By Erick Wessels, Sales Director, RS South Africa (www.Africa.RSdelivers.com).

The mining industry is facing significant challenges, from financial pressures leading to reduced margins and demanding stakeholders adding to procurement costs. Success in such an environment requires partnering with a supplier that is collaborative, flexible, and forward-thinking. RS stands as the ideal partner to help businesses in the mining sector achieve their goals while saving time and money.

Optimising supply management

At RS, we are committed to enhancing your supply management performance to drive commercial success. Our suite of next-generation inventory, procurement, and maintenance solutions is designed to reduce costs and optimise productivity. Leveraging advanced data insights, we help you streamline your supply chain, refine your processes, and identify cost-saving strategies that reduce the total cost of ownership and boost operational efficiency.

Ensuring safety in hazardous environments

Whether open cut or underground, all mining operations present extreme dangers. With stringent Health and Safety regulations in place, the risks associated with dust and other hazards must be meticulously managed. Compliance with IECEx legislation is crucial, necessitating the use of intrinsically safe products. Given the hazardous and arduous nature of the mining industry, safety is of paramount concern. Therefore, reliable PPE and safety equipment specification are critical.

RS offers a rapidly expanding range of PPE and workwear from trusted local and global suppliers, designed specifically for the harsh environments of the mining industry. Our products ensure site safety and security with advanced locks, security alarms and sensors, CCTV, and surveillance systems. In addition, we provide innovative automation and control technology to safely manage and automate processes, including signalling, sensors, and industrial robots.

Advanced energy management

Economic and environmental challenges drive the need for maximum energy efficiency in the mining industry. With carbon net zero on the horizon, energy efficiency has become a crucial topic. Our products, services, and solutions are tailored to help mining clients reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption, thereby lowering overall costs.

We collaborate with you to understand your specific needs and apply a suite of energy-efficient products and services expertly designed to simplify energy management. Our solutions, backed by digital expertise, leverage the latest in energy efficiency technology to minimise energy waste, reduce carbon footprints, and assist you to meet your energy efficiency targets. From LED lighting to energy meters, we provide the right products to achieve your energy efficiency, health and safety, and productivity goals.

Committed to environmental management

Mining, by its very nature, has a significant impact on the environment. The industry is making great strides to mitigate these effects and ensure healthy air, land, and water in the areas where they operate. RS offers a range of products and solutions to help you manage and minimise the environmental impact of your mining operations.

Partnering with RS gives you access to our comprehensive range of solutions designed to support your mission, enhance safety, optimise energy use, and reduce environmental impact. Together, we can navigate the challenges of the mining industry and achieve sustained success.

For more information about RS South Africa’s initiatives and product range, visit their website (http://apo-opa.co/3ZE7ZYV) and follow them on LinkedIn (http://apo-opa.co/3Brll0x) for regular updates on their impactful work.

Mining brochure: https://apo-opa.co/3ZFt6ds
Mining Campaign: https://apo-opa.co/3ZE7ZYV

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of RS South Africa.

PR Contact Person – RS South Africa:
Princess Tlou
Communications&Content Specialist
RS South Africa
Princess.Tlou@rsgroup.com
+27 11 691 9366

Media Contact Person – NGAGE:
Thobile Ndlovu
PR Account Executive
thobile@ngage.co.za
+27 11 867 7763

Further information is available via these links:
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3XVkzSl
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3zvhhvU
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/4dne5QT
RS Africa Exports: http://apo-opa.co/3XUE7q5
RS South Africa: http://apo-opa.co/3XVZ8k3
DesignSpark: http://apo-opa.co/4dsAjkA
RS Group plc: http://apo-opa.co/3ZDW6SX 

RS Group:
RS Group plc is a leading global omni-channel industrial product and service solutions provider to customers who are involved in designing, building and maintaining industrial equipment and operations, safely and sustainably. We stock more than 700,000 industrial and electronic products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a wide range of product and service solutions to over 1.2 million customers. With operations in 31 countries, we trade through multiple channels and ship over 60,000 parcels a day.

We support customers across the product life cycle, whether via innovation and technical support at the design phase, improving time to market and productivity at the build phase, or reducing purchasing costs and optimising inventory in the maintenance phase. We offer our customers tailored product and service propositions that are essential for the successful operation of their businesses and help them save time and money.

RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2022 reported revenue of £2,554 million.

The first phase of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project – situated on the maritime border of Mauritania and Senegal – will begin production by the end of 2024. Ahead of this milestone, Mauritania’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy Mohamed Ould Khaled has joined the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference –  taking place November 4-8 in Cape Town. During the event, Minister Khaled is expected to share insight into the impact the project will have on the Mauritanian economy as well as the wave of investment opportunities emerging across the country’s gas value chain.

The country’s inaugural LNG development, GTA promises new opportunities for job creation and revenue generation. The first phase of the project will produce 2.3 million tons per annum (mtpa) while the second phase will increase production capacity to upwards of 5 mtpa. To date, the first phase is 90% complete, with the FPSO arriving at the project site in June 2024. At AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024, Minister Khaled is anticipated to provide an update on the project.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Phase one of the GTA development represents just one of several planned projects in Mauritania. Given its strategic proximity to high-demand markets in Europe as well as its wealth of offshore resources, the country is quickly gaining traction as an attractive market to invest in. Leveraging this attractiveness, the country is  currently strengthening partnerships with international stakeholders to fast-track project development and unlock the full potential of its oil, gas and renewable energy resources. In June 2024, Mauritania signed an agreement with data and analytics company TGS – now PGS – to acquire subsurface data for oil and gas exploration across onshore and offshore basins. In parallel, oil and gas company Tullow Oil is conducting exploration activities offshore Mauritania under a multi-year agreement.

Additionally, Mauritania announced in May 2024 that it is seeking a new partner to develop the BirAllah gas field, following the expiration of bp’s contract. With an estimated reserve of 60 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, BirAllah represents a significant opportunity for the sustainable growth of Mauritania’s gas industry. Further bolstering its energy portfolio, Mauritania signed an exploration-production contract in April 2024 with Taqa Arabia Co. Gas Consortium to develop the Banda gas field. Slated to kickstart production in 2027, the $1.3 billion project will further cement Mauritania’s position as a major gas producer. Amid these developments, AEW: Invest in African Energy represents an ideal platform for Minister Khaled to engage with global investors and sign strategic cooperation agreements to further advance its hydrocarbons sector.

Meanwhile, in addition to natural gas development and with a target to produce 12.5 million tons of green hydrogen by 2035, Mauritania is making strides in clean energy, enhancing cooperation with global partners and positioning itself as a key investment destination through policy reform. In September 2024, Mauritania approved its Green Hydrogen Bill, paving the way for the exploitation of wind and solar resources and the development of requisite infrastructure to establish the country as a clean energy hub. Among the country’s growing portfolio of green hydrogen projects are the 30 GW Aman project led by CWP and the 10 GW Nour project led by Chariot. Minister Khaled’s participation at AEW: Invest in African Energy will not only help attract fresh investments for Mauritania’s growing green hydrogen energy industry but enable the Minister to provide project updates.

“Mauritania is taking the right approach to developing its energy sector. By prioritizing investment in LNG and promoting both data acquisition and exploration, the country is laying the foundation for accelerate gas development. At the same time, Mauritania is driving projects forward across the green hydrogen sector, recognizing the vital role the resource will play in enhancing energy security,” stated NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Italian multinational oilfield services company Saipem announced it has pre-qualified to carry out EPCC works for Production Platform E – part of the $8-billion Structures A&E Development Project – during the Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Event in Rome on Monday.

Led by Mellitah Oil&Gas – a joint venture between Italian multinational Eni and Libya’s National Oil Company – the Structures A&E project aims to increase gas production to supply the Libyan domestic market and exports to Europe, targeting 750 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcf/d) by 2026. Mellitah Oil&Gas launched the invitation for pre-qualification for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Hook-up, Commissioning and Start-up of Production Platform E earlier this year.

“We are committed to Libyan projects,” said Giorfio Elia, Managing Director – North East Africa&Cyprus for Saipem. “We have pre-qualified for Platform E, which will give Libya one of the biggest production platforms in the Mediterranean. It will be challenging – it’s a more than 60,000-ton platform, with one of the largest jackets in the industry.”

The announcement was made during an oil and gas-focused roundtable at the Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Event, which outlined the country’s current exploration and development prospects. In addition to the Structures A&E Development Project, Eni highlighted several major gas projects under development, including the Bouri Gas Utilization Project – which will recover hydrocarbons from associated gas from two platforms installed on the Bouri field, accompanied by a carbon capture facility – and another 100-mmscf/d gas production project set to come online in 2025.

“We are committed to providing enough gas to Libya to meet domestic needs and continue exporting, while at the same time reducing our carbon footprint,” said Martina Opizzi, Head of North Africa&the Levant Region for Eni, adding that the operator has “already signed some contracts” for all three projects.

In addition to gas monetization, Libya is prioritizing enhanced oil recovery to maximize output from mature oil fields and brownfield assets. As a result, the country is looking to international private sector partners to implement advanced technologies and carry out upgrades and maintenance works to boost recovery rates and stabilize production. 

“Short turn-around-time assets are a major opportunity for companies like ourselves,” said Ibraheim Mejerissi, Managing Director of Wazen Oil Services. “There is a huge potential [in maintenance works] in Libya, whether you’re a trader wanting to provide products, or a service or engineering company.”

Looking ahead, challenges in fiscal, political and contractual stability remain for Libya, which continues to face long project lead times that impede foreign investment and the timely completion of ongoing projects. Italian engineering and general contracting firm RENCO, for instance, was awarded a contract for the 36 MW Sarir Power Plant in 2013, yet only commissioned the plant in June this year owing to geopolitical uncertainty and delays in payments.

“We need to start projects with bonds, credit letters and tools from the financial point of view that provide support and create certainty from the banking system,” said Alessandro Galli, Industrial Plants Division Director for RENCO.

“We need to find a way with our operators to ensure projects are secured and can enter into operation,” added Nicola Ghirelli, Energy Maintenance&Production Services Director at Bonatti, which is currently nearing completion of EPC works for Nafusah Oil Operation at a project in western Libya.

The Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Event served to launch the third edition of the Energy Capital&Power-sponsored Libya Energy&Economic Summit taking place in Tripoli next year, as well as to celebrate the Libyan-Italian connection in the upstream space and forge new pathways to cooperation and partnership in the energy sector. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.