A fast growing base of assets is set to generate revenue of about $1-billion over the next five years. Current operations focus on the mining and beneficiation of various grades of coal, limestone and copper, with plans to expand into other minerals.
Over a relatively short period of time, Jindal Africa has grown its operations with a presence in South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Madagascar, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.
Chief executive Ashish Kumar says that the company is actively exploring new sites, while simultaneously planning projects in the steel, power and related industries in Africa.
"We have an ambitious expansion strategy in Africa and have recently added to our portfolio with the acquisition of Canadian coal firm CIC Energy Corp, giving us access to the resource rich country of Botswana," he says.
The diversified OP Jindal Group, which is worth around $17-billion, is a significant subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Jindal Steel & Power Limited and considers Jindal Africa to be an exciting frontier in its continued growth.
Investing in people
"Our operational excellence and meaningful sustainability projects pave the way in securing our licence to operate in Africa. "Our global vision is to enhance the quality of life for our stakeholders through sustainable industrial and business development.
"We see tremendous potential in Africa in delivering returns for our investors and this is underscored by an uncompromising belief in building partnerships with all of our stakeholders, to the mutual benefit of our communities and countries where we operate," says Kumar.
"Jindal Africa is firmly committed to enhancing the quality of life for all, as demonstrated in large-scale sustainable development initiatives that are producing real dividends for the people of Africa. Since our presence in Africa, Jindal has employed 2500 people across the operations; most of the people are from local communities.
"We believe that to bring about a real change, you have to start from the roots," Kumar says.
This philosophy is fundamental to the company's leadership, as pioneered by the late founder of Jindal Group, Shri OP Jindal and has remained core to the company's beliefs. It has successfully retained the trust of its communities, setting new standards for the industry.
The company is also helping develop South Africa's much-needed infrastructure through the construction of a suitable port and power plants in the country's northern region.
Local population and new businesses stand to benefit from such corporate activity, yet another building block to the African economic foundations. Jindal Africa's commitment to building sustainability through activating well-thought-out projects in consultation with its communities has resulted in the company successfully operating in six countries in southern Africa and the number of its operations is on the rise.
Active in communities
As part of its bottom-up approach, Jindal Africa has committed to vastly improving the potential of learners in the community surrounding its Kiepersol Colliery in Piet Retief in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
"After a thorough needs assessment, we embarked on a programme to upgrade and provide new infrastructure for schools in the area. We consider this initiative to be an excellent example of nurturing the leaders of tomorrow," says Kumar.
"Jindal is also an equal opportunity employer, where we are running several empowerment projects, in areas in which we operate. To date we have awarded 12 bursaries to students studying at local universities. We have also extended our scholarship opportunities from India and, by mid-2013, we will take 10 students to further their studies in India in engineering.
"The company's sustainability programmes also extend to Mozambique, where we invest in education infrastructure development, including a complete renovation of Chirodzi School. We donate books and basic equipment to schools in the region on an ongoing basis.
"Shortfalls in local healthcare facilities led to the construction of a clinic on our Mozambique mine site that is open to community members and distributes much needed supplies to local clinics and health centres. We are committed to the spirit of ubuntu, the African philosophy that promotes humanity, a commitment to investing in the social upliftment of the people of Africa. This protects our unwritten social contract with the communities as a responsible corporate citizen that is active in uplifting its communities," says Kumar.
Jindal Africa's sustainability initiatives extend to all of its operations, which aim to create long-term solutions in partnership with stakeholders ensuring the social and economic wellbeing of communities long after the life of its mines.
Key operational activities in SADC
Jindal Africa has its headquarters is in Johannesburg, South Africa. This office oversees the regional operations and expansion plans within the Southern African Development Community.
South Africa
Jindal Africa's links to its parent company in India are made stronger by a shared history and by both countries (India and South Africa) being members of Brics. In South Africa, Jindal Africa operates the Kiepersol Colliery, outside the town of Piet Retief in Mpumalanga province. Kiepersol produces high quality anthracite and lean bituminous coal that is sold locally and globally.
The company will soon be operational in KwaZulu-Natal, with plans to operate an iron ore project in Melmoth. A coal project in the north of the Limpopo will expand Jindal Africa's South African operations to three provinces.
Botswana
In September 2012, Jindal Africa bought Canadian-listed coal company CIC for about $116-million. The acquisition gave Jindal Africa access to CIC's high quality thermal coal resources in Botswana. This acquisition makes Jindal Africa the frontrunner in building a 1 200MW power plant in Botswana for power supply to South Africa.
Mozambique
In 2012, Jindal Africa started its coal mining operations in Mozambique's coal-rich Moatize area. The country's thermal-grade coal and significant coking coal reserves present a major opportunity for Jindal Africa to make a lasting and significant impact on economy of this promising young nation. JSPL Mozambique had the fortunate first mover advantage to being one of only three international companies to mine the rich Moatize region in the Cahora Basa district of Tete.
Chief executive Ashish Kumar says: "Coal mining has already started at our open cast operation, with the first export to be shipped by the first quarter in 2013. We hope to produce three million tonnes in the first year of operations. The substantial reserves we have unearthed to date give us confidence we'll reach the milestone of employing more than 2 000 locals to assist us to produce in excess of 10-million tonnes of high grade coal a year from 2013."
Madagascar
The planned limestone cement plant in Madagascar and beneficiation of the nation's limestone resources will bring significant benefits to the local economy.
Zambia
The company is exploring the potential of copper sites in Zambia.
Tanzania
The east African nation hosts many of Jindal Africa's ambitions, including copper, coal and iron ore. Jindal Africa has acquired several small-scale mining concessions in the central part of the country as well as two prospecting licenses. All the properties are at various stages of exploration including geological and geo-physical investigations.
Namibia
Jindal Namibia, which operates under Jindal Africa, plans to operate an iron ore mine in the region of Khomas in Windhoek.
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