Renewable energy development is gaining ground in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) with four solar grid connection applications approved in Newcastle and Ladysmith, and a wind project expected to begin construction in August.
This is according to Andile Buthelezi, Project Manager: Investment Promotion at Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal, speaking at a mining breakfast hosted by Forvis Mazars and Women of Africa Fuels and Oils in Melrose Arch yesterday (June 4).
On the mining front, KZN holds a range of underutilised resources, said Buthelezi. “KZN is not known for mining but the northern parts of the province have some of the best coal in South Africa. The challenge is that it has high sulphur content. However, it is mined in KZN, taken to Mpumalanga, blended and exported to foreign markets. There are ongoing opportunities in that sector,” he said.
Lithium is being mined near Port Shepstone and processed at Dube TradePort while sand extracted in Richards Bay is used in titanium dioxide production, he added.
The province is also seeing investment in logistics infrastructure. Buthelezi referred to a partnership between Green Road and a local BEE company to develop a logistics ecosystem in Richards Bay, which includes a container terminal, mega truck stop and cold storage facility. “These developments address current supply chain congestion and create seamless commodity trade routes, and are the types of partnerships we are looking for,” he said.
Discussions at the breakfast also focused on opportunities to improve beneficiation and local value addition. “African countries must move beyond the ‘port-to-port export syndrome’ and start processing minerals locally,” said Taona Kokera, Director at Forvis Mazars.
Access to funding remains a challenge for many entrepreneurs in the sector but financial institutions such as Absa are beginning to provide more tailored solutions to support local project development, Buthelezi said.
Participants discussed measures to strengthen the mining and logistics sectors, including applying artificial intelligence in mining operations, manufacturing equipment locally and establishing special economic zones for mineral processing.
Pria Hassan, CEO of Women of Africa Fuels and Oils, urged greater participation by women in mining and logistics. “Less than 6% of women are in the petroleum sector and less than 2% of them actually trade with the mining sector,” she said. “As Women of Africa, we want to empower women and we are here to lead them on their journey – whether a supplier, a new enterprise or just trying to find their way.”
