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Vivo Energy to invest over $550 mln in South Africa, minister says

Vivo Energy, owned by global commodities trader Vitol, will invest an initial 10 billion rand ($ 550.79 million) in its South African operations following its merger with Engen, South Africa's trade minister Ebrahim Patel said on Wednesday.

The financial investment belongs to a range of public interest and competition dedications, created to prevent task losses and continue supply agreements with local refineries, that domestic regulators looked for when the merger was considered.

The business (Vivo) has devoted to a minimum of about 10 billion rand over the next 5 years to be bought areas like green energy, facilities and the upgrading of its operations, Patel said at a finalizing event with senior company executives.

The company might invest an additional 4 billion rand, subject to expediency, in biofuels production and marine infrastructure, among other jobs, he added.

Besides the capital investment, there was likewise provision for workers' ownership that will be funded by means of a supplier funding mechanism so that workers did not pay for their shares directly.

The arrangement likewise requires Engen to continue buying fuel fine-tuned from Glencore's Astron refinery in Cape Town for a. duration of 15 years and from Sasol's refineries to the north of. the nation for a duration of as much as 10 years.

Astron Energy and Sasol had opposed the merger at. competition hearings over fears that their locally improved. items would be displaced by imports.

This provides a considerable buffer for regional refineries and. a boost to maintain and expand oil refining locally, Patel said. of a supply dedication valued at an estimated 100 billion rand. over the next 5 years.

Engen and Vivo Energy formally completed the transaction. on to integrate their organizations on Tuesday, after regulators. concurred in April for Malaysia's Petronas to offer its 74% stake in. Engen to Vivo Energy.

The combined Vivo Energy group now has more than 3,900 service. stations and more than 2 billion litres of storage capacity. across 28 African markets.

Africa and South Africa has and will remain a crucial focus for. Vitol's financial investment, Harvey Foster, Vitol's nation supervisor. stated.

(source: Reuters)