WATER treatment multinational, Veolia Water Technologies, recently opened a chemical blending facility in Johannesburg, a move it described as a key milestone along the road to its expansion into Africa.
The facility employs 40 people and, according to the company, “will produce water treatment chemicals to answer the demand for quality water treatment from both municipalities and industrials throughout the African continent”.
“This state-of-the-art plant has a maximum output capacity of 15,000 tons of water treatment chemicals per year and implements best-in-class practices: it recycles 100% of its wastewater and reduces the consumption of potable water through the recycling of wash water,” the company said in a statement.
It added that it is widening its market reach and is now distributing its products “all over Africa, including in remote locations or in harsh climates”.
Recent installations include a three-part project for Shanta Gold at its New Luika Gold Mine located in the Lupa Goldfield, south west Tanzania, where Veolia Water Technologies has supplied a River Water Treatment Package Plant, a Borehole Water Treatment Plant and a Sewage Treatment Plant. The company also supplied two packaged water treatment plants to Bambisana Hospital in remote Eastern Cape, South Africa, to provide potable water to the hospital as well as to treat its sewage water for reuse.
South African company Ceracure is now a stakeholder in Veolia Water Technologies’ South-African subsidiary. Veolia said this key partner would bring its expertise in the field of control and electrical instrumentation. “In the same spirit, an ambitious partnership has been established with Moroccan company Afric Chimie for the distribution of Veolia’s chemical products in Morocco.”
Patrick Couzinet, CEO Veolia Water Technologies Africa, said: “In 30 years, one citizen out of four on the planet will be African. The challenges the continent is facing are considerable, but solutions and services already exist to answer to legitimate human needs such as access to clean water, waste and pollution treatment or energy access.
“We wish to provide our expertise and know-how on environmental solutions to those who need it the most and we will remain committed to the African population and sustainable development of the continent as a whole”.