Electrical safety is non-negotiable in the urbanisation of West Africa, writes Ajibola Akindele MFR, country president, Schneider Electric West Africa

West Africa’s urban economies are experiencing noteworthy growth. From new residential estates to modern hospitals and hotels, construction activity is reaching impressive levels. Cities such as Lagos, Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire’s Abidjan are expanding in both height and sheer footprint, driven by rising demand for housing, healthcare infrastructure, and commercial spaces.

However, there is also fundamental hurdle to cross, how does the industry ensure safety keeps pace with development. In some cases, infrastructure needs outstrip regulatory enforcement, and cost or time pressures may lead to shortcuts in installation practices.

And unfortunately, the results can be catastrophic: buildings that appear state-of-the-art conceal electrical vulnerabilities that pose risks to people, equipment, and long-term investment.

Imagine a luxury hotel undergoes renovations to add more rooms and conference facilities. Instead of using certified surge protection devices and arc fault detection systems, the cheaper, substandard alternatives are installed.

Within months, a power surge damages critical equipment and causes a small electrical fire in a utility room. And whilst no one is hurt, the hotel suffers reputational damage, financial losses, and unexpected downtime.

The real risks

Today, electrical safety isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes, it’s about protecting people, equipment and infrastructure.

According to the US’ National Fire Protection Association National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) home electrical systems are responsible for over 46,000 fires and nearly 400 deaths annually. In fast-growing markets like West Africa, where infrastructure expansion often outpaces enforcement, the risks can be even more prevalent.

Therefore, when taking a closer look at the electrical safety hazards, it poses the following, very real risks:

Fire hazards: faulty installations or overloaded circuits can spark devastating fires.

Equipment damage: overvoltage and surges can destroy expensive equipment.

Human risk: electrical shock remains one of the most serious hazards, with outcomes ranging from injury to fatality.

Electrical safety is the core of innovation

At Schneider Electric, safety is not an optional feature, it forms the very foundation of our business. We work hand-in-hand with builders, contractors, and electricians across Africa to ensure buildings are powered safely and sustainably from day one.

Our portfolio of electrical protection products is designed to meet the ‘three golden rules’ of safety:

Protection of people: residual current circuit breakers (RCCB prevent electrocution.

Protection of equipment: surge protection devices (SPD) guard against costly voltage spikes.

Protection against fire: arc fault detection devices (AFDD) reduce the risk of electrical fires caused by hidden faults.

Here, ranges like our Easy9, Resi9, and Acti9 Active modular range of circuit protection and distribution systems provide all-in-one protection that is accessible, reliable, and trusted by professionals worldwide.

Building trust through awareness

There is still a lack of awareness regarding the various electrical hazards and their resultant solutions. It is here that education is vital in building a marketplace that is safe and informed.

At Schneider Electric we are not only protecting equipment and property but safeguarding the humans that occupy it.

We are addressing this gap by: partnering with homebuilders and contractors to ensure they have access to quality products and training; educating electricians and consumers on the importance of certified electrical safety solutions; and supporting compliance with international and national standards, ensuring that West Africa’s rapid growth is also safe and sustainable.

In the end, developers, contractors, and governments in West Africa must work together to raise safety standards, and manufacturers like Schneider Electric are ready to provide the expertise and products to make that possible.

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Liebherr, in association with African Review and Technical Review Middle East, has launched a new report on Technological Progress in High-Risk Sectors Across Africa and the Middle East

The report examines the dynamic transformation of sectors such as mining, construction, energy, and logistics, which are evolving rapidly to meet rising demands for productivity, operational efficiency, and resilient infrastructure in increasingly complex environments.

Across Africa and the Middle East, businesses face challenges including remote project locations, extreme climates, underdeveloped infrastructure, and fluctuating regulatory and geopolitical conditions. Liebherr’s report highlights how its high-performance machinery, from earthmoving and material handling equipment to mobile and crawler cranes, mining trucks, and deep foundation solutions, is designed to operate reliably and efficiently even in the toughest conditions. The company’s focus on safety, energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and predictive maintenance ensures that clients can optimise performance while reducing operational risks.

Download this exclusive industry report:

• Gain insights into the latest construction, mining, logistics, and infrastructure developments across Africa and the Middle East, and the trends shaping these high-risk sectors.

• Access real-world case studies showing how Liebherr’s engineering excellence drives productivity and efficiency in challenging environments, from urban construction sites to remote mining operations.

• Discover initiatives for workforce development and local capacity building, with training programmes and regional service centres enabling technical self-sufficiency across Africa.

• Learn how advanced technologies such as telematics, autonomous systems, and intelligent fleet management improve operational visibility and decision-making.

• Understand sustainability strategies, including fuel-efficient engines, partial electrification, and eco-driving initiatives, helping clients reduce emissions and meet environmental standards.

• Explore partnership models that enable long-term industrial growth, strengthen supply chains, and foster innovation in both African and Middle Eastern markets.

This report provides valuable guidance for industry leaders, offering practical insights into navigating high-risk sectors with the right tools, technology, and expertise.

Don't miss out! Download the report here.

Huawei unveiled its SMART Logistics & Warehousing Solution, which integrates leading digital and intelligent technologies to enhance service quality, reduce costs, and increase efficiency across logistics and supply chain operations

HUAWEI CONNECT 2025 recently hosted a transportation summit titled "Creating a Digital & Intelligent Foundation for Comprehensive Transportation and Logistics," bringing together global leaders, key customers, and partners from the transportation and logistics sectors. The event served as a platform to discuss emerging trends in intelligent transformation and exchange innovative practices.

Rapid digitalisation, intelligentisation, and decarbonisation are reshaping transportation, supply chains, and logistics worldwide. Advanced technologies are improving the efficiency and security of critical infrastructure, including ports, airports, railways, and road networks. Multimodal transport and cross-industry integration are also driving substantial growth in the sector.

Delivering the opening address, Ma Yue, vice-president of Huawei and CEO of Huawei's Smart Transportation BU, highlighted Huawei’s commitment to technological innovation. “As a leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei remains committed to technological innovation. By fitting the right technologies to increasingly diversified scenarios, the company helps optimise the flow of passengers, freight, businesses, revenue, and information, laying a robust foundation for industry transformation.” He emphasised the importance of open collaboration in addressing the complexities of upgrading transportation systems and noted Huawei’s work with global partners in supporting over 100 ports, more than 200 logistics enterprises, and Intelligent Transportation Systems across 70 cities. 

Guo Shuangqing, assistant chief marketing officer of SF Technology, shared that his company has developed an air logistics digital twin platform based at China’s first cargo airport. “This platform allows for TB-level data processing with millisecond-fast response time. It fosters smooth collaboration among millions of elements and has successfully managed a cargo throughput of 1.9 million metric tons without any switching errors. SF Technology and Huawei will maximise respective strengths to expand capabilities in coordinating multiple airports, thus leading to a substantial efficiency increase across the entire air logistics sector.”

Dr Rachad Nassar, Huawei's global business & strategic partners director, added, “Huawei is enabling a smarter, safer, and more efficient future for transportation and logistics. With its comprehensive ICT intelligent foundation and its innovative technologies, such as intelligent sensing, broadband connectivity, cloud-based digital platforms, and AI, Huawei is turning concepts like Mobility as a Service and Logistics as a Service into reality—unlocking the full potential of digital intelligence.”

Qiu Shikui, vice-president of Huawei's smart logistics and warehousing BU, explained, “The logistics industry is currently grappling with key challenges such as high OPEX, low efficiency, complex data coordination, and underutilised AI. To address these common needs, Huawei, alongside its customers and partners, has launched the innovative SMART Logistics & Warehousing Solution. Built on the '1+N' architecture, it combines a smart operations cloud with intelligent coordination across logistics parks and yards to provide end-to-end digital and intelligent services. It focuses on platform-based services, digitalized operations management, intelligent allocation, automated relocation, and unattended transportation, enabling secure data collaboration, AI-based planning, and automated logistics yard operations.”

To date, Huawei has supported a massive infrastructure network worldwide, including over 100 ports, more than 200 logistics and warehousing enterprises, 300 urban rail lines in 70+ cities, over 180,000 km of railways, road networks exceeding 200,000 km, over 300 urban transportation cities, and more than 210 airlines and air traffic management bureaus. Huawei continues to collaborate with customers and partners to advance the logistics and supply chain sector globally.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Algeria’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Micro-Enterprises have agreed to deepen cooperation to accelerate the growth of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa

The announcement came at the close of the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), hosted in Algiers from 4 to 10 September. Leading the Bank’s delegation, Ousmane Fall, Acting Director of the Industrial and Trade Development Department, highlighted the AfDB’s central role in unlocking finance for African businesses. “Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and startups is one of the key pillars of our work, as defined in the Four Cardinal Points of the Bank group’s new president, Dr Sidi Ould Tah,” said Fall. He added, “The Bank will support SMEs through an innovative approach that combines new financing instruments, advisory services, and policy reforms to promote their emergence across the continent.”

Strengthening private sector engagement

Ahead of discussions with Minister Noureddine Ouadah, the Bank delegation met with Algeria Venture, the state-backed startup accelerator. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation, particularly by linking Algerian startup funding mechanisms with leading private equity and venture capital funds. They also confirmed plans to jointly take part in the African Startup Conference, scheduled in Algiers from 6 to 9 December 2025, which aims to promote innovation, strengthen networks, and attract investment on a continental scale.

Closing IATF 2025, Minister Ouadah announced the launch of a new investment fund for African startups, an initiative championed by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, underlining Algeria’s commitment to prioritising youth and innovation in shaping Africa’s economic future.

The AfDB’s Non-Sovereign Operations team also presented financing solutions for the private sector while pursuing new strategic collaborations. Engagements with firms such as Solewant Group, a Nigerian steel and coatings leader, illustrated the Bank’s interest in high-impact African companies.

Showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship

The AfDB further contributed to several IATF sessions, including one organised with UNDP’s Timbuktoo initiative and the African Union on “Building an Enabling Startup Ecosystem,” as well as a discussion hosted by Afreximbank’s African Research and Innovation Centre. These platforms enabled the Bank to highlight its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab and its flagship ENNOVA programme, which helps entrepreneurs expand their operations and access new opportunities.

The IATF Advisory Council, in which the Bank is an active participant, announced that Lagos, Nigeria, will host the fifth edition of the fair in 2027. Reaffirming its commitment, the AfDB stressed that trade, entrepreneurship, and innovation remain central to driving inclusive growth and industrial transformation across the continent.

FLS has completed a significant upgrade to its polyurethane manufacturing facility in Delmas, Mpumalanga, positioning the site as a key global hub for the production of its advanced NexGen wear-resistant material

This development forms part of a wider modernisation programme by FLS, aimed at strengthening supply chains, increasing manufacturing efficiency and enhancing
sustainability across its global footprint.

Brad Shepherd, director service line - screen and feeder consumables at FLS, said the investment at Delmas aligns with the company’s global strategy to standardise and optimise production processes.

“This is a milestone for us,” commented Shepherd. “We are integrating cutting edge technology and modern manufacturing methodologies across all our polyurethane plants, and Delmas is leading the way. The upgrade enables us to respond more quickly and reliably to customer needs across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.”

The centrepiece of the upgrade is the introduction of purpose-built infrastructure to produce NexGen screen media - a polyurethane material developed by FLS to deliver extended wear life, reduced maintenance and improved operational efficiency. In on-site trials, screen panels made from NexGen have demonstrated up to three times the wear life of conventional rubber and polyurethane products, making it a gamechanger for industries that rely on high performance screening solutions.

Warren Walker, head of global manufacturing - polyurethane operations at FLS, explained that Delmas is the first of the company’s five global polyurethane plants to complete this transition. “We have installed new, latest generation polyurethane machines, precision tooling and dedicated preheating ovens for inserts,” he said. “This allows us to significantly increase our output while ensuring consistent quality.”

The facility now includes two trommel screen media stations and three screen media stations, each tailored to produce NexGen products. One of the standout technologies introduced is a programmable auto- calibrating polyurethane machine capable of adjusting material hardness to suit
specific applications.

“The flexibility to produce varying hardness levels is critical,” Walker noted. “It means we can tailor our screen media precisely to the customer’s application, ensuring optimum performance and longevity.”

To complement this, a high capacity polyurethane machine capable of pouring up to 42 kg per minute is in operation at the facility. This system is particularly suited to applications requiring large volume pours, such as flotation spare parts and vertical mill components.

The Delmas facility already benefited from a significant upgrade in 2019, when a state-of-the-art six-axis machining centre was introduced for tooling precision, along with robotic welding systems for manufacturing screen media panel inserts and a CNC controlled spiral welding machine to produce wedge wire products. The latest round of investments builds on this foundation and brings the facility to the forefront of global polyurethane production capability.

Energy efficiency was a key consideration in the new layout and equipment design. “We have incorporated smart energy saving features like individual temperature control on each casting table station,” Walker remarked. “This avoids the need to heat large surface areas unnecessarily and contributes to our carbon reduction goals.”

Further supporting these goals is the installation of 300 kW of solar generation capacity at the Delmas site, completed in 2024. Plans are already in place to expand this by another 500 kW in 2026, along with the integration of a battery energy storage system (BESS), enabling greater energy independence and resilience.

FLS’s offering from Delmas extends beyond screen media manufacturing. The facility is equipped to handle the complete fabrication of vibrating screens, from raw material processing and in-house machining to assembly and factory acceptance testing. This vertical integration allows the company to deliver customised solutions with tighter control over quality and lead times.

Shepherd emphasises that FLS operates both as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a screen media specialist, supplying screen panels for all types and brands of vibrating screens, feeders and trommel screens.

“We don’t just supply products,” he said. “We work closely with our customers through our network of on-the-ground specialists to assess site conditions and select the best screening media for their specific needs.”

He notes that many older processing plants are treating materials that differ from their original design specifications. In these cases, screen efficiency can often only be improved by optimising the screen media. “This is where NexGen makes a real difference,” Shepherd commented. “Combined with the correct aperture design, it allows customers to get more life and better performance from their screens.”

Unlike injection-moulded polyurethane, which can compromise the structural integrity of screen panels, FLS’s proprietary process retains superior mechanical properties, resulting in a tougher more durable product. “We have never used injection moulding because it reduces the quality of the end product,” Shepherd explained. “Our process delivers a product that stands up to the toughest operating conditions and offers lasting value.”

Walker adds that the expansion at Delmas not only supports FLS’s global operations but also contributes meaningfully to the South African economy. “Our commitment to local manufacturing is evident in the scale of our investment and the jobs we have created,” he said. “We have expanded our workforce, prioritised local recruitment and significantly grown our apprenticeship programme.”

A strong focus has also been placed on developing female artisans. In 2024, six women from the local community were recruited into a three year trade apprenticeship programme, receiving training in welding, fitting and boilermaking.

“Our investment during a period of economic uncertainty underlines FLS’s long term commitment to South Africa and to our customers in the broader EMEA region,” said Walker. “We are not just building products – we are building skills, opportunities and partnerships that will power sustainable growth for years to come.”