Mukesh Thakwani Talks Latest Developments at B5 Plus, the Largest Steel Producer in West Africa

Interview with Mukesh Thakwani, Founder and CEO of B5 Plus Ltd

What are the recent developments in B5 Plus since January, and what have been the major happenings so far?

We are expanding into the manufacturing of other steel products at B5 Plus and will be starting our section mill from the next quarter in 2023. Additionally, we will soon be starting our grinding media ball mill as well. These are two new developments; however, electricity supply remains the biggest challenge faced by B5 Plus. Recently, we installed the largest substation at our new Larkpleku site as a solution, but it still needs to be connected. Once we are able to connect the substation, we believe we will be able to produce more steel right here in Ghana.

What impact will the two new projects have on the market?

B5 Plus is currently capable of producing wire rods and rebars from scrap metal, as well as products such as sections, angles, channels, U beams, round bars, and square bars. By expanding its production capabilities to include grinding media balls, B5 Plus will be able to increase its production and offer more goods locally in Ghana. This will help to reduce the need for imported finished products from around the world, ultimately enabling B5 Plus to become a net exporter, producing not only for the Ghanaian market but for the entire West African market.

Will B5 Plus be able to increase production not only for the Ghanaian market but also for the entire West African market by re-exporting to countries where it is not currently producing?

We are not producing hot rolling products, but instead, we are producing cold rolling products. However, we will be adding hot rolling products to our production line, which will result in an increase in the number of products we produce. This increase in production will surpass the production of neighboring countries, giving us an additional advantage.

Can you provide information about your company’s size and rank in comparison to your competitors?

B5 Plus is significantly ahead of its competition in the entire West African market. Currently, B5 Plus offers more than 4000 different products and has over 2000 distributors throughout West Africa. This makes B5 Plus the largest steel producer and distributor in the West African market.

What are your plans for the rest of the year? Do you have any major projects or adventures lined up?

Our main priority right now is to request the government to expedite the installation of electricity that has already been brought to our premises. This will enable us to increase our production capacity and manufacture more goods. Unfortunately, the current electricity supply from ECG is insufficient, which is limiting our production capabilities.

Could you elaborate on B5 Plus’s long-term goals and what you hope to achieve in the next five years?

B5 Plus aims to achieve backward integration by producing steel in Ghana and manufacturing all our products locally. We want to eliminate the need for importing materials. For instance, B5 Plus established PEB engineering to produce pre-engineered building products, and within four years, we started exporting to the entire West African market. We have supplied pre-engineered buildings to Senegal, Togo, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and other countries. Therefore, B5 Plus has the potential to manufacture products not just for Ghana but for the entire West African market. I would also like to use this opportunity to urge the government to impose an immediate ban on importing materials that we can produce here in Ghana. This would save millions of dollars in foreign currency, preserve jobs and create new employment opportunities.

What legacy do you aspire to leave behind once you retire? You have dedicated your time and effort to building this company, so what do you hope to achieve as your final accomplishment?

It would bring us immense pleasure and satisfaction to produce everything here in Ghana, creating thousands of jobs and making a positive impact on society by keeping the production within the country and saving millions of dollars in foreign currency, uplifting the lives of people within the community but also contribute towards the nation. We are proud to say that B5 Plus is making significant contributions towards society in many ways. Currently, B5 Plus is directly or indirectly responsible for the livelihoods of 15,000 people. The company is also committed to corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and is one of the biggest taxpayers in its segment. During the COVID pandemic, B5 Plus opened its doors to private and government hospitals, providing them with free oxygen, PPTs, and food packages. In this way, the company made a positive impact on society and donated to various organizations.

Is there anything else you would like to add to what you have already said?

I would like to emphasize the importance of believing in products made right here in Ghana. B5 Plus. Be strong.

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