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.
OVERVIEW Engineering
OVERVIEW Engineering Students are studying in Vietnam. The NorthernCape is gearing up for the creation of a deepwater port on its western flank. As part of those preparations, five students are studying Marine Engineering at the Vietnam Maritime University, pictured. Operated by the Ministry of Transport, the university is located in Haiphong, the port city in the Red River Delta. The Boegoebaai deepwater port and associated Special Economic Zone planned for the area north of Port Nolloth have the production of green hydrogen among their planned uses. With the possibility of adding value to minerals, exports and logistics also mooted as uses for the sites, the role of engineers will be central to the operation of this planned new hub for economic development. The same applies to the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Project and the Kathu Industrial Park, areas where the concentration of industrial and manufacturing activities will increase the demand for engineers. A first intake of 50 employees was taken on by the newly formed NorthernCape Construction Company in August 2022. Launched by the provincial government, the company signed up the employees for a CETA learnership programme. After working on road construction, employees will then undertake an enterprise mentorship programme. The construction timeline of the technically demanding and scientifically advanced Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio astronomy project is eight years, giving ample opportunity for specialist engineers to deploy their skills. Local communities are getting exposure to engineering as a result of the SKA project. The South Africa Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) started offering artisan bursaries in 2011. More recently, the Klerefontein Training Centre was opened in Carnarvon, giving local high school pupils access to an accredited electrical engineering apprenticeship programme. The training programme will provide the MeerKAT and SKA radio telescopes with qualified artisans for their operations and maintenance. The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and SKA are placing the recipients of bursaries in the data science programmes of Sol Plaatje University (SPU) and other students ONLINE RESOURCES Consulting Engineers South Africa: www.cesa.co.za South African Institute of Electrical Engineers: www.saiee.org.za Technology Localisation Implementation Unit: www.tliu.co.za SECTOR INSIGHT The NorthernCape Construction Company has been launched. of astronomy are enrolled at Rhodes University. The growing renewable energy sector also needs engineers. Some of the projects are tremendously complex, such as the Redstone Concentrated Solar Thermal (CSP) power plant. Grinaker-LTA is the local contractor, and the scope of work includes constructing several structures for the thermal power plant for steam generation and pumps for molten salt. Tanks for hot and cold salt, water treatment, effluent collection and fire protection are further elements. The South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) has launched a branch in Kimberley. The SAIEE NorthernCape Centre will attend to the needs of members and hold events of interest related to electrical or electronic engineering. ■ NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2024/25 52
