Savanna Beef: New MD; ready by August ’25
Construction progressing
Despite a few hiccups, plans are flowing smoothly for the new plant.
In mid-January 2025, the current managing director of the Namib Mills Group, Ian Collard, will take over the management of Savanna Beef Operations as well as the private export abattoir currently under construction near Okahandja.
The announcement was made by the chairman of the Beef Value Chain Forum, Mecki Schneider last week. Schneider is also chairman of Savanna Beef Operations (Pty) Ltd. One of the most important tasks ahead is to recruit qualified and committed staff to operate the export slaughterhouse efficiently within the next eight to ten months.
Due to some legal challenges that were beyond Savanna's control, the disbursement of the first loan requested from the main lender, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in South Africa, was delayed. At the same time, the detailed design of the slaughter and deboning line was delayed and the order for the equipment was therefore postponed.
"We have agreed with the main construction contractor Nexus to extend the project by about two months, until August 2025, to allow all parties to take care of the outstanding matters," Schneider explained.
"However, we are pleased that the first funds from the IDC were transferred to our account and special detailed design meetings were successfully held in Johannesburg with the contractor and his engineering team to work through the backlog," Schneider said.
He said that the final design and layout of the various production areas (slaughter line, cooling systems, deboning hall and packaging of the final product) have been completed. The general construction of the processing plant is progressing well.
“The steel structure, walls, roof, cladding and external insulation panels for the chilled areas have already been completed. The housing for the chillers, workshop and washrooms has been built. In addition, orders for the chiller and the main processing equipment have been placed with long lead times,” he added.
Furthermore, drainage pipes have been installed and the special high-quality concrete floors will be poured in the next few weeks. The power plant, which houses the main high-voltage equipment, has been completed and the electrical switchgear will be installed shortly. The main construction work has been completed for the water reclamation and treatment plant, Schneider concluded.
The announcement was made by the chairman of the Beef Value Chain Forum, Mecki Schneider last week. Schneider is also chairman of Savanna Beef Operations (Pty) Ltd. One of the most important tasks ahead is to recruit qualified and committed staff to operate the export slaughterhouse efficiently within the next eight to ten months.
Due to some legal challenges that were beyond Savanna's control, the disbursement of the first loan requested from the main lender, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in South Africa, was delayed. At the same time, the detailed design of the slaughter and deboning line was delayed and the order for the equipment was therefore postponed.
"We have agreed with the main construction contractor Nexus to extend the project by about two months, until August 2025, to allow all parties to take care of the outstanding matters," Schneider explained.
"However, we are pleased that the first funds from the IDC were transferred to our account and special detailed design meetings were successfully held in Johannesburg with the contractor and his engineering team to work through the backlog," Schneider said.
He said that the final design and layout of the various production areas (slaughter line, cooling systems, deboning hall and packaging of the final product) have been completed. The general construction of the processing plant is progressing well.
“The steel structure, walls, roof, cladding and external insulation panels for the chilled areas have already been completed. The housing for the chillers, workshop and washrooms has been built. In addition, orders for the chiller and the main processing equipment have been placed with long lead times,” he added.
Furthermore, drainage pipes have been installed and the special high-quality concrete floors will be poured in the next few weeks. The power plant, which houses the main high-voltage equipment, has been completed and the electrical switchgear will be installed shortly. The main construction work has been completed for the water reclamation and treatment plant, Schneider concluded.
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