Industry

imported 2024-03-17 17:43:06

James Odongo of KEPRO: Pioneering Kenya’s Circular Economy Through EPR and Recycling Innovation

June 14, 2025

In this interview with James Odongo, CEO of KEPRO (Kenya Extended Producer Responsibility Organisation), he outlines how the organisation is spearheading Kenya’s transition to a circular economy through regulatory alignment, recycling innovation, and strategic public engagement.

Founded in response to the 2017 plastic bag ban in Kenya, KEPRO was established as a special purpose vehicle to help producers take full environmental responsibility for the post-consumption lifecycle of their products. With over 1,000 member companies and close collaboration with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, KEPRO plays a central role in the implementation of the Sustainable Waste Management Act and EPR regulations introduced in 2024.

Odongo explains that KEPRO’s primary mission is to future-proof business models by encouraging adoption of circular business practices and ensuring compliance with evolving environmental laws. The organization addresses major hurdles such as the cost of compliance, helping members manage financial contributions through a technology-enabled EPR platform that ensures real-time data access and transparency.

With a clear focus on digital transformation, KEPRO has moved beyond manual filing to an interactive compliance system that supports self-declaration, helping reduce administrative burden and increase data confidentiality, especially among competitor-member companies.

Looking ahead to 2025, KEPRO expects growth in collection subsidies, technology investment, and waste compliance support. These budgets are directly tied to partnerships with waste management operators and recyclers, as KEPRO strengthens recycling ecosystems and champions recyclable packaging design. Odongo highlighted the shift by brands like Sprite from green to clear plastic bottles as a positive example of end-of-life product management aligned with recycling goals.

To drive consumer behavior change, KEPRO deploys a mixed communication strategy using digital campaigns, grassroots engagement, social dialogues, and community influencers to reinforce its message: “My waste is my responsibility.” This call to action urges all Kenyans to embrace waste segregation, proper bin use, and active citizenship in building a clean and healthy environment.

KEPRO’s three-year vision is to cement its leadership as Kenya’s premier producer responsibility organization, outpacing competition while scaling its partnerships and environmental impact. At the heart of its strategy lies a commitment to ESG, public-private collaboration, and ensuring that Kenyan businesses remain sustainable, competitive, and compliant in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

Seth Quaye: Driving Ghana’s Mining Innovation Through Local Content and Engineering Excellence

June 12, 2025

In this interview, the MarcoPolis team sat down with Seth Quaye, the CEO of MAC Partners, a Ghana-based engineering and mining services company that has rapidly positioned itself as a key player in West Africa’s mining support services sector. Founded in 2014, MAC Partners has grown into a multi-disciplinary business specializing in aftermarket mining parts, EPC contracting, engineering construction, and mining industry training through its MAC Partners Training Institute.

Operating from its home base in Ghana, MAC Partners services major mining operations across Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Guinea, embodying its commitment to local content advocacy. Quaye emphasized the company’s focus on reducing long lead times for mining consumables by investing in local manufacturing—notably, a new production plant in Obuasi that transforms local rubber into mill lining and crusher backing compounds.

With a strong foundation in engineering excellence, the company adheres to four key values: continuous improvement, accountability, respect, and customer-centric service. Its tailored solutions approach ensures that no engineering project is treated with a one-size-fits-all mindset. This has made MAC Partners a trusted name in mine redevelopment projects, including its high-profile involvement in the AGA Obuasi mine and the full-scope rebuild of the Northern Ashanti Mines facility in Konongo.

On the technology front, MAC Partners leverages partnerships with firms in South Africa, Germany, and Sweden to introduce advanced tools such as diagnostics systems, AI-supported training, and robotic welding, particularly within its training and fabrication units. These innovations strengthen the company’s competitiveness and relevance across the mining engineering value chain.

Sustainability is emerging as a strategic focus, with local production efforts helping to reduce the carbon footprint of Ghana’s mining sector. While still developing a formal ESG policy, MAC Partners already aligns its operations with international sustainability standards, especially in collaboration with environmentally conscious clients.

The company is also active in corporate social responsibility (CSR), offering discounted training to local communities and supporting education initiatives in the Obuasi region. Quaye revealed that CSR and skills development for the mining sector are closely tied to MAC Partners’ broader mission to be a “Local Content Ambassador” for the region.

Looking ahead, MAC Partners aims to become West Africa’s number one mining support company, expanding its physical footprint, resourcing its Burkina Faso office, and launching bases in Ivory Coast and Guinea. Through its Talent Acquisition Program, the company is investing in training the next generation of mining engineers in Ghana, with plans to scale this initiative further over the next five years.

Seth Quaye concluded with a strong message to fellow Ghanaian mining companies: the future of the industry lies in local manufacturing, technical collaboration, and transforming Ghana into a net exporter of mining technology and consumables. His leadership continues to drive MAC Partners toward its ambitious goal of being the leading mine support service company in West Africa.

Leading Welding Solutions in Ghana: African Welding Solutions CEO Philip Creech Jones on Innovation, Expansion, and Industry Challenges

June 3, 2025

African Welding Solutions, one of Ghana’s top welding companies, is redefining the welding sector through innovative and integrated solutions. Founded in 2020 as a joint venture between Riker Company Ltd and Projects and Operations Services, this Ghanaian-owned enterprise supplies world-class welding equipment, consumables, accessories, and aftermarket support. Serving key industries such as mining, oil and gas, automotive, cement, and railways, the company has positioned itself as a leader in welding services in Ghana. With active operations in Burkina Faso and Guinea, and ambitions to expand to Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania, African Welding Solutions continues to set the pace for industrial welding solutions in West Africa. CEO Philip Creech Jones shares insights on their competitive advantage, the impact of fluctuating exchange rates, and their bold plans to enter welding project execution and certified welder training.

B5 Plus and Mukesh Thakwani: Pioneering High-Quality Steel Production in Ghana

January 22, 2025

In this exclusive interview, Mukesh Thakwani, the visionary Founder and CEO of B5 Plus, delves into the company’s transformative journey and its significant contribution to the steel manufacturing industry in Ghana and West Africa. Since its inception, B5 Plus has been at the forefront of delivering high-quality steel products, including TMT bars, angle bars, galvanized steel, and reinforcement rods, tailored to meet the diverse needs of the construction, mining, and infrastructure sectors. Mukesh Thakwani’s unwavering commitment to the “Made in Ghana” vision has not only reduced reliance on imported steel but has also positioned B5 Plus as a beacon of industrial growth and self-reliance in the region.

With a focus on sustainability, innovation, and adherence to international quality standards, B5 Plus has expanded its product line to include custom-fabricated steel solutions, catering to both local and international markets. Mukesh Thakwani shares how the company has successfully navigated challenges such as the influx of cheap steel imports and high operational costs while advocating for policies that support local steel manufacturers. Through strategic investments, state-of-the-art facilities, and partnerships, B5 Plus has emerged as a key player driving economic development and creating employment opportunities across West Africa.

Join us as Mukesh Thakwani discusses his vision for the future of steel production, the role of STEM education in empowering the next generation of innovators, and B5 Plus’s plans to further enhance its contributions to Ghana’s industrialization and regional integration. This conversation highlights the determination, leadership, and strategic foresight that have made B5 Plus a cornerstone of the steel industry in Ghana and beyond.

Scroll to top
Close
MarcoPolis © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.
Close