Page 2 - RBIDZ

On

Interview

PUMI MOTSOAHAE, CEO OF RICHARDS BAY
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ZONE, EXPLAINS WHY
INDUSTRIALISATION IS CRUCIAL.

DOES THE RBIDZ HAVE A ROLE IN PROMOTING INDUSTRIALISATION?
We are at the heart of the government’s programme of industrialisation.
At the onset of the democratic dispensation, there were enduring
PUMI MOTSOAHAE - RBIDZ CEO
questions on the economic side. Empowerment and enterprise
development arose out of that, and then there was a programme to
promote industrialisation.

WHAT ARE YOUR FOCUS SECTORS?

While investigating the features that would attract investors we looked
at metals beneficiation, given the heritage of the area with Richards We are the heart of
Bay being the home to the largest aluminium smelter in the Southern
Hemisphere (South32) and two heavy sands mines (Rio Tinto and Tronox).
industrialisation
We are very strong in the ICT sector. We are spearheading an effort to
create a pilot TechnoPark. Hosting the Maritime Academy, together and supported by the
with a focus on ICT, affords the opportunity for innovation and for
creative young minds to flourish. This is also in line with Marine Industry healthy investment
Development, which focuses more on Port Optimisation opportunities.
pipeline”
The Richards Bay area is surrounded by high-yielding agricultural lands.
We can harness that potential through agro-processing. We have set
aside a notional 10ha area for a processing plant.

ARE YOU LOOKING AT RENEWABLE ENERGY?
The Zone News is a newsletter published by the RBIDZ
Absolutely. We want Richards Bay to be the energy hub of the country
Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (SOC) Ltd
In April 2015, we signed Byromate (Ptd) Ltd to produce 60MW from
biomass. We are targeting companies to manufacture solar panels here.
RBIDZ Office Complex,
There is a phenomenal opportunity to become an energy hub because
4 Harbour Arterial, Alton,
of our geographic location near offshore gas fields. Last year we were
Richards Bay, 3900
awarded the production of 2 000MW from gas by the IPP office of the
Department of Energy. We are quite excited about that and we are
Private Bag X1005, Richards Bay, 3900
working closely with the DoE.
Tel: +27 35 797 2600
Email: info@rbidz.co.za • www.rbidz.co.za
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT
INWARD INVESTMENTS? Editor-in-Chief: Zodwa Zikalala
Editor: Choice Sihiya
We have quite a healthy investment pipeline. A total of R10 billion in Contributors: Sindiswa Thusi and Nomcebo Cebekhulu
investments have been signed, focusing on different sectors of the
economy. Recent investments include Nyanza Light Metals (titanium
dioxide plant, R4.5 billion), Sizabantu Piping System – SPS Molecor
(comprehensive range of high-pressure PVC -O pipes, R300 million)
and in other sectors such as logistics (Lovemore Brothers) and paint
manufacturer (Prostar Paints).

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