‘Disorganised’ SA missing out on the action

There is no shortage of projects in Africa, but South African companies are seemingly oblivious of the opportunities passing them by, says Paul Runge, managing director of Africa Project Access. “We are not working together as business, as government or as organisations to access these projects and see real benefit for our local companies.” Runge, a specialist consultant on African projects, says the number of projects in which the Chinese are involved across the various sectors is proof enough that the continent is busy. “There is huge competition in Africa for the various projects, with the Chinese winning much of the work because they are giving offers that are impossible to refuse. But the Portuguese, the Brazilians, the Indians and the Americans are all very active in Africa,” he said. “The variety of projects taking place range from the power sector to construction and mining.” According to Runge project cargo has been slow in South Africa, but there is much opportunity outside the country’s borders. “The Chinese for example are involved in hydro plants in Ethiopia, power supply programmes in Gabon and transmission lines in Kenya. They are building a new tramway system in Ethiopia, and roads in Malawi, Kenya, Mauritania and Zambia. They are working on a railway system in the DRC and in the deepwater port being erected in Cameroon.” He said other projects included the modernisation of the airports in Kenya, a new terminal in Mauritius and work at the Khartoum International Airport in Sudan. “There is also the Cameroon fibre optic network that is being set up, the handset manufacturing plant being built in Nigeria, and a new aluminium refinery going up in Ghana.” According to Runge there are many projects currently related to the mining sector ranging from the Copperbelt in Zambia to the cement plants in Mozambique. “South Africa however has to get closer to the action and that means identifying projects sooner and working more closely with organisations such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa. To really be part of the project action we must acquire an organised approach involving all roleplayers – and that includes government.