AFRICA ROUND-UP
to complete our major environmental upgrades at the smelter and our obligations to the government, thereby minimising the environmental and political risks to the smelter,” Dundee Precious Metals’ (DPM) president and CEO, Rick Howes, said in a recent media statement. In addition, the key aspects of the plant upgrades, which address smelter fugitive emissions, are complete and the second oxygen plant, which allows for increased, cleaner production, is expected to be producing oxygen by the end of October, he added. Howes said the company expects the government to then be in a position to confirm compliance with its directive and workplace air quality standards, and support a return to full production. In March 2010, DPM completed the acquisition of Namibia Custom Smelters, a smelter that was constructed in the early 1960s to process concentrate from the Tsumeb copper mine, and is one of only five commercial-scale smelters in Africa. As part of its long-term strategy to bring the Tsumeb Smelter to internationally accepted environmental standards and consistent with directives issued by the Namibian government, DPM entered into a lump sum turnkey (LSTK) contract with Outotec for the engineering, supply, construction and commissioning of a facility to treat smelter off-gas and produce sulphuric acid. Outotec Namibia provides leading technologies and ser vices for the sustainable use of earth's natural resources, while also providing innovative solutions for industrial water treatment, the utilisation of alternative energy sources and the chemical industr y. The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has received a second batch of 40 motorised graders
The CAA plans to expand Entebbe International Airport by building a domestic terminal and airport terminal
At this stage, the total capital cost to complete the acid plant currently under construction, including owner's costs, is estimated at US$240 million (R2.36 billion), up from the initial estimate of US$204 million. Howes noted that this increase is primarily attributable to higherthan-expected costs associated with site preparation, including demolition, earthworks' excavation, foundation preparation, larger construction camp infrastructure and related operating costs, unanticipated expenses relating to the removal of asbestos encountered during demolition, and a stronger euro currency.
UGANDA Plans under way for Kampala Airport Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has mooted plans to construct an international airport in Kampala to complement Entebbe International Airport. David Mpango Kakuba, the CAA deputy managing director, notes that the authority wishes to boost domestic air travel as well as tourism. With a price ticket in the region of US$100 million (R984.42 million), the considerations are great and likely to be lengthy. Considering aviation is one of the world's most expensive
industries, Kakuba states that starting an international airport will cost at least US$100 million. Under a 20-year Civil Aviation Master plan, CAA plans to expand Entebbe International Airport by building a domestic terminal, airport terminal, aeroplanes maintenance hangers, a second parallel runway and taxiways. Preparation for the US$300 million expansion has kicked off with the acquisition of 66 acres of land formerly owned by the agriculture ministry. Although Entebbe Airport requires 2 000 ha for expansion, its land at Kigungu adjacent to the runway has been encroached on.
ZIMBABWE Roads agency receives 40 more graders The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has received a second batch of 40 motorised graders, purchased at a cost of US$8 million (R78.74 million) from China under the Road Authorities Recapitalisation Programme. The first batch of 40 motorised graders was commissioned by President Robert Mugabe in July
2013, in a bid to improve roads in the country’s rural areas. Thus far, a total of 2 937 km of the countr y's road network has been rehabilitated using the first batch of graders. Initially, the Road Authorities Recapitalisation Programme had come up against a decadelong road maintenance backlog that led to the deterioration of the national road network. Poor road infrastructure has severely hampered national development. Meanwhile, Zinara has introduced a new vehicle licence disc with more security features as part of efforts to curb the illegal reproduction of the permits. In 2012, the road utility lost up to US$15 million in potential revenue through rampant printing of counter feit discs. The road administrator last year collected US$25 million from vehicle permit fees against potential revenue of US$40 million in a countr y that has an estimated vehicle population of 800 000 with only 478 000 licensed authentically.
MALAWI Lilongwe council effectively completes road rehabilitation Motorists in Lilongwe have hailed the city council for maintaining and rehabilitating some of the feeder roads, saying this will improve mobility of vehicles and the looks of the city. Previously, roads in Lilongwe were in a pathetic condition, creating major problems for road users. Many of these roads had worn-out edges, which made it impossible for motorists to cross or overtake each other.
IMIESA November/December 2013
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