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Mpumalanga Business 2017 edition

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Mpumalanga Business 2017 is the seventh edition of this highly successful publication that has since its launch in 2008 established itself as the premier business and investment guide to Mpumalanga Province. Supported and utilised by the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), Mpumalanga Business is unique as a business journal that focuses exclusively on Mpumalanga.

OVERVIEW Transport A new

OVERVIEW Transport A new railway line between Lothair and western Swaziland will promote trade. SECTOR INSIGHT Major upgrades have been promised along the Moloto Corridor. • The Maputo Development Corridor is a vital part of South Africa’s importexport infrastructure. The already successful Maputo Development Corridor will soon receive a further boost with the upgrading of the Komatipoort Dry Port into a Special Economic Zone. The national Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has designated the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) as the lead agent to develop the SEZ. Another specific infrastructural development that will boost trade is Transnet’s Swaziland Rail Link (SwaziLink) project. A 146km railway line between Lothair in Mpumalanga and Sidvokodvo in Swaziland will allow for better movement of freight between the countries and provide a possible alternative route for freight through to Richards Bay, thus freeing up space on the dedicated coal line. The Maputo Development Corridor is Africa’s most advanced spatial development initiative (SDI), comprising road and rail infrastructure, border posts as well as port and terminal facilities. Run by the Maputo Development Corridor Logistics Initiative (MCLI), the corridor runs from just outside Pretoria in Gauteng, through eMalahleni, Middelburg and Mbombela in Mpumalanga, and then on to Maputo in Mozambique. The Port of Maputo is handling ever-increasing quantities of cargo, but this could grow exponentially if many of the planned regional rail-network upgrades happen. About 82% of the port’s transit exports come from South Africa. Rail The Mpumalanga rail system generates more freight traffic than any other province in South Africa and is of great strategic value. Transnet Freight Rail is the main operator and the chief freight movements are coal, fuel, chemicals, timber, iron and chrome ore, fruit, maize, animal feed, wholesale and retail goods, steel, building supplies, fertiliser and consumer goods. The port of Maputo in Mozambique is an attractive option for freight. The coal terminal at Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal receives the majority of the coal that is mined in the province. A new rail siding is being built to service the Majuba Power Station. The 68km, single heavy-haul track will be a private line that is projected to cost in the region of R5-billion and it is estimated that it will create between 3 500 and 5 000 jobs. Private rail operator Sheltam services the coal mining and ferrochrome-metal industries from its regional headquarters in eMalahleni. The company runs systems, hauls raw materials and rebuilds and refurbishes locomotives. MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2017 64

OVERVIEW Road The company that runs the N4 as a toll-road, Trans Africa Concessions (Trac), says that heavy-vehicle traffic on the road has increased by 20% every year since 2009. Trac is in the process of spending R1.8-billion on the 570km international highway. The N4 highway runs east-west through the province and is the main arterial road as well as the backbone of the Maputo Corridor. The R36 is a major north-south route, passing through Ermelo and connecting Mpumalanga with Limpopo in the north and KwaZulu-Natal in the south. The N17 runs east out of Johannesburg to Bethal. The Moloto Corridor is the name given to the major route eastwards out of Gauteng towards Mpumalanga. The long-term aim is to create a coordinated road and rail corridor including rapid rail facilities. In the short-term the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) will spend R1-billion over the next three years to upgrade the R573 Moloto road. With the power generation and mining industries playing such important roles in the Mpumalanga economy, preserving the road and rail network that feeds them is vital. The provincial government spent about R2.3-billion on road construction and maintenance last year and will do so again in 2016/17. About R500-million has been set aside by the provincial government for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the coal-haulage network, but with the estimated total cost in the region of R6-billion, the commitment made by Eskom to provide nearly R1-billion over three years is welcome. The provincial authorities are upgrading gravel roads to hard surfaces, in so doing providing better mobility and access in rural communities (culverts, sidewalks, bus shelters and the provision of bicycles and animal-drawn carts) as well as scholar transport. Air British Airways flies six times a week from Johannesburg into Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA). Airlink offers flights to Johannesburg and other regional destinations such as Livingstone. SAA has a service to KMIA. Middelburg Aerodrome is one of the larger alternate airports in the province, boasting a 1.9km runway that can accommodate a 737, while many game lodges have airstrips and helipads. The SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service operates out of the old Nelspruit airport just south of the city. ONLINE RESOURCES Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport: www.kmiairport.co.za Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative: www.mcli.co.za Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport: http://dpwrt.mpg.gov.za Railroad Association of South Africa: www.rra.co.za Sheltam: www.sheltam.com South African Civil Aviation Authority: www.caa.co.za South African National Roads Agency (Sanral): www.sanral.co.za Cool Ideas Truck Stop Cool Ideas Truck Stop is situated 1km from the N4 on the R35 Bethal road near Middelburg, Mpumalanga. According to Road Freight 6000 trucks are monitored in the Middelburg area. 200 Trucks per hour passes the truck stop. This makes Cool Ideas Truck Stop the ideal place for you to stop when driving on the N4. We offer the following services: Safe parking for Trucks • Drive trough truck wash • Kiosk and Restaurant Overnight and Restroom Facilities • Laundry • 24 hour diesel facility MJ: 082 386 6789 • Dorus: 082 388 3248 • Victor: 074 513 7730 • Offi ce: 083 788 0031 dorus@coolideastruckstop.co.za • admin@coolits.co.za • lana@coolits.co.za • mj@coolits.co.za PO Box 11741, Aerorand, Middelburg 1070 • Vaalbank Plot 17, Middelburg 1050

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