KwaZulu-Natal Business 2023-24
A unique guide to business and investment in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The 2023/24 edition of KwaZulu-Natal Business is the 15th issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the KwaZulu-Natal Province. In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there is a special feature on the growth and importance of the recycling sector, with increasing activity covering cover paper, board, e-waste and rubber. The overview of the regional economy notes the importance of energy and the steps being taken by KwaZulu-Natal to turn Richards Bay into an energy hub. The fact that the province is also angling to create additional Special Economic Zones suggests that the two existing zones, at Richards Bay and the Dube TradePort at King Shaka International Airport, are living up to expectations in terms of attracting investment and boosting employment. The creation of a joint venture by Transnet and a private operator of ports is a significant step for the Port of Durban. To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com under ebooks. Updated information on KwaZulu-Natal is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the latest addition to our list of publications, Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.
A unique guide to business and investment in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
The 2023/24 edition of KwaZulu-Natal Business is the 15th issue of this highly successful publication that, since its launch in 2008, has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the KwaZulu-Natal Province.
In addition to the regular articles providing insight into each of the key economic sectors of the province, there is a special feature on the growth and importance of the recycling sector, with increasing activity covering cover paper, board, e-waste and rubber.
The overview of the regional economy notes the importance of energy and the steps being taken by KwaZulu-Natal to turn Richards Bay into an energy hub. The fact that the province is also angling to create additional Special Economic Zones suggests that the two existing zones, at Richards Bay and the Dube TradePort at King Shaka International Airport, are living up to expectations in terms of attracting investment and boosting employment. The creation of a joint venture by Transnet and a private operator of ports is a significant step for the Port of Durban.
To complement the extensive local, national and international distribution of the print edition, the full content can also be viewed online at www.globalafricanetwork.com under ebooks. Updated information on KwaZulu-Natal is also available through our monthly e-newsletter, which you can subscribe to online at www.gan.co.za, in addition to our complementary business-to-business titles that cover all nine provinces, our flagship South African Business title and the latest addition to our list of publications, Journal of African Business, which was launched in 2020.
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OVERVIEW<br />
Energy<br />
Battery storage has arrived in <strong>KwaZulu</strong>-<strong>Natal</strong>.<br />
South Korean company Hyonsung Heavy Industries broke<br />
ground at Elandskop in December 2022, signalling the<br />
first project in Eskom’s Battery Energy Storage System<br />
(BESS) project. The 8MW facility will move to producing an<br />
additional 144MW in the second stage of the project.<br />
A study into using solar energy to provide power for the<br />
Sundumbili Water Treatment Works in the iLembe District<br />
Municipality was conducted through the Vuthela iLembe LED<br />
Support Programme. Funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for<br />
Economic Affairs (SECO), the study found that the system, estimated<br />
to cost just over R5-million to build, would result in savings of about<br />
R4.8-million over a nine-year period.<br />
This study is just one of several initiatives regarding energy<br />
taking place within the iLembe District Municipality. This was<br />
illustrated at a meeting held under the title “Synergy for Energy”<br />
hosted by Vuthela iLembe recently. There was interaction<br />
between business operators and provincial and municipal officials<br />
such as Sibusiso Jali, KwaDukuza Municipality Executive Director:<br />
Electrical Engineering <strong>Business</strong> Unit, pictured. Moves to improve<br />
the efficiency of the electricity supply to the coastal areas are<br />
starting to take shape was one of the conclusions, but stronger<br />
collaboration between the public and private sector is needed to<br />
secure reliable power.<br />
Several alternative-energy options are being considered by<br />
the public and private sector to produce additional power. These<br />
include using waste heat generated by industry and biomass fuels<br />
using waste from forestry and natural gas.<br />
Also in the district, an open-cycle gas turbine plant at<br />
Shakaskraal can be converted to gas-fired technology, a method<br />
which energy planners are encouraging. The 670MW plant came<br />
on stream in 2017. Its project company, Avon Peaking Power, is<br />
jointly owned by a community trust, Mitsui (Japan), Legend Power<br />
Solutions (South Africa) and ENGIE of France.<br />
As part of the provincial government’s strategy to boost regional<br />
development, the iLembe District has been named as an Industrial<br />
Economic Hub (IEH) for the renewable energy sector.<br />
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has entered the<br />
ONLINE RESOURCES<br />
National Department of Energy: www.energy.gov.za<br />
South African National Energy Development Institute:<br />
www.sanedi.org.za<br />
iLembe District Municipality<br />
is taking action on energy.<br />
field of renewable energy<br />
provision with the publication<br />
of its eThekwini Integrated<br />
Resource Plan (EIRP). This<br />
document outlines the steps<br />
the city will take towards its<br />
cleaner energy goals.<br />
Illovo Sugar SA is keen<br />
to produce biofuel and bioenergy<br />
and at the company’s<br />
Eswatini mill, Ubombo, it<br />
has a commercial supply<br />
agreement with the Eswatini<br />
Electricity Company.<br />
Biomass technology is at<br />
the centre of the conversion<br />
scheme of South African<br />
Breweries at its Prospecton<br />
plant south of Durban.<br />
Methane-gas emissions from<br />
a nearby effluent plant are<br />
piped to the plant where they<br />
are converted to electricity. ■<br />
KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS <strong>2023</strong>/<strong>24</strong><br />
<strong>24</strong> PHOTO: iLembe District Municipality
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