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Corobrik sees tough year ahead, but demand will remain buoyant
South African brick manufacturer Corobrik MD Dirk Meyer on Wednesday said that the company was well poised to tackle the challenges of a tough trading environment, with key projects affording enhanced efficiencies and energy reductions at its operations.
“We will make sure from an environmental point of view that we continue to drive our carbon footprint further down, and will continue to engage in projects affording carbon emission reductions as those under the auspices of the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM),” Meyer said.
He added that the success of Corobrik’s Lawley factory fuel switch project, which resulted in Corobrik becoming the first company in South Africa to be awarded certificates of Certified Emission Reductions by the Kyoto Protocol CDM, would give impetus to similar initiatives at other factories in the Corobrik stable.
Meyer stated that while the global financial crisis had led the world into significant difficulties, South Africa was well poised to weather the conditions. He said there was still significant demand for infrastructural development.
“In a nutshell, I believe that we are in for a tough year in 2009, and we need to ensure that we take action to get through these times, prudent management for our finances will be the order of the day.”
“So although prospects have deteriorated, fixed investment should continue to record some growth. Yes, a private sector investment in residential and consumer-related sectors has taken a knock, but activity in the non-residential and public construction sector should remain relatively buoyant, partly because of many projects related to the 2010 soccer World Cup.”
Meyer added that most infrastructure projects, which were of a long-term nature, were also already in progress. “Overall, Corobrik as a business has the capacity and is well positioned to take advantage of the upturn now expected towards 2010.” |
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