Partnership to increase infrastructure growth

24th June 2016

Partnership to increase  infrastructure growth

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS The partnership hopes to improve infrastructure projects across Africa
Photo by: Duane Daws

Three international firms consisting of the technology developer General Electric (GE) Africa, multi-industry company Mara Group and financial institution Atlas Merchant Capital have partnered to help address infrastructure challenges in Africa through investments in equity projects such as rail and energy.

The firms will invest in infrastructure projects in a quest to stimulate the continent’s economic potential through infrastructure development.

At a press briefing on the sidelines of the African Development Bank’s yearly meetings in Lusaka, in Zambia, in May, GE Africa president Jay Ireland said that adequate infrastructure remains critical in the economic development and integration of the continent.

GE Africa, which committed $2-billion three years ago in various investment programmes, wants to effectively contribute to addressing infrastructure gaps, said Ireland. The partnership with Mara Group and Atlas Merchant Capital will solidify efforts aimed at improving rail transport, access to power through reliable energy projects, water and sanitation projects.

“We want to dedicate ourselves to developing underdeveloped infrastructure in Africa through equity projects. As you know, the theme for the yearly meetings is all about energy and climate change,” he mentioned, adding that infrastructure is absolutely key for African countries to become middle-income economies.

Mara founder Ashish Thakkar said the partnership would have a positive impact on Africa, which is grappling with infrastructure challenges.

“Investments in power projects, for instance, will have a direct impact on addressing the $50-billion gap in power financing. This will impact positively on all sectors of the economy,” he pointed out.

Partnerships among stakeholders remain critical in meeting the infrastructure needs on the continent, says Thakkar.

In May, Engineering News reported that, in 2015, Transnet spread a R50-billion contract for the procurement of 1 064 new electric and diesel locomotives across four suppliers, including GE South Africa Technologies, China South Rail Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, Bombardier Transportation South Africa and China North Rail Rolling Stock South Africa. The two Chinese companies have since merged.

Business Day has reported that the South African Bureau of Standards has not yet received satisfactory information from some original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to enable it to complete a local content verification of the Transnet programme. In response, Transnet has stressed that the enforcement of local content obligations is a Department of Trade and Industry responsibility.

However, the Rail Road Association (RRA) says it is taking “concrete steps” to ensure that development of the South African engineering and manufacturing industry is prioritised. A special subcommittee of the executive committee, chaired by CEO Siyabonga Gama, has been set up to, among other things, monitor delivery of local content obligations.

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eanwhile, in 2013, Passenger Railway Agency of South Africa (PRASA) awarded a R51-billion contract to the Gibela consortium to supply 600 X’Trapolis Mega commuter trains over ten years.

The first 20 commuter trains are being built at an Alstom facility in Lapa, Brazil, with the balance to be assembled at a R1-billion new facility, which is being developed at a site in Dunnottar near Nigel, in Gauteng.

In addition, both Transnet and PRASA have announced various other railways investments, from maintaining or expanding the network to the purchase of new freight wagons. However, supplier confidence remains depressed and the recent decision by the African Union heads of State to nominate South Africa as the continent’s rail engineering manufacturing hub has not buoyed the sector.

“We are just not getting the results,” says RRA CEO Bongani Mankewu, suggesting a serious “mismatch” between the policy objectives and outcomes on the factory floor. A committee, involving both suppliers and operators, has been established to finalise the terms of reference for a new structure, which will oversee the implementation of localisation across the sector.

Once finalised, an assessment will be done of the localisation progress being made by the various OEMs, whereafter “proactive” interventions will be rolled out to address problem areas.

“We want to be more proactive, because the next step is the payment of penalties, which really won’t help in building the domestic industry,” Mankewu concludes.