Seeds of Opportunity: The African Growth Series
March 2025 | Issue 1
In this week's issue, you will learn more about:
- WEBINAR RECORDING: The Relevance of Industry 5.0 for Complex Manufacturing Investments
- AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: Advancing Green Diesel in South Africa
- AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: Unlocking the Green Hydrogen Superhighway
- UPCOMING WEBINAR: Preventing ERP Implementation Failures
- UPCOMING EVENT: Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo 2025 | JHB, South Africa
WEBINAR: The Relevance of Industry 5.0 for Complex Manufacturing Investments
The recent webinar with SYSPRO and Frost & Sullivan explored the critical shift towards Industry 5.0, where human-machine collaboration is set to redefine complex manufacturing processes. This new phase emphasises integrating human creativity with smart technologies, making it more than just automation. The adoption of robots will drive sustainable and efficient production, changing the way manufacturing companies approach technology.
As manufacturers look to the future, it is crucial to invest early in technologies that align with this human-centric, sustainable model. Additionally, the evolving role of AI and IoT will play a pivotal part in positioning companies for long-term success. These insights are particularly valuable for navigating the complexities of global supply chains and seizing opportunities in emerging markets such as Africa.
In case you missed the webinar on the 19th of February 2025, click the recording HERE and learn more as Kelly (Kucera) Holsapple (Senior VP, Marketing Global, SYSPRO), Gavin Verreyne (Senior VP, Professional Services, SYSPRO and Hendrik Malan (Managing Partner and CEO, Frost & Sullivan) explore key factors for implementation success in EMEA and beyond.
AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: Advancing Green Diesel in South Africa
A powerful partnership between Sasol, Anglo American, and De Beers has launched a promising initiative to produce renewable diesel feedstock in South Africa. The pilot project, announced at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2025, will assess the technical and commercial viability of large-scale renewable diesel production using vegetable oils from Solaris and moringa plantations.
This collaboration is set to establish a climate-friendly renewable fuels value chain in South Africa, with Sasol’s existing assets enabling the rapid and cost-effective production of renewable diesel. It promises quick deployment and lower costs, providing a sustainable solution that significantly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while meeting the technical standards of conventional diesel.
The initiative aligns with the partners’ sustainability goals, with Sasol focusing on helping customers navigate the energy transition, Anglo American working to reduce its GHG emissions, and De Beers advancing its decarbonisation objectives. The project also supports South Africa’s renewable fuels market, which is gaining momentum as businesses seek to meet their decarbonisation targets.
The new partnership not only accelerates the shift to renewable fuels but also highlights the potential of repurposing old mine sites for farming crops for renewable diesel production. It reflects the broader strategic focus on strengthening South Africa’s economy through innovative, sustainable practices. As renewable diesel trials progress within De Beers’ mining operations, this collaboration marks a significant step toward a greener future.
AFRICA OPPORTUNITY: Unlocking the Green Hydrogen Superhighway
Africa is emerging as a key player in the global green hydrogen economy, with Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Morrocco, and Mauritania leading the charge. A strategic partnership between the Namibian government and the EU is set to unlock N$20 billion in investment, accelerate infrastructure development, and strengthen Africa’s role in the global energy transition. A key part of this initiative is the expansion of the Port of Walvis Bay into an industrial and logistics hub, enhancing regional trade and export capacity.
Green hydrogen is gaining momentum as a clean energy solution, with applications across industries from transportation to manufacturing. The continent’s vast renewable energy resources make it well-positioned to become a major supplier in a decarbonising world. The development of a green hydrogen superhighway—linking key production hubs across Africa—is further driving integrated infrastructure and policy frameworks, fostering regional cooperation and economic growth.
With this push towards green industrialisation, Africa presents a compelling opportunity for businesses to shape the future of sustainable energy. What role do you see green hydrogen playing in the continent’s growth?
UPCOMING WEBINAR: Preventing ERP Implementation Failures
Manufacturing and distribution industries handle vast amounts of data, making efficient data management crucial for staying competitive. To foster a data-driven culture and boost growth, organisations need tools that empower decision-makers across their supply and value chains. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems play a vital role by centralising financial and operational data, providing real-time insights for better decision-making, and streamlining budgeting and compliance.
Join SYSPRO and Frost & Sullivan for an exclusive webinar on Tuesday 1 April 2025 at 09h00 SAST and hear from leading industry experts Hendrik Malan, CEO of Frost & Sullivan, and Marius Wessels, Professional Services Manager at SYSPRO, as they share insights on investments, pitfalls, and best practices for sustainable value.
This webinar is tailored for executive decision-makers in mid-sized manufacturing and distribution organisations, offering essential information on investment considerations, avoiding common pitfalls, and highlighting best implementation practices for sustainable value, gathered from research and interviews with customers, service providers, and channel partners across EMEA.
Click HERE to register and join the conversation!
UPCOMING EVENT: Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo 2025 | JHB, South Africa
Join us in Johannesburg for the 12th annual Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo from 17-19 June 2025 to be part of Africa’s journey towards an integrated, sustainable transport infrastructure. This event will drive economic growth and support the realisation of Agenda 2063 and the vision of hashtag #TheAfricaWeWant.
Africa’s transport and logistics sectors are critical to economic growth and regional integration, yet significant challenges hinder their full potential. The Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo, under the theme “Supercharging Regional Connectivity: Driving Intermodal Transport and Logistics Growth in Africa,” will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to address these challenges, explore solutions, and develop strategies to strengthen connectivity and advance intermodal transport systems across the continent.
Click on the link to learn more about Transport Evolution Africa's upcoming event.
You can also download the brochure HERE.
To find out more about opportunities in Africa, please get in touch with Lynne Martin.
Lynne Martin
Rebecca Mabika