THE FINAL WORD

To round off each issue, we ask our contributing business leaders for their views on the same question

What trends do you forecast for the year ahead within your sector?

Victor Nsana

CSR Manager, Kansanshi Mining plc “I see more collaboration between various stakeholders and ourselves for the benefit of our communities. There is a lot that could be achieved if social development players came together with a single goal and teamed up to achieve it.”

Anthony Mukutuma

General Manager, Kansanshi Mining plc “In the year ahead, we expect an increased focus on responsible resource exploitation, decarbonisation and stakeholder engagement.”

McGerald Mvula

Supply Chain Manager, Kansanshi Mining plc “There will still be a lot of volatility across the supply chain, dealing with the issues around COVID-19, trade wars and shifting manufacturing bases from China to other regions. The increasing demand has already resulted in pronounced shortages and the supply side is yet to catch up. Congestion at ports, airlines and cross border points will continue in the near term but our industry is built for resilience and a pragmatic approach.”

Kaashifah Beukes

CEO, Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone Licencing Company “The reliance on and use of fossil fuels will continue for many years, but we need to start planning now for a world that will embrace decarbonisation, and an industry – maritime, energy, logistics and related engineering and services sectors – that will depend on and invest in those who have the foresight to adapt, grow and build a sustainable economy that is resilient and inclusive.”

Mohib Pirbay

Chairman, Blueline “Madagascar has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially due to the closure of borders and the fall in economic activity that followed. We hope for an exit from the crisis during the first quarter of 2022, which will allow the sector to return to growth, beginning in the second quarter. As far as Blueline is concerned, we anticipate sustained growth of more than 30 percent for the next two years.”

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Mining metals from the heart of Zambia...

There are few discoveries that have been as impactful to human development as that of fire.

Fire, and the result of energy transference onto solid and liquid matter to varying effects and degrees, entirely changed the way that we - as a forward thinking and innovative species - have moved ahead, and has spearheaded the way that we have manipulated the environment around us to our benefit and survival for thousands of years.

It has been thanks to this rudimentary energy source that we have been able to cook food, sterilise water, light settlements and warp materials to our will.

Where fire was the root of our revelation, the impact of the raw element on such materials allowed us to realise a breadth of opportunities that lay before us, and when we first mined metal ore, we saw only a greater opportunity to grow and evolve.

Indeed, copper stands as one of the oldest metals discovered to date (with its use dating back as long ago as 9000 BCE) and was one of the first metals used to make tools, implements, weapons, coins and status objects such as jewellery, followed by other metals such as tin, lead, gold, silver and hardy iron. Both copper and gold, with malleable natures combined with a shining aesthetic, helped forward the already embedded and fledgling concepts of trade and commerce that would themselves birth the first basic markets and lead forward collaborative societal growth and prosperity in later ages.

Today, the use of copper varies, yet it retains its status as a high-value metal all the same.

It is no longer beaten into sharp edges to do battle, nor widely seen

LEADING THE WAY as a status symbol when it comes to jewellery but is instead a key component used in a vast array of industries, tools, technologies and necessities of the 21st century world. Durable, malleable and superconductive, copper is present in almost all forms of battery across the globe, which in turn makes it a critical resource to machinery, vehicles and electric motors worldwide.

2 | Africa Outlook issue 95

KANSANSHI MINING

MINING

An ancient metal key to modern global growth, we take a look at one of Africa’s largest copper producers, Kansanshi Mining PLC, and speak to executive members of the company about its impact on communities, the environment and the globe

Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

The metal helps power machinery used in industries at the centre of urban growth, such as that of building construction, electronic product manufacturing, and power generation and transmission, with the root of this growth coming from the mining of copper deposits internationally.

These mining reserves exist as the start of a process that ensures people all over the planet have access to travel, technology and the digital realm to keep the world moving at a swift and continuous pace.

MINING IN AFRICA

The construction industry exemplifies exactly why copper is a high-value and chosen material for use. Copper’s bacteriostatic properties make it the standard material for potable water and heating systems in most developed countries. Copper is considered the safe choice in plumbing, heating systems, taps, valves, roofing, heating and air conditioning systems as it is resistant to oxidation, extreme heat Africa Outlook issue 95 | 3 corrosion and chemical corrosion, will not burn, melt or release toxic fumes unlike other metallic options.

AT A GLANCE - COPPER

Copper is the most conductive metal after silver. Copper is also ductile, malleable, corrosion-resistant and tough. There is no practical substitute for copper in applications where energy efficiency, safe conductivity, resistance to corrosion, complex geometries or very fine wiring are required. This includes silver - although it may be more conductible, it less resistant, less durable and more expensive. From the tiniest computer microprocessors to the tonnes of wiring, tubing, busbar, cable, bushings and bearings in a power station, copper keeps systems operating longer and at higher efficiencies. A cleaner, greener, more connected future will depend on copper. Its superior electrical and thermal conductivity is essential for the safe and efficient production, distribution and transmission of heat and electrical power and for the batteries, windings and charging infrastructure required for electric vehicles. Renewable energy systems use four to six times more copper than fossil fuel systems. Copper is also essential to telecommunications. ADSL cables, HDSL wiring and UTP lines are constructed of finely wrought copper wires, and interface devices such as modems and routers remain dependent on copper, making it the key to future societal growth across the planet

6 | Africa Outlook issue 95

See page 68

LOCAL PRODUCTION, GLOBAL STANDARDS

We have a deep respect for the environment. After extracting silica, we replant twice as many trees to restore sites. Our state-of-the-art silica processing plant enables us to consistently produce world standard products.

BBM is the first and largest silica producer in Zambia. Founded in 2013, as a joint venture between Solwezi-based entrepreneur Brenda rehabilitate their quarrying sites and limit their emissions. For every tree cut, two are replanted. BBM initiated the Keep Solwezi Clean campaign in Kunda and Zambian based institutional investors, the company has built a brand of high-quality products and consistent supply whilst genuinely respecting the environment and community in which it operates. We consistently upgrade our equipment to the best The mining supply chain is heavily dominated low emission standards. by men, so it’s refreshing to see a female leader, who has been part of building a market leading company from scratch. As a female entrepreneur in Zambia, Brenda has had to work hard to prove her capabilities. “It takes a lot of hard work, discipline, and professionalism. A woman can achieve and live her dream, but it takes determination.” She furthers that “Without FQM and the mining supply chain, BBM’s growth wouldn’t have been possible. We’ve had a close partnership with FQM from the onset and we are proud to operate in the same chiefdom.” For smelters, it is critical that there is a consistency in the silica products. Peter Bwalya, Head of Sales in BBM, remarks: “When we set up our silica production in BBM, it was very important for FQM that we could deliver consistent and conforming products throughout the year. It is critical for smelters that our product is consistent. We know that for our clients to deliver products of international standard, they need inputs of international standard.“ 2019 and have spearheaded a range of community initiatives. “Being a sizeable and reliable supplier, whilst caring for the environment and improving the livelihood of people in the community, is a cornerstone in our investment approach across projects. BBM is a great example of this, and we are truly proud of what has been created” says Niels Bojsen from Kukula, who co-founded BBM with Brenda Kunda. In addition to the production lines for silica for smelters and furnaces, BBM produces a range of concrete products including high quality building blocks and specialised concrete elements. A new production line for a range of silica filtration media is being established. “We have been testing production of a range of filtration media over the past two years and are now ready to start production at scale” says Brenda Kunda. Peter Bwalya adds: “Currently most filtration media is being imported to Zambia, which there is no need for if we can produce the same quality or better locally. This will reduce both costs and emissions and is hence very aligned with our overall strategy.”

BBM operates with care and respect for the environment and have done extensive work to

Bresmar Building Material Ltd | T + 260 969 280 201 | E pb@bresmarbuilding.com

FOCUS ON RELIABLE, CONSISTENT SUPPLY WITH RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Suppliers of: • Silica for smelters and furnaces • Filtration media • Concrete products • Construction sand

BBM

Bresmar Building Material Ltd

Head of Sales Peter Bwalya +260 969280201 pb@bresmarbuilding.com

Kansanshi Mining has told its story.

Now, why not tell yours? Our bi-monthly magazine Africa Outlook is essential reading for business executives wanting to keep up with the latest in global news and trends affecting African businesses across all industries. Reaching an audience of over 185,000 readers, your company can take advantage of exposure in Africa Outlook with a FREE article and FREE digital brochure, as well as access to further digital and print-based marketing tools that could transform your business. To share in this unrivalled opportunity, contact one of our project managers today!

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Issue 95

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MTN CONGO Mobile services to support greater digital and financial inclusion Mining metals from the heart of Zambia TRANSCOM SHARAF Freight forwarding from Beira KANSANSHI MINING PLC Adama Soro, CEO at the CMB explores the organisation’s role in realising socio-economic transformation for Burkina Faso www.africaoutlookmag.com/work-with-us