monitoring system for compressors and gensets has been introduced by Atlas Copco to provide an equipment management service. A new electronic remote global management system is available which allows customers to reduce their...

New 2-4MW genset range from Caterpillar.(Generating Sets)(Company overview)
April 1, 2006... CATERPILLAR HAS INTRODUCED a new family of diesel--fueled generator sets in the 2-4MW power range. This builds on the success of the Caterpillar(R) 3500 series of gensets, a proven industry leader. It is powered by the new Cat(R) C175...

Falling water levels hit Uganda's hydropower: the current drought afflicting East Africa is having a serious impact on power supplies in the region. Falling levels of water in Lake Victoria mean Uganda is experiencing a shortfall of hydropower, reports Moses Kalisa Seruwagi.(Power Supply)
April 1, 2006... UGANDA IS EXPERIENCING a serious power crisis which is likely to undermine the progress made over the past 20 years of relative stability and peace ushered in by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in 1986, after the five-year bush war....

AEF nears again.
April 1, 2006... THIS YEAR'S AFRICA Energy Forum (Lille, France from 28-30 June) will again bring together government officials and business representatives to explore how and where investment in Africa's energy sector can be increased. With separate sections...

Alternative view from India.(Tinytech Plants produces energy using steam power)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... INDIAN RURAL POWER specialists Tinytech Plants point out that out-of-town electrification has been a problem in both India and Africa for more than 50 years. Says MD V K Desai of associated company Aadhunik Global Energy: "Steam power can...

Schneider Electric generates good growth in Nigeria: recent trading results announced by Schneider Electric reveal that the company is seeing very encouraging returns from emerging markets.(Company Focus)
April 1, 2006... MR HENRI LACHMAN, Chairman and Chief Executive of Schneider Electric was upbeat about the progress his company has made when he recently announced trading results for 2004 and the first half of 2005. What was also remarkable was the...

Transforming life with the Elvim range.(Schneider Electric Nigeria offers high quality transformers)
April 1, 2006... NOT ONLY IS Schneider Electric Nigeria proving its mettle by providing services, it is also pushing its products onto the Nigerian market. For the last 40 years, for instance, Elvim transformers have been making strides into the nation....

Huge surge in world exports of gensets: the engine generator set business just keeps growing. Buoyant African demand is at the heart of a global market worth over US$4bn last year.(diesel generating sets' international trade)
April 1, 2006... FOR THE FOURTH year running exports from all the major generating set producing countries, 14 European, the US and Japan, have reached record levels. At over US$4bn for 2005 (see Figure 1) this is an increase of over US$1bn on the previous...

Generating set buyers' guide 2006: Africa's annual where-to-buy guide.(Directory)
April 1, 2006... SECTION ONE -- Suppliers of generating sets and their local agents. SECTION TWO -- Contact details of African agents listed by country, page 66. PLEASE MENTION AFRICAN REVIEW WHEN CONTACTING YOUR SUPPLIER Section One Aggreko...

Model installation by MTU.(Generating Sets)
April 1, 2006... THE EMERGENCY POWER plant at the SAP software producer's offices in Walldorf. Germany, is a perfect example of MTU's system engineering skills, writes Wolfgang Stolba. Seven gensets driven by 20V 4000 engines supply the computer centre...

Low-noise/-emissions Sabre genset engines.
April 1, 2006... NEW SABRE 4.4 Series genset engines for marine use from Perkins comply with all proposed emissions standards. The six-model line-up of four-cylinder/4.4 litre diesels offers net power outputs from 47-161kWm, equating to typical generator...

Briggs & Stratton introduces hard working generators and water pumps.
April 1, 2006... ON 4 MARCH Briggs & Stratton introduced the hardest-working water pumps and generators manufactured and assembled at Briggs & Stratton Power Products Co, in Qingpu, Shanghai, From component parts to finished engines to final products, Briggs...

Maintenance for wells and boreholes: the yield of most boreholes in Africa diminishes with time. The skill is to accurately assess why this is happening and what rehabilitation measures can be taken to restore the flow to normal. This will cut down on energy and spare parts costs for the pump, too.(water supply)
April 1, 2006... THROUGHOUT AFRICA ENTHUSIASTIC landowners, local councils and NGOs have sunk new water wells in arid areas only to find that the long-term results have not lived up to expectation. The initial yield has dropped by half or even more. Pumping...

Denorco scores a first for South Africa.(water pump development)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... THE ADDITION OF a close-coupled version to its range of helical rotor dosing pumps has seen Denorco become the first company in South Africa to successfully manufacture a pump of this nature. Easy to install, the compact close-coupled version...

Cut wear and tear on moving machinery: Dr Terry Mabbett explains how modern techniques can be used to improve the ages-old science of lubrication. The result is to make machinery last longer.(Condition Monitoring)
April 1, 2006... WHEN MOVING MACHINERY components rub against each other they cause friction, create heat energy and remove particles of material from the respective surfaces. The use of regularly changed and rejuvenated oils and lubricants with viscosity at...

New life for old plant: the world's biggest specialised trade fair is being held in Germany in April. African Review looks at the activity sectors which can benefit best from the under-reported reconditioning business.(Reconditioned Plant)
April 1, 2006... WITH THE WORLD'S biggest used-equipment trade fair coming up shortly* this is a good time to look at the prospects for investing in reconditioned plant. Many of today's large manufacturing and construction companies began that way, and...

Introduction to Intermat: Paris is where the international construction and building materials industries hold their biggest get--together in 2006. We look at the event itself and at some of the key manufacturers who will be showing their brand-new hardware.(International Exhibition of Equipment, Machinery and Techniques )
April 1, 2006... EVERY YEAR THE international contractors' plant industry displays all its latest machinery and services at construction trade shows around the world. Johannesburg is the main venue here, but a wide range of new plant can be seen at...

Extensive range on show from Liebherr.
April 1, 2006... THE LIEBHERR GROUP consists of more than 100 companies employing 22,000 staff around the world. All produce a technically advanced, benefit-oriented range of products and services. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On view at Intermat this year...

BOMAG says the universal roller has arrived.(showing products at Intermat)
April 1, 2006... BOMAG WILL BE showing its well-known lines of compaction and road machinery which have established its sound reputation in light equipment, asphalt and soil compaction. The emphasis at Intermat this year will be on new technology and the...

Caterpillar's yellow is prominent in Paris.(Intermat)
April 1, 2006... FOR OVER 80 years Caterpillar equipment has been building infrastructure on every continent, to produce "Today's work--tomorrow's world." A major force at Intermat as at all the big international construction events, it now operates 278...

New multi-use and access plant from Haulotte.(Haulotte Group shows backoe loaders at Intermat 2006)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... FRANCE'S HAULOTTE GROUP will be showing its new MJX900 backhoe loader at this year's Intermat construction trade show in April. A natural evolution of the manufacturer's multifunctional earthmoving plant the MJX sets new technology standards,...

Boom time for Botswana: gold, coal, nickel and more, including the world's most valuable single diamond mine at Jwaneng--Botswana has solid minerals galore. Priscilla Ross reports on how this wealth is being harvested.(Mining)
April 1, 2006... CANADA'S IAMGOLD CORP has acquired Gallery Gold, which discovered the one million ounce gold resource at Mupane in 1998. Production from Mupane near Francistown at a rate of 100,000oz a year kick-started Botswana's gold mining production....