Northern Cape Business 2024-25

The 2024/25 edition of Northern Cape Business is the 14th issue of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2009, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Northern Cape Province. Officially supported and used by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDaT), Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the province. Specific investment projects are outlined in detail by DEDaT in this journal, covering opportunities in energy and mining, together with reports on dedicated investment zones. One of these new zones is on the Atlantic Ocean, a short distance north of Port Nolloth. The Northern Cape is almost uniquely qualified to play a lead role in the development of the country’s green hydrogen economy, given its bountiful resources of land, wind and sun. The blending together of an earlier idea to develop a deepwater port at Boegoebaai with the creation of a Special Economic Zone devoted to green hydrogen production is particularly exciting. With the year 2024 signalling the end of an election cycle, two special features in this edition focus on important elements of the brief of the public sector, namely education and infrastructure.

Building the

Building the Northern Cape as a premier destination for industrial investment Address by the Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, at the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (NamSEZ) designation announcement. It is with pride that I announce a major milestone for the Northern Cape: the designation of the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on 21 May. This ground-breaking project marks the first SEZ in our province, signalling the dawn of a new era of industrial and economic prosperity. The Namakwa SEZ, spanning an impressive 1 270 hectares, is a beacon of opportunity and a testament to the vision and hard work initiated by this Sixth Administration. This SEZ aligns seamlessly with the industrial policy direction adopted by our country, underscoring our commitment to fostering economic growth, innovation and sustainable development. The economic potential of the Namakwa SEZ is truly staggering, with a confirmed investment of R29.3-billion. This significant investment is led by our anchor investors, Vedanta Zinc International and Frontier Rare Earths. Their confidence in our province’s potential speaks volumes about the strategic importance and the untapped opportunities within the Northern Cape. This SEZ is more than just a geographical designation, it is the cornerstone of the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor. Our province, rich in natural endowments, is perfectly poised to leverage its vast resources and transform them into economic catalysts. The Namakwa SEZ will enable us to harness our mining throughput, facilitating both upstream and downstream integration and creating a robust, diversified economic ecosystem. The establishment of the Namakwa SEZ is a critical step towards the green transformation of our industry, grid and mobility. This aligns perfectly with our Northern Cape Green Hydrogen Strategy, positioning us at the forefront of the global green economy. Through this SEZ, we will pioneer sustainable industrial pathways that not only boost our economic landscape but also contribute to global efforts in combating climate change. Today, we lay the foundation for a brighter future. The Namakwa SEZ will be a catalyst for job creation, fostering small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and stimulating innovation across various sectors. We are dedicated to ensuring that this SEZ provides enhanced opportunities for our people, from direct employment to new business ventures within the ecosystem and value chains. The pathways we create here will open doors to unparalleled opportunities, making the Northern Cape a hub of economic activity and a beacon of growth. As we hand over this legacy to the Seventh Administration, we do so with great optimism and anticipation. This SEZ is more than an economic project; it is a pledge to change the socioeconomic landscape of our province. It sets us on a path towards a future where the Northern Cape is not just a place to visit, but a place to invest, innovate and thrive. We offer this SEZ to investors as a brilliant opportunity, underpinned by world-class infrastructure and focused incentives as outlined in the SEZ Act and guidelines. This is our commitment to fostering an environment where businesses can flourish, and where the Northern Cape stands as a premier destination for industrial investment. Let us embark on this journey together, harnessing the power of collaboration, innovation and sustainable development. The work starts here and the future is ours to shape. ■ NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2024/25 20

Vision “To be the Catalyst for Economic Growth and Integration throughout Western SADC”. Mission “Create an industrial hub for the West Coast and a catalyst for industrializing the western SADC area”. The proposed Namakwa SEZ is located in the small mining town of Aggeneys. Aggeneys is in the Khai-Ma Local Municipality within the Namakwa District Municipality of the Northern Cape Province. Aggeneys is 66km from Pofadder (headquarters of the local municipality) and 110km from Springbok, where the office of the district municipality is located. The value proposition of the Namakwa SEZ is based on the existence of the Gamsberg Zinc Mine and the proposed building of a smelter by Vedanta Zinc International. These would be the anchor tenants of the SEZ. It is proposed that a smelter be built to treat zinc concentrate produced at Gamsberg. The zinc concentrate produced at the existing concentrator plant will be treated in the smelter using the conventional roast-leach-electrowinning (R-L-E) process. OF INDUSTRIAL POSSIBILITIES