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Northern Cape Business 2018-19 edition

Officially supported and used by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the Northern Cape Province. In addition to comprehensive overviews of sectors of the economy, this publication has several special articles which focus on transformative projects, such as the solar and wind farms rapidly coming on line and the massive potential represented by the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, a multi-billion rand international project already taking shape in the vast open plains of the Karoo. Updated information on Northern Cape is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at http://www.globalafricanetwork.com/subscribe/, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well as our flagship South African Business title.

Officially supported and used by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the Northern Cape Province. In addition to comprehensive overviews of sectors of the economy, this publication has several special articles which focus on transformative projects, such as the solar and wind farms rapidly coming on line and the massive potential represented by the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, a multi-billion rand international project already taking shape in the vast open plains of the Karoo.
Updated information on Northern Cape is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at http://www.globalafricanetwork.com/subscribe/, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces as well as our flagship South African Business title.

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SPECIAL FEATURE<br />

by Sol Plaatje University in 2017, an exciting development for the<br />

education sector.<br />

The finest minds in science are gravitating to a project located in the<br />

Karoo, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope. This multi-billionrand<br />

project will run for many years and attract investment of many sorts.<br />

It is already opening vistas that young South Africans had never imagined.<br />

Four South African universities are partners in the SKA project.<br />

The other sector which is bringing technology and innovation to<br />

the <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> is renewable energy. The <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> is uniquely<br />

suited to exploit the latest technologies in solar energy and several<br />

international consortiums are using the latest photovoltaic and concentrated<br />

solar power (CSP) methods. CSP has the benefit of being<br />

able to store energy.<br />

The rise of the renewable energy sector has given the <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong><br />

a chance to break its dependence on the mining sector, subject as it is<br />

to global price fluctuations. The Provincial Government of the <strong>Northern</strong><br />

<strong>Cape</strong> has plans to further diversify the economy. It has identified three key<br />

clusters: mineral beneficiation; agri-processing; energy and technology.<br />

The planned Special Economic Zone (linked to the Upington<br />

International Airport) is intended as a site for solar-related manufacturing.<br />

The Industrial Development Corporation has spent R11.4-billion<br />

of its commitment to renewable energy so far in the <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong>.<br />

Part of the IDC’s role has been to take up a 20% stake in projects on<br />

behalf of local communities.<br />

Largest province<br />

Despite these technical innovations<br />

and new developments, the<br />

<strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> still does big. Big<br />

landmass, big railway lines, big<br />

volumes, big skies.<br />

The <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> is South<br />

Africa’s largest province at<br />

372 889km², covering 30% of<br />

the country’s landmass on the<br />

dry western side of the country<br />

bordering the Atlantic Ocean,<br />

Namibia and Botswana.<br />

The Sishen-Saldanha ore<br />

export railway line is one of the<br />

mechanical wonders of the world.<br />

The line extends 860km and the<br />

trains sometimes extend beyond<br />

3 500 metres and carry a load<br />

exceeding 41 000 tons.<br />

The <strong>Northern</strong> <strong>Cape</strong> produces<br />

more than 84% of South Africa’s<br />

iron ore. Kumba Iron Ore is the<br />

The Sol Plaatje Library and Resource Centre, an award-winning example of innovation and excellence. Architects:<br />

designworkshop; construction: Murray and Dickson Construction; structural and civils design: Aurecon.<br />

NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS <strong>2018</strong>/<strong>19</strong><br />

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