The German consulting and engineering company DMT has reached an agreement to acquire a majority holding in the South African based
Kai Batla Minerals Industry Consultants (Kai Batla).

The acquisition supports DMT’s global growth strategy in the natural resources and infrastructure sectors. It will be completed in early March, after which Kai Batla will become part of DMT’s International Mining Consulting (IMC) Division and will bear the name DMT Kai Batla Pty Ltd. Heinz-Gerd Koerner, Managing Director of the DMT Group, says “I am very pleased to welcome DMT Kai Batla as a new member of DMT Group. I am sure that this will open up opportunities for business development that will be beneficial for all involved.” DMT Kai Batla Pty Ltd will be integrated into the Group and lead the expansion of DMT’s services in Africa.

Avinash Bisnath and Sodhie Naicker will continue as Managing Director and Technical Director respectively. The Board will be joined by Bernd Teigler from Germany, Chris Wells from the UK and TN Gunaseelan from India. Avinash Bisnath says “This merger is going to transform the landscape of the consulting industry in South Africa by introducing specialist skills typically not found in South Africa, especially in the Oil and Gas industry. DMT Kai Batla will reinforce its presence and provide new services to its existing and new clients.”

Background information:
The DMT Group, headquartered in Essen, Germany, currently has around 1000 professional staff operating all over the world. Its activities focus on the fields of exploration, engineering, consulting and geo-technics in the core markets mining, oil & gas, civil engineering & infrastructure and plant engineering. DMT’s IMC Division is a leading international mining consultancy specialist with more than 65 years’ experience. It provides professional mining expertise to companies, government bodies and investors globally and offers services covering the entire life cycle of a mine. This extends from early stage exploration, resource and reserve evaluation through feasibility, financing, permitting, construction, operation, expansion and finally to closure and rehabilitation. It also specialises in providing independent technical
assessments, including due diligence, Competent and Qualified Person reporting, and valuations for: project financing, IPO, stock exchange listings and M&A, as well as project management and construction supervision.

Kai Batla is renowned for a range of services to the mineral industry, particularly geological mapping and related exploration services, mineral resource and reserve.