Pretoria - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu has described the opening of Fairbreeze Mine in Empangeni as a new chapter in bringing prosperity to the region.
The mine officially opened on Tuesday. It has created more than 1 000 jobs during its construction and a further 1 000 indirect and direct jobs are expected to be created for the local community in the next few months.
More than R5 billion will be invested during the expansion of the mine, which will take place over the next few years. Titanium ore, zircon and other minerals mined at Fairbreeze will replace ore from the Tronox KZN Sands Hillendale Mine. Tronox is a US-based worldwide chemical company involved in the titanium products industry.
“The Fairbreeze mining operations will add enormous value to our minerals and make a significant contribution to our foreign exchange earnings. These are vital contributions to the provincial economy,” Premier Mchunu said.
He said Fairbreeze Mine is an integral part of the provincial industrial development strategy to increase employment and add more value to natural resources before export.
“This process will eventually help move us from being a third world exporter of primary commodities to a first world exporter of manufactured products.
“As we celebrate the skill and the labour, which accomplished this feat, we should see [the mine’s] completion as one of the things that will strengthen the manufacturing industry in the province and ultimately ensure that we overtake Gauteng in terms of contribution towards the national manufacturing sector,” the Premier said.
The total mineral endowment in South Africa is estimated at US $4.71 trillion, while the country has been identified as the world’s richest in terms of its non-energy mineral reserves, which are worth an estimated $2.5 trillion.
The mining industry is the third largest sector in the South African economy after the agriculture and industrial manufacturing sectors. It accounts for approximately 8% of gross domestic product (GDP) and creates approximately one million jobs.
KwaZulu-Natal ranks behind Gauteng as South Africa’s second largest contributor to the national manufacturing sector.
The size of the sector in the province is measured by its diversity, with the province especially active in various manufacturing sub-sectors including metals, automotive, chemicals, plastics, food, beverages and biofuels.
Premier Mchunu commended uThungulu, Umhlathuze and Umlalazi Municipalities for ensuring that all legal frameworks are adhered to during mine construction.
He also paid tribute to Amakhosi and local communities for working with the municipalities and the management of Tronox and Fairbreeze Mine. He expressed his appreciation to the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, including the Department of Minerals and Energy, for handling with utmost care all matters related to environmental management plans and mining rights.
“I do know that there have been many challenges but I draw satisfaction from the fact that communities have been the main beneficiary of this project,” said Premier Mchunu. – SAnews.gov.za
