The recent publishing for public comments of the intention to designate the Namakwa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Northern Cape is a critical milestone, says Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina.
This as the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) through Minister Ebrahim Patel published the announcement in terms of section 24(1) of the Special Economic Zones Act No 16 of 2014, aiming to designate a certain portion of land for ‘strategic national interests’.
The project is expected to inject over 3000 permanent jobs into the South African economy.
The proposed SEZ comprises of 1270.06 hectares of land and is located in Namakwa in the Northern Cape. It is bordered on the north by the N14 road which links to the town of Pofadder to the east and the town of Aggeneys to the west.
Gina who is a national champion of the Namakwa One Plan District Development Model (DDM), says the SEZ is one of key economic development programmes in the district.
She said the SEZ currently has an investment pipeline of over R29 billion that will result in the creation of 3250 jobs during the various phases of development.
“The overall current investment pipeline boasts of small to medium-sized investment companies with activities in green hydrogen and ammonia fuelling, refurbish and repairs, energy and petro chemical for local mobility, manganese sulphate and mineral beneficiation.
“The SEZ will logically connect with another project being built in Ritchersveld Municipality, the Boegoe Baai deep sea port which will be the epicentre of green hydrogen generation in South Africa,” she said on Tuesday.
Vendata Zinc International is an anchor investor with R16 billion earmarked for its operations in the Namakwa SEZ.
Members of the public have until 22 August 2023 to submit comments or objections to Patrick Mlangeni at SEZEquiries@thedtic.gov.za – SAnews.gov.za
