OREANDA-NEWS. 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.