Premier Zamani Saul believes that the industrialisation of the mining industry is the key to growing the Northern Cape’s economy.
PREMIER Zamani Saul believes that the industrialisation of the mining industry is the key to growing the Northern Cape’s economy.
Saul was speaking at the Provincial Mining and Minerals Investment Conference on Thursday.
“This industrialisation process must be actively led through the supply of local demand and through adding value while capturing the maximum value chain at its source in the Northern Cape.”
He noted that the Northern Cape had extensive mineral resources, contributing 22.9 percent to the Province’s gross domestic product and employing about 15,000 people.
“According to the Mineral Council Fast Facts, the Northern Cape mining operations focus primarily on manganese, iron ore, diamonds and recently the mining of zinc and copper. The Northern Cape hosts more than 75 percent of the world’s manganese deposits.”
He added that 84 percent of South Africa’s mining output and 95 percent of the country’s diamonds were mined in the Northern Cape.
“Eighty percent of the world’s manganese resource and 100 percent of South Africa’s tiger’s eye is situated in the Northern Cape, while the Province is the largest national producer of sugilite (a semi-precious stone).”
He stated that the large volume of procurement in many instances made it difficult for local enterprises to compete against multinational suppliers.
“Challenges faced by emerging miners in the Province include the lack of access to finance and funding, capital, mineral rights, markets and a lack of institutional support.”
Saul stated that there were plans to build on the existing infrastructure on the east-west axis, the Northern Cape industrial corridor that was roughly aligned with the existing N14 national highway and the Sishen-Saldanha railway freight line.
“Infrastructure development remains vital for mineral development and beneficiation in the Province, especially rail capacity for bulk and beneficiated minerals.
“The Kathu Industrial Park, the Upington Industrial Park, the Namakwa Special Economic Zone and the Boegoebaai Port and proposed satellite Special Economic Zones are key priorities to attract private sector investment and to create job opportunities.”
