GIPC Confirms SCAW METALS $40m Investment In Ghana

The Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mrs Mawuena Trebarh and Chairman of the Guma Group, Mr. Robert Gumede, on Tuesday, heralded the cooperation between Ghana and South Africa as they confirmed significant investments by the Scaw Metals Group in a US$40m plant at Tema. A statement issued confirmed that the Principal Owner of South African steel products manufacturer, Scaw Metals Group, will construct a new grinding media plant in Tema, Ghana. This new plant seeks to significantly increase the company�s grinding media capacity on the African continent. This move valued at more than $40m USD is done in partnership with a consortium comprising of Guma, a South African player as well as the Jospong Group of Companies, based in Ghana. A copy of the statement made available to Peacefmonline.com, indicates that the plant, with an annual capacity of 50,000 metric tons, should become operational soon, and will offer significant job opportunities in the local community. The Scaw Metals Group is the largest producer of cast high chrome grinding media in the southern hemisphere and is the leading producer and supplier of high chrome and forged grinding balls primarily to the African platinum, copper and gold mining industries. �We are delighted that we will be opening a plant in Ghana and this is outbound investment for a South African entity. The Ghanaian government has made a great push for the local construction industry to stimulate economic growth and provide job creation,� says Markus Hannemann, Chief Executive of the Scaw Metals Group. The Scaw Metals Group already has a presence in Ghana. The company�s Ghanaian operation was registered in 2011 as a regional sales office to service the West African Region. With offices in Tema, Scaw Ghana functions as a local point of contact for all of the Scaw Metals Group�s products manufactured in South Africa that may be in demand in the region. �From our experience in Ghana thus far, we are certain that we will be able to fully utilise the vast potential in the region. The skills development we will be providing for the employees of the plant will make sure that our plant will have world-class standards and have a significant knock-on effect in the local community,� says Hannemann. The consortium which holds 30 percent of the entity will be given first preference to supply products and services during construction and thereafter. �We are looking forward to the partnership with the Scaw Metals Group and supplying the region will grow the business further. We will also look for other steel benefication opportunities in Ghana�, says, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Chairman, Jospong Group of companies. Guma Group is a Pan-African, black owned multi-disciplinary investment company with operations globally and across the African continent, employing over 12,000 staff members and focussing in energy power generation, ICT, infrastructure development, tourism, property real estate and shopping centre development. "This investment is a combination of a South African (Robert Gumede) and Ghanaian (Joseph Agyepong) entrepreneur joining forces with a South African steel giant, Scaw. It is important, that whilst government to government relationships under the leadership of our two Presidents Zuma and Mahama has created a favourable trade environment, business to business relationships need to be enhanced, creating the much needed jobs and trade in the region", says Robert Gumede, Chairman of the Guma Group. The consortium will bring additional investment to Ghana by increasing the steel product range, through a company which will produce other steel related products including Rolled Products (long steel products, reinforcing bars, low and high-carbon wired rods, reinforcing coil, etc. The Scaw Metals Group is the leading producer of forged grinding media in Africa. Demand for forged grinding media comes predominantly from the gold and copper industries. The forged plant operates three production lines and sources input bar stock directly from Scaw Rolled Products.