Glencore crude trader leaves firm after seven years
Over roughly the last 12 months, Glencore’s head of crude trading in the US and at least two other traders have departed.
Johannesburg, 13 May 2014 – Mine Procurement Solutions (MPS), which comprises MPS South Africa, MPS Tanzania and MPS Mozambique today announced the sale of 100% of its controlling shares to Vhaselwa Engineering & Management Consulting (VEM). A new entity, known as the Akhani Group has been formed.
The merger of the two leading service providers for mining, oil and gas, and energy management corporations creates a comprehensive offering of workforce effectiveness and productivity, and operational performance excellence for the broader energy and resources industries. Akhani serves public, government and private market sectors.
“We look forward to the difference that we can make as a unified team to the African economies in which we work,” said Fulu Mphuthi, Akhani Group CEO. Her executive team includes Deon Fuhri (Chief Operating Officer) and Ntaoleng Kunene (Chief Information Officer.
While serving existing customer needs, Akhani will focus on entering new markets. With existing operations in South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania, the company will enter Zimbabwe and Kenya in the next year with a long-term strategy to increase its African and international footprint. The combined service offering creates opportunities for new business development and local job creation.
The strength of Akhani lies in its approach to customer service. The company provides a one-stop-shop service and customised solutions cost-effectively. Akhani’s most valuable asset is its talented workforce that includes more than 400 infrastructure design and supply, operational efficiency, energy management, transformation and change management professionals. “Our specialists focus on enhancing productivity for our customers while bringing down operational costs without shedding jobs unnecessarily,” she added. Existing partnerships in the supply chain, procurement and energy management arena allows Akhani to offer product solutions at reduced rates.
“The way a company treats its people, particularly those who work on remote sites should not be overlooked,” explained Mphuthi. “Akhani fills this critical gap in organisational performance. Today’s labour environment in particular holds significant opportunities for growth of a business such as ours.”
“Akhani means ‘building the future together’,” concluded Mphuthi. “This is a ‘directive’ that we take personally as we pursue value creation through improved business performance and enhanced quality of life for employees. Our merger will benefit the industries we serve while putting us in a position to make a difference for the better where it matters most.”
About Akhani Group
With a mission to create value for stakeholders by enabling improved business performance for customers while enhancing quality of life, the Akhani Group was established in 2014 when Mine Procurement Solutions (MPS) and Vhaselwa Engineering & Management Consulting merged. The merger combined two companies, both established South African businesses with a customer service approach and successful track records in infrastructure design and supply, workforce and operational camping site management and maintenance, energy consulting, energy conservation and energy management as well as transformation and change management. The Akhani Group is a 51% black female owned private company and a B-BBEE level 3 company. For more information, please visit www.akhani.co.
About Mine Procurement Solutions (MPS)
Mine Procurement Solutions (MPS), a division of the Akhani Group, specialises in the infrastructure design, management and maintenance for remote workforce and operational camping sites. The division provides accommodation supply, catering, camp management and a complete range of associated services. The team of mining procurement specialists supports customers from conception to operation and maintenance, including community development needs. The focus of the division is on quality and service delivery, safety at all times and project outcomes that are within budget and on time.
About Vhaselwa Engineering & Management Consulting (VEM Consulting)
Vhaselwa Engineering & Management (VEM) Consulting, a division of the Akhani Group, provides business transformation solutions that help customers effectively manage their enterprise more efficiently, safely and sustainably. VEM Consulting renders its consulting services to customers in South Africa with the intent of expanding its service offering globally. The division identifies business needs, determining solutions for business problems. Solutions entail alignment of business strategy, business systems, business process optimisation, organisational change as well as policy and procedure development, directly benefiting customers’ operational business performance.
