NORTHERN KZN’s industrial business and trade hub, the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) stated it is ready to ring in the new year with several more investors for the City of uMhlathuze.
One will be Prostar Export Paints – a paint manufacturer that last year committed at a signing ceremony to invest a total of R60-million over two phases, and create approximately 50 construction jobs and 50 permanent jobs.
Another will be Lovemore Brothers, a heavy logistics and rigging firm already based at the RBIDZ Phase 1A industrial estate adjacent to the Port of Richards Bay, which plans to start construction on its administration building next year.
Additional potential tenants whose contracts to settle in Phase 1A are being finalised include a second pipe manufacturer, a solar panel and LED manufacturer, an electric cable manufacturer and an aluminium gas bottle manufacturer.
The RBIDZ has also commenced construction of the administration building of a techno-hub to be built on a 5ha site near the entrance of the Port of Richards Bay within Phase 1A.
Umfolozi TVET College will be the anchor tenant of the building, but various other tertiary institutions are presently negotiating to take up space in the hub.
‘The RBIDZ only has about 30ha left to lease in Phase 1A, some of which is already under negotiation,’ said RBIDZ CEO Pumi Motshoahae.
‘In addition to this, a 10ha part of the 30ha has been allocated to agro-processing.
‘Early in the new year, the RBIDZ will be issuing a Request for Proposal inviting interested parties in the agro-processing field to tender to lease part of this area.’
Milestones
RBIDZ stated it considers 2016 a ‘landmark year’ after completing Phase 1A, as well as the site’s concrete and glass structure entrance gate complex.
Phase 1A was declared a Customs Control Area by the SA Revenue Services and was officially opened by KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala in July.
There was also the completion of the R300-million PVC-O pipe plant built by a joint venture between Sizabantu Piping Systems and a Spanish company, Molecor.
‘This factory makes high pressure PVC pipes for the local and export markets using Molecor’s proprietary technology,’ said Mothoahae.
‘The RBIDZ has commenced construction to convert Medway Road – a road running between the John Ross Parkway and the port entrance on which the entrance into Phase 1A is located – from a two-lane road into a four-lane road catering to abnormal loads.’
He added the Zone awarded contracts together totalling approximately R200-million for the construction of Phase 1F – a 121ha site located in Alton, Richards Bay.
This includes civil and electrical works, upgrades of the substation serving the Phase, and the upgrade of the road on which the Phase is located from a one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction to improve the logistics capability and accessibility of the Phase.
Phase 1F will also have a rail connection to be constructed by the RBIDZ in the new year.
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