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The Chief Executive Office of the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zones Pumi Motsoahae has paid tribute to KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu and Leader of Government Business Sihle Zikalala. This follows a meeting involving provincial government and captains of industry under the auspices of KZN Growth Coalition.

Pume pointed: “We are inspired by this leadership. We promise to double our efforts to ensure that RBIDZ becomes a catalyst for radical economic transformation. It is very important to note that RBIDZ has evolved over the years, in the process, changing the face of Richards Bay and the province as a whole.”

He further stressed: “Foreign Direct Investment continues to flow into RBIDZ, with emerging entrepreneurs becoming integrated into the mainstream economy. Critically, the flow of FDI has resulted in the transfer of much needed skills into the local communities. These are some of the benefits of FDI.”

“In the main, we are encouraged by investments RBIDZ considering that this entity is located around municipalities where there are high levels of poverty.  RBIDZ has signed investments of more than R11.9 billion representing different key sectors of the economy. In the process more than 1 232 permanent jobs have been created with 3 136 jobs during the construction phase.”

Critically, Pume indicated that RBIDZ has been identified as an important site for energy infrastructure in line with Operation Phakisa –Oceans Economy.

He stressed: “It is our view that the development of this province, South Africa Africa and the continent as a whole will not be possible without the provision of adequate energy. Therefore, we are proud as the provincial government to be part of efforts aimed at ensuring adequate supply of energy in this country and the neighboring countries.” 

“We welcomed the fact that Richards Bay has been allocated 2000MW of the 3126 MW of power to be allocated in the first round of the gas-to-power allocation process. The Richards Bay IDZ is acquiring a site in Phase 1D of the RBIDZ to house the plant. The plant will include import and gasification facilities for liquefied natural gas. The whole project is likely to have an investment value of approximately R25 billion. The power station is likely to take over 3 years to construct and is likely to create over 3000 construction jobs and 100 operational jobs.”

“We are engaging with the Department of Energy and various sector specific gas operators to formulate an appropriate programme of the delivery of the gas development programme.”

Pume committed to ensuring that the energy sector remains at the heart of structural developments in the economy. 

He quipped: “It is for these reasons that we are focusing on fast-tracking the entry of people from previously disadvantaged communities into in the energy sector.  We we will be facilitating focused discussion sessions to chart a programme of how the gas programme is blended with the Operation Vula in fulfilment of the Radical Economic Transformation objectives.”

He concluded: “Over the next few months RBIDZ will be working towards finalizing investments of more than R4.1 billion emanating from different sectors of our key focus.  From these we expect 868 permanent jobs and 1260 jobs during the construction. The investments of R4, 5 billion Nyanza Light Metals was a game changer and a demonstration of our resolve to sustain foreign direct investment. The international partners of Nyanza namely, Arkein Capital Partners, DBF Capital, Avertana Limited from New Zealand and Kronos Inc – have footprints in America and German. They undertook to facilitate the transfer of skills to the local communities.”
 

Issued by the KZN Office of the Premier