To meet rising demand for refinery infrastructure projects across Africa, stainless steel and specialty products supplier EMVAfrica is expanding its capacity. The company says its growth has been “exponential” over the past few years and continues to follow an upward trajectory.

“We are able to meet the full range of refinery infrastructure requirements across Africa. Our stockholding, supplier network and technical capabilities have been developed to support projects of any scale,” says EMVAfrica’s Multi Alloys division metals sales manager Jason Brokken.

Refinery expansions and upgrades require numerous components, including specialised pipes and fittings that can withstand high pressures, extreme temperatures and corrosive chemicals, he notes. These projects often have strict timelines, which means supply reliability is critical.

The company addresses this challenge by combining local stockholding with international sourcing: “We offer available stock, as well as products from mill production or overseas stockists, to provide the best possible turnaround of supply to all refinery projects,” says EMVAfrica Valves division valve sales manager Preshan Pillay.

This combination helps clients avoid delays and simplifies the procurement process.

“Instead of dealing with multiple suppliers, clients need only rely on EMVAfrica as a single-source solution provider,” he adds.

The company also notes that every refinery project comes with its own set of specifications for size, wall thickness and material grade, and meeting these requirements is essential.

“It’s very important to ensure we adhere to all specifications requested from the refinery. We ensure [that] all our products are sourced from compliant mills that produce to the highest standard,” says Brokken.

This adherence to global quality benchmarks, including American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American Society for Testing and Materials standards, helps to ensure safety and reliability in refinery operations. EMVAfrica works only with vetted mills and manufacturers, reducing the risk of defects or failures.

Downtime is a major cost factor for refineries, and the company believes that its quality assurance plays a key role in preventing operational disruptions. Pillay adds that having a large stock of different alloys shortens the replacement time if and when components need to be changed, further reducing downtime.

In addition to quality control, the choice of material is also critical. Brokken says EMVAfrica supplies a variety of corrosion- resistant alloys to meet refinery requirements.

This capability has become more important as refineries modernise their processes to meet new environmental and efficiency standards. Pillay notes that some EMVAfrica products play a role in cleaner fuel production and emissions reduction in that they prevent leaks, ensure tight sealing, and enable reliable operation of desulphurisation and hydrocracking units for low-sulphur fuel output.

Africa’s refinery sector is growing, as countries aim to reduce their dependence on imported fuels and strengthen energy security. Several large-scale projects, including the Dangote refinery, in Nigeria, and upgrades across the continent, highlight the investment under way.

For EMVAfrica, this growing demand presents a challenge and an opportunity. The company states that it is ready to deliver the products, technical support and logistics required to help clients complete complex refinery projects on time and within budget.

“With our combination of local stock, international sourcing, compliance with global standards and technical expertise, EMVAfrica is well positioned as a key partner in Africa’s refinery upgrade drive,” says Brokken.