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Fertiliser News

Dangote Nigeria starts test run $2bn fertiliser plant

By: Bloomberg 28th February 2020 Nigeria’s Dangote Group started a test run of a $2-billion fertiliser plant that will make Africa’s most populous country meet all its domestic demand. This followed the completion of critical sections of the plant, including the central control room, the ammonia and urea bulk storage area and... →

South Africa has huge 'green fuels' potential. But it needs to act now

10th January 2020 In this opinion piece, first published in The Conversation, professors David Walwyn and Rod Crompton make the case for South Africa to pay greater research and development attention to the production of green hydrogen using a combination of wind and solar power and electrolysers. In addition,... →

Uganda's Grainpulse set for expansion with IFC support

5th December 2019 The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) will extend an $11-million loan to Ugandan agribusiness company Grainpulse to support its expansion and strengthen its farmer supply chain, increasing food production and economic growth in... →

Omnia seeks to reset course as it emerges from financial distress

By: Terence Creamer 11th October 2019 JSE-listed Omnia, best known for the production of fertilisers, explosives and specialty chemicals, expects a strategic review of the business to be completed during the first quarter of 2020. The outcome of the review could result in the sale of certain product lines or units, as well as the... →

Omnia CEO Seelan Gobalsamy

Foskor board to finalise sustainability plan within six months

By: Terence Creamer 13th August 2019 Foskor chairperson Bobby Godsell reported on Tuesday that the company’s board was conducting a comprehensive review of the group’s underperforming operations with the aim of developing a sustainability plan within the coming six months. Foskor, which mines phosphate rock and magnetite in Limpopo... →

Foskor chairperson Bobby Godsell and IDC CEO TP Nchocho on prospects for turning around the company. Camera Work & Editing: Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 13.7.2019

Promising research progress on agrimats

By: Darren Parker 9th August 2019 Research is under way on new technology that aims to convert algae and any other biomass waste, such as bagasse, into organic fertiliser mats, or agrimats, Agricultural Research Council (ARC) senior researcher Dr Khumbulani Dhavu tells Engineering News. The agrimats are manufactured by pressing... →

MULCH PROGRESS BEING MADE The agrimats research project is testing the viability of sustainable organic mulch mat production for commercial use

Omnia to restructure as it seeks to reduce overextended balance sheet

By: Schalk Burger 25th June 2019 Diversified chemicals group Omnia will, over the next two years, focus on improving the profit margins of its companies’ services and products, ensuring that its assets and investments deliver value, as well as on pursuing international expansion of intellectual property-based businesses that... →

Biggest Nampo yet boasts 775 stands

By: Halima Frost 10th May 2019 The southern hemisphere’s largest agriculture expo, the Grain SA Nampo Harvest Day, will feature a record-breaking 775 stands, and organiser Grain SA says that all of the stands have now been sold out. The event caters to the South African and Southern Africa farming community and will be held... →

HIGH EXPECTATIONS An aerial view of the continent’s largest agriculture show being held in May

Ma’aden to acquire Phatisa’s controlling shareholding in Meridian Group

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd April 2019 Private equity fund manager Phatisa has reached an agreement with mining and metals company Ma’aden on the sale of its controlling shareholding in Meridian Group. Meridian is a prominent African agricultural inputs business, which distributes about 500 000 t/y of fertiliser across Malawi,... →

Egypt seeking to increase trade and investment ties with South Africa

By: Rebecca Campbell 29th March 2019 Egyptian Ambassador to South Africa Sherif Eissa has called for more bilateral trade and investment between his country, as well as closer political cooperation. He was addressing the recent South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) and Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) Trade... →

The BioCycle aims to turn human waste into lubricants, biodiesel

By: Irma Venter 18th March 2019 The BioCycle plans to have completed the design of its first South African commercial scale facility by the end of 2020, to be followed by a global rollout of the technology, says MultiCycle director Marc Lewis. The BioCycle aims to develop commercially viable and scalable processes for the... →

Egyptian business giving great importance to South Africa

By: Rebecca Campbell 15th March 2019 The Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) was in full support of the policy of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to strengthen the country’s relations with the rest of Africa. “As a business community, we will endorse our Government’s role in Africa,” affirmed FEI African Cooperation... →

Photo by Egyptian Petrochemical Company
An Egyptian petrochemical plant

Packaging company drives waste-free economy

By: Halima Frost 1st March 2019 The idea of a circular economy is now starting to pique interest in the packaging industry, although the mechanism of biodegradability has been operational for hundreds of millions of years, says GREEN HOME Food Packaging MD and owner Catherine Morris. The concept highlights the way in which the... →

CATHERINE MORRIS A waste-free world is a possibility for the future

First institutional anaerobic digester launched at NPO’s Johannesburg premises

By: Simone Liedtke 28th November 2018 To promote renewable energy as a cost-effective technology in a world facing the impact of climate change and global warming, the University of South Africa, diversified miner Exxaro Resources and the South African National Energy Development Institution on Wednesday launched its first... →

Photo by Simone Liedtke
The University of South Africa, Exxaro Resources and the South African National Energy Development Institution on Wednesday launched its first institutional anaerobic digester at nonprofit organisation EARTH Centre’s premises, in Johannesburg

Omnia sees R695m nitrophosphate investment as fertiliser ‘game changer’

By: Terence Creamer 27th November 2018 Diversified chemicals group Omnia says its innovative nitrophosphate plant under construction in Sasolburg will materially improve the company’s overall competitiveness in the production of fertilisers, despite an upward revision to the project’s capital cost. Omnia reported on Tuesday that the... →

Omnia's nitrophosphate plant under construction

UCT growing bricks of any shape from urine

By: Schalk Burger 23rd November 2018 The University of Cape Town (UCT) Civil Engineering Department has developed a process to grow bricks that can be any shape using sand, bacteria and human urine. The bricks are made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) – the same substance as limestone, coral reefs, egg- and seashells – and sand cemented... →

GROWING BRICKS Sand, bacteria, fertiliser and urine produce calcium carbonate bricks in any shape

Prototype soil sampling device being tested for use in agriculture

By: Schalk Burger 26th October 2018 A cost-effective, handheld soil and water chemical testing device for use in agriculture is being developed and tested by information technology research subsidiary IBM Research, says IBM Research Brazil Industrial Technology & Science manager Dr Mathias Steiner. The AgroPad is a business... →

AGROPAD SCAN Farmers can gain meaningful information to optimise conditions to grow a specific crop

Angola, IFC court South African investors

By: Nadine James 21st September 2018 World Bank Group executive director for Angola, Nigeria and South Africa Bongiwe Kunene says a roundtable event taking place on September 24, will enable South African businesses and investors to explore the growth opportunities in Angola created as a result of the 2017 election of that country’s... →

ARC Fund to act as ‘anchor investor’ in London listing of South African phosphate mine

By: Terence Creamer 13th September 2018 African Rainbow Capital Investments (ARC) has announced that its ARC Fund will participate as the ‘anchor investor’ in the upcoming London listing of the Elandsfontein phosphate mine, which is located on South Africa’s West Coast. ARC Investments, which released its maiden set of result on... →

Elandsfontein phosphate mine

EAIF backs billion-dollar Nigeria fertiliser plant

By: Anine Kilian 22nd August 2018 The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) on Wednesday announced the financial close of its 11-year $35-million loan to Indorama Eleme Fertiliser & Chemicals (IEFCL). The transaction is part of the financing of a $1.1-billion expansion of IEFCL’s existing fertiliser plant at Port Harcourt,... →

Tribunal approves Zaad, Hygrotech merger

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th August 2018 The Competition Tribunal has approved the merger of Zaad Holdings and Hygrotech Properties, which are both involved in the breeding, producing, processing and distribution of agricultural seeds. Zaad, which will be the controlling company, specialises in forage seeds, and is also involved in... →

Irrigation system reduces water use in orchards by 70%

By: Erin Steenhoff-Snethlage 10th August 2018 Louirrigate’s micro drip irrigation system, Tree Hog, can reduce farmers’ water use by up to 70% in orchards, and save up to 70% of energy costs, claims Tree Hog designer and Louirrigate owner Louis Loubser, who is a wine and fruit farmer in Robertson, Western Cape. The Tree Hog system is... →

WATER CONSERVATION The Tree Hog can reduce water consumption by up to 70%

W Cape focusing on creating certainty in agriculture sector

By: Erin Steenhoff-Snethlage 10th August 2018 The Western Cape provincial government is focusing on creating certainty for the agriculture industry by trying to ensure that farmers can continue farming and save jobs by requesting an increase in the water allocation to the industry from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), says... →

CERTAINTY NEEDED Farmers are positive about recent rains in the Western Cape, but more rain is needed to sustain recovery efforts

Company to expand channel blowers range

By: Halima Frost 13th July 2018 Sandton-based side-channel blower supplier CR Elec plans to expand on its offerings, which will complement its existing Sirocco brand. A side-channel blower can generate significantly higher pressures than industrial fans, and is also known as a vacuum pump or vacuum compressor. The side-channel... →

BLOWING AWAY COMPETITION Side-channel blowers across the range will maximise offerings

Emission abatement technology could drive industrialisation – EPCM Global

By: Nadine James 20th June 2018 South African firm EPCM Global Engineering has partnered with Luxembourg-based Carbon Process & Plant Engineering (CPPE) to bring its emissions abatement technology to Africa, in a move that could spur industrialisation, says EPCM Global CEO Tumi Kgomo. He explains that the technology, which was... →

Bayer to sell South African cotton seed business as part of Monsanto merger conditions

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th May 2018 The Competition Tribunal on Friday approved a merger between German multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer and US multinational agrochemical corporation Monsanto on the condition that the merged entity sell the Bayer South African cotton seed business. →

UCT civil engineering graduate wins national award for waterless urinal study

By: Schalk Burger 22nd February 2018 University of Cape Town (UCT) civil engineering graduate Tinashe Chipako won the 2018 South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) National Investigative Project Showdown for his research project on the feasibility of implementing waterless urinals on UCT’s upper campus. The Western... →

Ian Harebottle appointed Kropz CEO

By: Anine Kilian 15th January 2018 South Africa-based plant nutrient company and miner of fertiliser feed materials Kropz has appointed Ian Harebottle as group CEO. Harebottle, who stepped down as CEO of Aim-listed Gemfields in July last year, will join Kropz on March 28, once his contract with the diamond miner has ended. “I am... →

Ian Harebottle

Omnia files contempt of court case at Foskor over contentious phosphoric acid pricing

By: Donna Slater 8th December 2017 Diversified chemicals producer Omnia has filed a contempt of court case against phosphates and phosphoric acid producer Foskor over the alleged breaching of a court order by the Competition Tribunal →

Municipalities to reduce emissions by diverting waste

By: Simone Liedtke 1st December 2017 Consulting engineering company JG Afrika and international specialist waste consultancy RWA have developed a strategy to help South African municipalities reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by diverting biodegradable waste from their landfills. →

WASTE-DIVERSION STRATEGY The strategy entails waste disposal and the beneficial use for business development

Omnia FY17 results pinched by tough economy

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 27th June 2017 Chemicals producer Omnia on Tuesday reported a drop in headline earnings a share to 881c for the year ended March 31, from 944c in the prior financial year, owing to a tough economic environment. This resulted in an 8% drop in its profit before tax, to R856-million. →

Photo by Duane Daws
Omnia chairperson Rod Humphris

HFO plant’s commissioning process under way

By: Nadine James 14th April 2017 Specialised oil and gas equipment supplier Energas Technologies started the commissioning process last month for the heavy fuel oil (HFO) storage facility it specifically designed for multidisciplinary engineering firm DRA Global. Energas’s scope for the project included the fabrication,... →

HIGH FUEL OIL FACILITY he contract for the HFO storage facility design was was awarded to Energas in June 2016

Pumps range optimal for conveying acidic substances

By: Nadine James 10th March 2017 Pumps supplier Verder South Africa notes that its range of centrifugal mag drive pumps, VERDERMAG, operates “exceptionally well” when conveying abrasive and corrosive substances, making it ideal for the chemicals and petrochemicals industries. “One of the many applications Verder specialises in... →

VERDERMAG The cast iron pump casing is bonded with ethylene tetrafluoroethylene lining that has a minimum thickness of 3 mm

SA fly-farm venture secures funding for global expansion

By: Irma Venter 12th January 2017 Cape Town-based waste-to-protein producer AgriProtein says it has secured $17.5-million of further capital from its key strategic partners to fund the company’s expansion into Europe, North America and Asia. The new investment values the fly-farming venture at more than $117-million. The new... →

The Black Soldier fly

Omnia H1 profit down 11% y/y amid drought, plant breakdown

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 29th November 2016 South African chemicals producer Omnia on Tuesday reported that negative impacts on its agriculture division, including the drought and a breakdown at its Nitric Acid 2 complex, have seen its gross profit decrease by 11% year-on-year to R1.5-billion for the six months to September 30. The... →

Fishing companies and NGOs call for moratorium on bulk sediment seabed mining

By: Kim Cloete 13th October 2016 The Responsible Fisheries Alliance (RFA), which comprises five major fishing companies and two nongovernmental organisations, is calling for a moratorium on all new and existing prospecting and mining applications related to bulk sediment seabed mining. This follows the release of a new report... →

Agriculture entrepreneurs innovate to take awards

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 1st September 2016 Innovation in the local agriculture sector was highlighted at this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, with pelleting solutions provider Agricon owner Johan Eksteen named the overall winner. Pelletising is used globally by manufacturers of animal feed or at recycling facilities that... →

Agricon owner Johan Eksteen

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