Diversified engineering company Metso Minerals has described Africa as a continent that holds vast expansion potential and as a key market for the com
pany in the future.

At a recent media day hosted by the company, it was revealed that Metso had recorded net sales of €6,4-million in 2008, 48% of which came from emerging markets, such as Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

This is an increase of about 15% on sales generated from emerging markets in 2004.

It was also reported at the media day that the company had supplied over half of the world’s grinding mills and about 30% of the world’s crushers.

Metso Minerals African mining capital equipment GM Roy Hazell reports that the company hopes to take advantage of the potential that Africa offers through working closely 
with mining and project houses.

“Metso has always targeted growth areas by working in close association with the mining and project houses that are active in those areas. 
“There is a lot of activity in Africa from Australian and Canadian mining houses that will be serviced by the Metso office in those areas. 
“However, most of the work done in Africa is driven by mining houses based in South Africa, which will be serviced by the South African office,” says Hazell.

The company has an extensive footprint in Africa; it has clients in over 53 countries that stretch as far north as Mali. 
The local operation has a flagship 29 860-m2 
production facility in Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg.

Hazell reports that the company sees a lot of potential in African markets, where there are volatile levels of political stability.

“There has been much interest shown in Namibia and the uranium resources that the country has to offer. There is also a lot of 
potential in countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, Mali and Burkina Faso, which have interesting gold reserves,” says Hazell.

Looking at the continent and its contribution to Metso’s profit generated from global markets, Hazell comments that the South African office is in a unique situation, being well positioned.

“Most of the profit generated in Africa comes from mining operations, while the rest comes from construction. 
“This is reversed in developed countries, such the US and Europe, where there is a strong focus on construction. And unlike areas such as the US, the profit from Metso’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region will be diversified,” says Hazel. He adds that the com-
pany has indicated that it would like 85% of the profit generated in this region to come from mining-related activities.