BASF launches new technical laboratory for mining in Johannesburg, South Africa
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Abiel Mngomezulu, CEO of MINTEK, South Africa’s national mineral research organization, highlights importance of the new BASF laboratory for future joint projects
Johannesburg, South Africa – June 21, 2013– BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, today launched its new laboratory for mining in Johannesburg based at MINTEK, the South African research organization for mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. The new laboratory will help BASF deliver specialist service for mining customers in the entire African continent.
“Africa is a vast continent with a wealth of raw materials and a growing population”, said Dr Dieter Kovar, Head of BASF’s Business Center South Africa and Sub-Sahara. “At the same time, the growing economy shows enormous potential for BASF. Through establishing a stronger local presence and more intensive strategic collaborations we will be able to even further support our customers and to enhance BASF's market position.”
At the official opening, Abiel Mngomezulu, CEO of MINTEK emphasized that the new BASF laboratory is an important development for cooperation in mining projects in the continent. “Bringing together existing competences and assets will provide much needed innovative solutions for the mining industry”, he said.
Out of Johannesburg the laboratory team will support customers throughout the continent with technical services for solid-liquid separation, hydrometallurgy, flotation, agglomeration and tailings management.
“To find high quality ores and mine them sustainably has become increasingly difficult for our customers. BASF can offer innovative solutions for the whole value chain in mineral processing. With this new laboratory we are now closer to our customers and can further improve our technical service,” said Dr Michael Gotsche Regional Business Management Europe, Middle East Africa Global Mining Solutions.
About BASF Global Mining Solutions
BASF Global Mining Solutions offers an extensive range of mineral processing reagents. The strengths of the global business are in solid/liquid separation and solvent extraction; however we also offer reagents for flotation, dispersing, agglomerating and others. Our products are marketed worldwide. Further information can be found at: www.basf.com/miningsolutions.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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Petra Bezuidenhout
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