GEORGE NEWS - The South African branch of Mines d'Afrique (Minaf), a company that offers diverse specialised services and products on a large scale, opened in George in January and should have a substantial local economic impact.
It has already provided 25 work opportunities and is sourcing local expertise and products as far as possible, says operations director Juan Enslin.
Products
Minaf has its roots in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where it has been operating from for the past 10 years, manufacturing and supplying specialised products to the mining industry in the provinces Haut Katanga and Lualava in the southern region.
Their services to large mining groups on five copper and cobalt mining sites will continue from George.
The company designs, manufactures and supplies custom steel structures and products such as mine air ventilators, electrical equipment, industrial reservoirs holding up to one million litres, pump stations, pipelines and steel building structures, as well as smaller items such as safety signs, protective clothing and even cutlery. It also does earth and civil works.
"We do everything from scratch: Procure the raw steel and fabricate the end product as well as execute the civil and construction work and finishes where needed.
"Sandblasting and specialised coating are also done on the premises," says Enslin.
Quality control
The standard of workmanship and materials is rigid and strict quality control is exercised - from the acquisition of steel, that has to be certified, to each weld that is checked and noted in data books that go out with the finished product.
"It involves stacks and stacks of paperwork. Traceability up to the laboratory where the steel originates from is obligatory when you work in this industry. The welds are subjected to chemical and X-ray testing and everything is documented in a data book for every piece of steel," says Enslin.
Footprint in George
Since January, Minaf's building in Saffier Crescent, Tamsui Industria, is being actively prepared for its first assignment to be executed from here, starting in August. It is a massive undertaking of constructing gigantic warehouse structures of 22 000m² that will require more tan 200 tons of steel. The delivery is being awaited.
Enslin says the steel supplier was somewhat shocked when learning the size of their order. "Once the steel arrives, it will be unlikely that any other manufacturing and supply company in the area is holding the quantity and grade of steel that we do."
They did all the necessary preparations and changes to the building themselves. Their team of 25 consists mostly of artisans.
"We have established a mentorship programme with Africa Skills Village for welders and boilermakers. Currently six of our mentor welders are from there, but eventually we would like to have 14 in the programme to allow as many learner artisans as possible to gain practical experience."
Potential in George
Enslin says the decision to open a South African site was a combination of personal decisions and availability of expertise and opportunities.
"Our managing director fell in love with George during a holiday here. Also, we have had to pay a premium outsourcing certain materials and services that we could only obtain from South Africa.
"We have decided that everything should be done in-house, from fabrication to supply, here in South Africa. George was chosen for its attractiveness as a destination, but it furthermore has the potential of future upgrades in the petrochemical sector in the area with the gas finds off Mossel Bay. By the time that gets off the ground, we will function at a level where we will be able to supply our services in that field."
Wow!
George Business Chamber chairman Dr Willie Cilliers says a new industry on local soil is "wow".
"We need such industries for expansion of the George economy. We are living in very difficult economic conditions. Although there is a big influx of people into the area, we are not seeing real growth.
"Over 50% of new residents are retired and the economic active incomers either take over struggling small businesses or open businesses in existing sectors, dividing the cake even more. An industry such as Minaf can create real growth. It needs, for example, paint, overalls, etc, and such demand has a knock-on effect through the local economy. There is also the added bonus of foreign capital flowing in," says Cilliers.
Staff of Minaf in front of the premises.
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