Algeria’s Tassili DZ Power is courting investment as it seeks to expand in-country power manufacturing utilising Yuchai (Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group) engines

As well as growing Algerian manufacturing capacity, the long-term goal is to take advantage of emerging export opportunities for gensets arising from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“Tassili DZ Power is launching Algeria’s premier power generation and energy storage factory — a national industrial project, and we're opening the door to partners right now,” said Ouahid Arous, sales director Yuchai and managing Yuchai G-drive Marine Engine, writing in a post on social media.

Tassili Power Generation in Algiers, which has a long partnership with Yuchai, has a track record in supplying diesel and natural gas gensets to customers across the country, from Saharan oil camps and desert telecom sites to coastal hospitals and highland farms.

The planned manufacturing project includes:

• 6,000 generator sets per year (30–3,500 kVA)

• 250 hybrid power units per year (250–2,500 kW)

• 300 MWh per year of battery energy storage (BESS)

• Smart factory: robotics, AGVs, ISO 8528-certified test bays

• Training & R&D centre powering Algerian skills

• 500+ direct jobs for Algerian engineers and technicians

In his post to LinkedIn, Arous flagged the strategic role of Yuchai and other partners in the proposed manufacturing project.

“Our gensets will be built on world-class Yuchai engines — China's leading engine manufacturer — paired with Leroy-Somer alternators. Proven technology, assembled and tested in Algeria, by Algerians.”

He also called for investors and equity partners to join the project as the venture seeks to raise an additional US$79.5mn in funding.

“Algeria’s genset imports fell 65% — the market is ready for local production,” he added.

The proposed manufacturing site will cover around 100,000 square metres in the Algiers area, with Arous flagging the Rouïba, Réghaïa, Oued Smar industrial corridor or an equivalent industrial zone.

This will include 40,000 square metres of production halls, plus test yards, logistics and space for future expansion.

The venture is also interested in hearing from industrial and mechanical contractors for the provision of overhead cranes and gantry systems (10–50t); steel structure erection and industrial buildings; ventilation, compressed air and industrial utilities.

“From Algiers to Africa: with AfCFTA, this factory will export Algerian-made power across the continent,” he added.

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As construction and infrastructure projects become larger, more complex and increasingly demanding in terms of quality, technical field service has become an integral part of successful concrete production and placement

The role now extends well beyond supplying construction chemicals, with experienced specialists working alongside contractors, concrete producers and project teams to help maintain consistent concrete performance throughout the project lifecycle.

Concrete quality and performance can be affected by numerous factors, including variations in raw materials, environmental conditions, transportation times, placement techniques and curing methods. Even when high-performance construction chemicals are specified, achieving the required results depends on their correct application, monitoring and continuous optimisation as project conditions change.

Chryso’s technical field service teams play a proactive role in addressing these requirements. Rather than becoming involved only when technical issues occur, Chryso specialists engage with customers from the early stages of projects, supporting concrete mix optimisation, product selection, site trials and performance monitoring. Their regular presence at construction sites and batching plants enables potential issues to be identified and addressed before they lead to production interruptions, quality problems or additional costs.

According to Cornelius Julyan, Field Services team leader at Chryso Southern Africa, technical field support has become a key differentiator in modern concrete construction.

"Construction projects operate under immense pressure to meet demanding quality standards while maintaining programme schedules and controlling costs. Having experienced technical specialists available on site allows challenges to be addressed quickly, ensuring concrete performs as intended under actual operating conditions rather than simply under laboratory conditions." 

Chryso’s technical specialists recognise that concrete performance varies from one project to another. Aggregate properties, cement chemistry, water quality, ambient temperatures and logistics can all affect concrete behaviour. Through continuous monitoring and assessment, teams can adjust admixture dosages and mix designs when required, helping maintain consistent workability, strength development, durability and surface finish throughout construction.

This level of technical support is particularly important for major infrastructure projects, high-rise developments, industrial facilities and specialised civil engineering applications. Such projects often involve highly engineered concrete specifications and strict performance requirements, leaving little room for variability.

Rapid technical response

Fast technical support can also help minimise the impact of unexpected challenges. When issues occur, Chryso technicians can investigate potential root causes on site and recommend practical corrective measures. This approach can reduce production disruption, minimise the risk of rejected concrete and help contractors avoid delays that could affect wider project schedules.

Information collected by Chryso’s field service teams also provides valuable insights for customers. Site observations, testing results and practical experience can be used to optimise subsequent concrete pours, improve batching consistency and support continuous performance improvements across projects.

"Successful concrete construction is built on partnership. Our field service teams work alongside customers throughout the project lifecycle, sharing technical knowledge, optimising concrete performance and helping ensure that every load delivered consistently meets the project's requirements. This collaborative approach gives customers greater confidence, reduces operational risk and ultimately contributes to better project outcomes," added Julyan.

Regular engagement with customers also provides opportunities for knowledge transfer and skills development. Chryso specialists work with batching plant personnel, quality control laboratories, contractors and concrete placing teams to strengthen their understanding of best practices in concrete production and application. This knowledge can help improve consistency beyond the completion of individual projects.

Supporting sustainable concrete construction

As construction methods evolve and sustainability requirements become more prominent, technical field service is increasingly helping customers improve material efficiency while maintaining concrete performance. Specialists can support efforts to optimise cement content, reduce material waste and improve resource efficiency without compromising the required properties of the finished concrete.

“For Chryso, technical support in the field is not simply an after-sales function but a strategic extension of our commitment to helping customers deliver safer, more efficient and higher-quality construction projects,” Julyan concluded. “By combining advanced admixture technology with practical on-site expertise, we help ensure that engineered concrete solutions perform reliably under real-world conditions, giving contractors and concrete producers the confidence to deliver projects successfully.”

Technology group Wärtsilä will provide five Wärtsilä 32 engines for a 14 MW captive power plant being developed for the Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal

The dedicated power plant will provide the reliable electricity supply required for the mine’s operations. Located in a remote area, the Diamba Sud project will rely entirely on the captive facility for its power requirements.

The order was placed by Africa Power Services (APS), the France-based engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor responsible for the power plant, on behalf of Fortuna Mining. Wärtsilä recorded the order as order intake during the second quarter of 2026.

Wärtsilä 32 engines to power remote Senegal mine

The Wärtsilä 32 generating set has been in successful operation for 30 years and has supplied more than 8,000 MW of energy to customers globally. Its fast-starting capability also allows engine-based power systems to incorporate variable renewable sources, including solar and wind, by providing flexibility for balancing power supply and demand.

Fortuna Mining has plans to introduce renewable energy into the mine’s microgrid in the future, with the Wärtsilä engines providing the flexibility required to complement intermittent renewable generation.

“Operating a remote, off-grid mine requires reliable power, as any unscheduled downtime carries financial and operational risks. Wärtsilä’s engines deliver the continuous performance required for such demanding conditions. Selecting them for Diamba Sud ensures we mitigate operational risks from day one, while building a power foundation that can seamlessly integrate renewable energy assets as the mine evolves,” says Cedric Fernandez, Managing Director at APS.

Wärtsilä’s contract extends beyond the supply of the engine generating sets. Its scope includes basic engineering, engine-specific auxiliary equipment and the engine control and monitoring system. The company will also provide advisory services during installation and commissioning.

The use of multiple engine-generating sets is intended to provide the power plant with greater flexibility to respond to changing mine loads while maintaining efficient operation. The configuration will also provide the operational flexibility needed to accommodate renewable generation as the microgrid develops.

“This repeat order from APS reinforces Wärtsilä’s position as a trusted and reliable solution provider for the mining industry’s power needs,” commented Marc Thiriet, energy business director, Africa at Wärtsilä Energy.

“Mining operations are under dual pressure to maintain maximum uptime while actively charting a path toward decarbonisation. By deploying multiple smaller engine-generating sets instead of a single large unit, we enable the plant to match fluctuating load demands with high precision, maximizing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Critically, these engines feature the starting flexibility required to balance the intermittent nature of solar or wind power, thereby complimenting Fortuna Mining’s future plans to introduce renewables to this microgrid strengthening the mines operational stability.”

Diamba Sud power plant targets 2027 operation

Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for March 2027, while the captive power plant is expected to begin operations by the end of 2027.

The project is being developed for Fortuna Mining, a Canadian mining company advancing the Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal. Fortuna acquired the project in September 2023.

Diamba Sud is situated within the Kenieba–Koudougou Inlier, a geologically important region extending across eastern Senegal and western Mali. The area hosts several major gold deposits.

The dedicated 14 MW power plant will form a critical part of the mine’s infrastructure, providing the electricity required for operations at the remote site while establishing a foundation for the future integration of renewable energy into the project’s microgrid.

Volvo Buses will supply 38 Volvo BZR Low Entry Electric buses to the City of Cape Town, introducing the first locally bodied electric buses in South Africa

The buses will operate within the city’s electric passenger transport system, supporting its transition towards zero-emission public mobility.

“This is a landmark project for both Cape Town and for us. We can be very proud to introduce electric buses to the city, and in doing so, prove that we acknowledge and support a sustainable future,” commented Leon Nelson, director, Volvo Buses in South Africa.

Electric bus platform and local manufacturing

Based on Volvo Buses’ flexible BZR platform, the Volvo BZRLE Electric is designed to accommodate different operational requirements while supporting long-term electrification strategies. The bus bodies will be designed and manufactured locally by Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre in Johannesburg.

The platform combines energy efficiency, operational reliability and passenger comfort for urban transport applications. The buses will feature a modern exterior and spacious interior designed to accommodate both seated and standing passengers.

The low-entry configuration is intended to provide smooth boarding and universal accessibility, including wheelchair accommodation and preferential seating. The installed energy capacity has been configured to meet the operational requirements of the City of Cape Town.

The transition from diesel to electric buses represents a significant change for public transport operators and requires detailed planning, coordination and collaboration between multiple stakeholders. Volvo Buses has acted as a strategic advisor throughout the process, applying a 360-degree approach that brings together local and global expertise to support infrastructure planning and system implementation.

For the Cape Town project, the charging infrastructure will be managed by the City of Cape Town, while Gauteng Bus and Coach Centre will manufacture the bus bodies locally in Johannesburg.

“The first buses are scheduled for delivery in 2027,” stated Rob Quintas, city councillor responsible for urban mobility in Cape Town. “We have ordered a minimum of 38 buses, but this number may increase with funding availability. The new buses will be paid for by means of Public Transport National Grant funding.”

Supporting South Africa’s electric mobility transition

The project combines electric bus technology with local manufacturing, infrastructure development and public transport funding. The introduction of locally bodied electric buses is also expected to strengthen domestic capabilities and build technical expertise as South Africa progresses towards more sustainable urban transport.

“This project demonstrates how electrification can be implemented in a way that strengthens local capabilities, builds technical competence, and contributes to the development of a future-ready public transport ecosystem. We are proud that Cape Town has chosen Volvo Buses as a partner towards a cleaner and more efficient urban transport system,” commented Manish Sahi, vice-president, Volvo Buses MIAC.

The Cape Town deployment forms part of Volvo Buses’ broader focus on sustainable passenger transport solutions. The company provides city and intercity buses, coaches and bus chassis, together with services designed to support productivity, uptime and safety.

Volvo Buses operates in more than 70 countries and, together with Volvo Trucks, has a network of more than 2,200 service and support locations. The company is part of the Volvo Group, which provides transport and infrastructure solutions including trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial motors.

South Africa's Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has opened an advisory office in Beijing, aimed at strengthening ties with Chinese corporates and supporting growing investment into African markets

The launch of Rand Merchant Advisory Company Limited comes as trade between China and Africa exceeds US$350bn, an all-time high, reflecting deepening commercial links across infrastructure, energy and industrial development.

The Beijing office is expected to provide Chinese companies with on-the-ground advisory support as they explore opportunities across Africa, offering expertise in corporate finance, cross-border banking, foreign exchange and structured capital.

Emrie Brown, RMB’s CEO, said it marks an important milestone in the group’s Africa-China corridor strategy.

“It brings us closer to Chinese corporates to connect them more effectively with opportunity across our African network,” said Brown.

“Our focus is on helping clients navigate cross-border trade, transactional banking, foreign exchange, and investment flows with the benefit of local insight and deep African market expertise.”

For African economies, the move signals continued confidence in the continent as a destination for Chinese investment.

The Africa-China corridor’s growth continues to be anchored by “monumental infrastructure investment”, RMB said in a statement, and a rapidly evolving green energy landscape.

Over the past decade, Chinese enterprises have constructed or renovated over 10,000 km of railway and 100,000 km of highways across Africa.

While Chinese firms have traditionally focused on transport and infrastructure projects, investment is increasingly expanding into renewable energy, manufacturing and other sectors that support broader industrialisation.

As China itself transitions under global climate agreements, “massive opportunities” have emerged for Rand Merchant Advisory to partner with Chinese contractors to lead sustainable finance initiatives across African markets.

The bank said Chinese contractors have participated in around 70% of the renewable energy projects it has concluded in recent years, underlining China’s growing role in Africa’s own energy transition.

RMB said the expansion combines its investment banking capabilities with First National Bank’s (FNB) transactional banking platform, which already serves more than 4,000 Chinese business accounts across South Africa and the wider continent.

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Wastewater is still too often viewed as the end of a process, something to treat and discharge once it leaves a home, business, mine, or industrial site

In a water-scarce country, that linear view overlooks its value and the consequences of returning it to a connected water system.

South Africa’s rivers and water-transfer systems carry water across municipal, provincial, and national boundaries. Water may be abstracted, used, treated, returned, altered, and abstracted again downstream. The performance of wastewater infrastructure therefore affects far more than the site or municipality operating it.

“Some by-products of wastewater treatment can be used to generate energy that is fed back into the treatment infrastructure, reducing its demand on the grid,” says Kosikee Emma-Iwuoha, associate and water civil engineer at WSP in Africa. “Treated effluent can also be reused for irrigation or, with further treatment, in industrial processes.”

Wastewater is already part of the water system

Discharged water does not disappear from the resource system. Lee Boyd, technical director and water resource scientist at WSP in Africa, says return flows already form part of the water available to downstream users in South Africa’s connected catchments.

“South Africa’s water is reused extensively. Return flows can be abstracted again downstream, where their quality affects domestic users, agriculture, industry, and aquatic ecosystems. Water quantity and quality are connected and should not be managed separately,” says Boyd.

Return flows are incorporated into reconciliation planning in all catchments. However, Boyd cautions that return flows do not always meet the required quality after treatment, and sewer failures can prevent it from reaching treatment works.

Emma-Iwuoha’s earlier career experience includes extending a treated-effluent pipeline to potential users in the Western Cape where he saw firsthand that effective reuse ultimately hinges on reliable collection, treatment, monitoring, and clear end‑use planning.

A disposal mindset sends risk downstream

When the objective is simply to move wastewater through the system and dispose of it, less attention may be paid to the condition of the material entering the receiving environment.

Emma-Iwuoha says poorly managed discharge can overload natural systems, contribute to eutrophication, affect downstream water quality, and create environmental and health risks. The linear model also loses economic value that could support monitoring, maintenance, and further treatment.

The bulk network is central to this problem. Treatment capacity has limited value if sewers leak, surcharge, or release wastewater before it reaches the plant. Upgrades therefore need to cover collection, conveyance, treatment, monitoring, and discharge as one system.

Boyd says investment must also be matched by operational capability: “A treatment works can be upgraded, but the wider question is who will run it, whether there are enough people, and whether they have the skills and support to monitor performance.”

Design should begin with the catchment

Catchment assessments and water quality management plans help define what wastewater infrastructure needs to achieve before the physical solution is selected.

A catchment assessment identifies the downstream communities, industries, ecological systems, risks, and reuse opportunities that may be affected. It helps establish the required capacity and which receiving environments need protection.

“A suitably detailed catchment assessment gives us a better understanding of the risks, needs, and opportunities. The water quality management plan provides the benchmarks for choosing treatment processes, monitoring performance, and responding under normal and emergency conditions,” says Emma-Iwuoha.

Boyd adds that site-level wastewater and surface-water decisions should reflect the condition and objectives of the broader catchment. That depends on reliable evidence, yet monitoring information is often fragmented across government departments, municipalities, mines, industries, laboratories, and other water users.

Consolidating and verifying that information would improve treatment planning and allow problems to be identified sooner. A report received months after a pollution incident may explain what occurred, but it cannot reduce the impact while contaminated water is still moving downstream.

Resilience depends on people as well as assets

Wastewater systems need to be designed for expected growth rather than present demand alone. Government plans, municipal budgets, industrial expansion, urbanisation, and long-term operating requirements influence how much capacity is needed and how soon another upgrade may be required.

Emma-Iwuoha says coordination between government and industry can help prevent infrastructure from reaching capacity shortly after commissioning. Community involvement is equally important because acceptance cannot be assumed simply because a solution is technically sound.

Residents may have concerns about location, odour control, downstream river use, and the implications for health and livelihoods. Engagement needs to address these concerns while explaining the sanitation, environmental, and economic benefits.

Shared data requires similar trust. Boyd says a credible platform that verifies and protects monitoring information where necessary could strengthen catchment-wide planning without duplicating work.

Innovation has to reinforce the fundamentals

Waste-to-energy is one of the most promising opportunities identified by Emma-Iwuoha.

As treatment processes improve, organic material from wastewater can contribute to energy generation and, in suitable applications, create synergies with solid-waste management. It can reduce the energy burden of treatment where the scale, feedstock, economics, and operational capacity support it.

WSP has built capabilities in solid waste management and is expanding its capacity in wastewater treatment and process engineering, supported by expertise in water science, environmental assessment, and civil engineering.

Bringing these disciplines together allows teams to define what needs protection, set the required water quality targets, and translate those requirements into infrastructure that can be funded, built, operated, and adapted over time.

South Africa will not unlock the resilience value of wastewater through technology alone. Functioning bulk networks, skilled operators, verified data, appropriate treatment, credible governance and community support must be considered together.

Planned as a single system, wastewater can support the country’s water security rather than remaining an obligation at the end of a pipe.

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