Page 11 - KZN Business Sense 8.6

Mr Alex Thiel, Sappi Southern Africa CEO, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mr Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade and Industry
and Competition during the official ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of the project.
SAPPI SAICCOR MILL PROJECT LAUDED BY

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA

hese words, “Forward with that Sappi Limited Chief Executive pulp, particularly Lyocell pulp, but that Sappi was part of the radical development strategy; it connects
Sappi, forward,” were the Officer, Mr Steve Binnie, made will also significantly reduce the socio-economic transformation local communities to global value
Twords of encouragement during the inaugural South mill’s environmental footprint and programme in the province, chains.”
that the President of South African Investment Conference supports Sappi’s decarbonisation focused on the localisation of
Africa, His Excellency Mr Cyril held in 2018, when the expansion journey, whilst also generating goods and services and the Steve Binnie, CEO of Sappi
Ramaphosa, had for the team from project was first announced. an additional ZAR1 billion per employment of local residents. Limited, illustrated how this
Sappi as he led the official opening annum in direct benefit to the Commenting on the expansion was achieved by saying: “We are
Commenting on the investment,
of the R7.7billion expansion and Sappi chairperson Sir Nigel KwaZulu-Natal economy. project she said: “It represents pleased that this project opens the
way for the many forestry value
environmental upgrade project at Rudd said, “Our investment In addition, Saiccor Mill is not just a vote of confidence in chain participants that benefit
the Sappi Saiccor Mill on Tuesday, here at Saiccor provides tangible busy with the construction of a the people of KwaZulu-Natal as part of the eco-system. Sappi
13 September 2023. as a rising province, but it also
confirmation in our belief that pilot plant to produce Furfural, has a knock-on effect for other sees itself as an anchor tenant
Commenting during his South Africa has more to offer a bio-chemical extracted during companies to benefit from the and proud role-player in the
keynote address, following the as an export hub; has great the processing of timber. Used emerging opportunities.” rural landscape of our country,
official ribbon-cutting and plaque potential to expand its forest as a replacement for fossil fuel- leading the way in the multibillion
unveiling, the President said: products sector especially as a based chemicals in agriculture, Echoing these sentiments, Mr Rand forestry industry and in
“Today, we are witnessing far more low carbon renewable resource foodstuffs and industrial processes, Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade responsible forestry management
than a financial investment. We driver of economic growth and this will provide further revenue and Industry and Competition with its dual-certified FSC and
are witnessing an investment in social upliftment; and can help streams and export opportunities pointed out that the challenge PEFC plantations. We are thankful
infrastructure, people, innovation, guide and lead Africa to develop for South Africa and further with development was for it to that this project helps us to ‘open
technology and sustainability. It the continent’s forest products underpins the country’s move to focus on parts of the country and the way’ to achieve our ambitious
is an investment in community potential.” embracing low-carbon circular communities that are marginalised Thrive 25 purpose of moving
development, in the local economy, economy options. and not in the economic toward a more circular economy
The project will not only add
in our export capacity and in the 110,000 tons of capacity to the In her address, the Premier of mainstream. According to him, by reducing and replacing the need
industrialisation of our economy.” the Sappi Saiccor expansion for fossil-based products by using
mill’s production of dissolving KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Nomusa
During his address the pulp (DP) to meet the increasing Dube-Ncube saluted Sappi on meets this challenge, saying “it’s renewable and sustainable wood
President made the point that demand from global customers for being an iconic and patriotic at the heart of what development to produce innovative biobased
products. Not only for our own
is all about. It supports the
Sappi Southern Africa, one of natural and renewable dissolving business and expressed gratitude government’s rural economic benefit, but for the benefit of our
the country’s largest users of country, its people, and for the
container for exports, makes an planet at large.”
important contribution to the
country’s export revenues, and that The event – witnessed by invited
while foreign direct investment guests including government
is important for the economy, dignitaries, traditional leaders,
the greatest demonstration of community members, industry
confidence is when South African and business representatives and
companies take that lead. He went Sappi management and staff - was
on: “The realisation of Sappi’s a fitting testament to the hard
investment here at Umkomaas work that the project team put into
sends the strongest signal that this mammoth project over the
our home-grown multinationals past four years. 
are taking the lead in investing
in our economy. It demonstrates Highlights video:
confidence to other potential www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3Y5fGx_oHM
investors that this is indeed a For more information on Sappi please visit
favourable place to invest in and to www.sappi.com
do business,” he said.

The President congratulated
Sappi on staying true to and The Saiccor Expansion and Environmental Upgrade project assists Sappi in achieving its ambitious Thrive 25 purpose of
delivering on the commitment moving toward a more circular economy by reducing and replacing the need for fossil-based products by using renewable and
sustainable wood to produce innovative biobased products.

11