At the end of March I and some of the executive team attended the 2022 South African Investment Conference (SAIC). One of the government’s points of investment focus is to develop our export-oriented economy – exports represented more than 31% of the country’s GDP in 2021.
At SAIC we received a commitment from several companies to explore establishing factories in The Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ).
One of these is from a solar-panel manufacturer. Of course, there is still a lot of work that the company needs to do before it gives the go-ahead, but this is a good start.
All of this is good news for us, of course, but the foundations still need to be laid to ensure that Saldanha Bay benefits from this export expansion. I spoke about this in my last column after the area was identified as a potential hydrogen hub for exporting this “green” fuel. In addition, global events – investors looking to support more sustainable businesses that are moving away from fossil fuels and the invasion of Ukraine – have meant that the pursuit of renewable energy sources is accelerating.
The other bit of good news is that the owners of the Saldanha Steel plant, ArcelorMittal South Africa, are looking at renewable energy solutions which could help bring the factory back to life. Globally, the company has committed to producing “green” steel using energy sources that are sustainable and don’t have such a massive carbon footprint as a traditional steel factory.
The two feasibility studies – one in Gauteng and the other in Saldanha Bay – are expected to be completed in 2024-’25. According to some reports using hydrogen to fuel the factory could also be considered.
We are looking forward to hosting the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), the Saldanha Bay Municipality and the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) along with a group of stakeholders and investors at May’s end. These are exciting times as we engage with our stakeholders and push ahead with our plans to build a better future for the region.
As the country remains in the grip of Covid we continue to urge the community to take the necessary precautions to help prevent the next wave. Wear a mask in crowded spaces, continue to sanitise and, most importantly, be vaccinated. I was dismayed to hear of the low numbers of our youth being vaccinated. We must all do all we can to encourage our community to take this necessary step to help our country recover.
