New Geosynthetic Plant in Africa

WASEW Technologies and the Ethiopian Government have a new JV Geosynthetic plant starting up in January 2006 in Addis Ababa. In the last few years, Ethiopia has bought 10 to 15 million USD worth of geomembranes for agriculture. They are also buying large quantities of pipe for all applications. The new company Geosynthetic Industrial Works PLC has built a new factory with 4000 m 2 of factory and 1500 m2 of offices as stage 1 of the start of a Geosynthetics for Africa initiative. They will produce in stage 1: HDPE pipe, PVC pipe, HDPE geosynthetic netting and 25% of the plant production is smooth sheet geomembranes (most of the applications are water ponds). WASEW Technologies is the operating partner and has a large ownership position. The opening of this phase 1 plant will halt the importation of Geosynthetics into Ethiopia. Also, the new plant will employ over 100 Ethiopians. Phase 2 may have a more modern plant (three more plants are on the horizon). There will be no need to export as the plant is already sold out for the next 10 yrs with Goverment infrastructure projects. Labor costs there are less than 10% of the US. For more information on this new development, please contact Mike Mathieson at 702 353 2607.