| Thu 2 Aug 2007, 13:56 | | LAF - Lonrho Africa - Angola Cnidah invites Lonrho |
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LAF
LOLAF
LAF - Lonrho Africa - Angola Cnidah invites Lonrho / Countermine to assist in
landmine clearance
Lonrho Plc
(Formerly Lonrho Africa Plc)
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales)
(Registration number 2805337)
Share code: LAF; ISIN number: GB0002568813
("Lonrho Africa" or "the Company")
ANGOLA CNIDAH INVITES LONRHO / COUNTERMINE TO ASSIST IN LANDMINE CLEARANCE
Lonrho plc (AIM: LONR) who established a joint venture for Africa with
Countermine plc, ("Countermine") in May 2007 to develop opportunities for
landmine clearance in Africa, is pleased to announce that, following
presentations in Luanda, they have been invited by `CNIDAH` ( Comissao Nacional
Inter-Sectorial de Desminagem e Assistencia Humanitaria ), the Angolan
Government body responsible for landmine clearance, to supply an ORACLE 2
landmine clearing machine for evaluation and appraisal in conjunction with the
Angolan Government.
The ORACLE 2 allows previously unusable areas of land suspected of being
contaminated by landmines to be rehabilitated for productive purposes safer and
faster than manual land clearance methods.
General Petroff, the Presidente da Comissao of CNIDAH, confirmed in the
invitation that Angola has 1,500 square kilometers of land that are currently
rendered useless due to the presence of landmines. He confirmed that the current
clearance rate, using manual demining practises is only 10 square kilometers per
year.
CNIDAH has undertaken to fast-track the evaluation process, and will provide a
mined area of land for the process, facilitate all approvals and licences
required for the importation of the equipment, and to ensure that all relevant
civilian and military expertise partakes in the test.
Following this, the CNIDAH has agreed to rapidly produce a report on the results
of the evaluation for all the relevant authorities.
David Lenigas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lonrho commented :
`We are delighted that in less than three months of Lonrho agreeing the African
rights to the Countermine ORACLE system, Lonrho has delivered a tangible and
exciting opportunity to assist Angola with its landmine issues.
The invitation from the Angolan Government is a significant step and permits the
ORACLE 2 to demonstrate its abilities. Angola is a rapidly developing country
and it is a fundamental part of the development progress that the country`s
landmines are relegated to history as soon as possible. I am confident that the
ORACLE 2 will help expedite this process.
Lonrho is committed to providing services and products that support the
development of African infrastructure, helping to re-invigorate local
communities. Lonrho views the strategic partnership with Countermine as a
significant development in the implementation of its strategy.`
ORACLE MINE CLEARENCE
Countermine produces the ORACLE mine clearance machine. At the forefront of
mine clearance technology ORACLE is the fastest and most cost effective system
available for landmine clearance. Only the ORACLE can move forward at an
efficient rate and cost, while tilling the land to a depth of at least 50cm
preparing it for agricultural use. The ORACLE technology is tried and tested,
having been contracted to the Croatian Government (CROMAC) since 2000,
performing beyond expectations in clearing active minefields.
The ORACLE mine-clearing system is the safest land mine clearance method
currently available and is approximately 100 times faster and more effective
than manual clearing techniques. The Spitfire tool within the machine hits the
mines at such a high speed that it destroys the mines before detonation. The
physical destruction from the mine clearance neutralizes mines and disperses the
explosives into the soil meaning that the land is immediately ready for
agricultural or other development.
Antipersonnel mines pose a massive threat to safety in all corners of the globe,
claiming new victims every day, with between 15,000 and 20,000 new casualties
caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance every year.
A local company will be established in Angola to oversee the management and
operation of the project. The majority of the personnel will be recruited and
trained locally in each country, supporting local job creation as well as
utilising the intimate local knowledge of the areas that are targeted.
LANDMINES IN AFRICA
The presence of landmines has rendered huge expanses of land in sub-Saharan
Africa unusable. The presence of two or three landmines or even the suspicion of
their presence can result in a large patch of land being avoided and left
derelict.
Enquiries:
Lonrho +44 (0) 20 7016 5105
David Lenigas, Chief Executive +44 (0)7881 825 378
Emma Priestley, Executive Director +44 (0)7867 785 177
Countermine +44 (0)1233 641 084
Lars Nylin +46 (0)70 416 9600
Pelham PR
Charles Vivian +44 (0) 20 7743 6672
+44 (0) 7977 297 903
Alisdair Haythornthwaite +44 (0) 20 7743 6676
+44 (0) 771 472 1379
2 August 2007
South African sponsor to Lonrho Africa Plc
Java Capital (Proprietary) Limited
Date: 02/08/2007 13:56:19 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
