JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s minerals-endowed Northern Cape province has attracted more than R105-billion in investment pledges in new and expanded mining, energy and agriculture projects, with an expected 19 800 new jobs to be created as a result.

The investment accords were signed at this week’s inaugural Northern Cape Investment and Jobs Conference in Kimberley. The three-day conference was attended by over 900 stakeholders, including government Ministers, industry leaders and prospective investors, to catalyse investment and growth opportunities in the province’s green energy, minerals and mining, agriculture, industrialisation, infrastructure and logistics, and tourism sectors.

The new investor commitments are described by Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul as taking the Northern Cape a long way toward achieving its target of growing the province’s GDP from R164-billion to R200-billion and creating at least 60 000 new and sustainable jobs by 2030. “After all the deliberations of the past three days, serious commitments have been made and we assure all the corporate entities that have made these pledges that we don't take your commitments for granted,” Saul added in a media release to Mining Weekly.

The mining industry investments included:

• A R17-billion commitment by Vedanta Zinc International for expansion of its Gamsberg mine, which will make it the world’s largest zinc mine, as well as for the development of a smelter in the province.
• An R11.2-billion commitment by Anglo American that will take in expansion of Kumba Iron Ore.
• A R2.8-billion investment by Northern Cape Protech & Agri Revolution in mining, beneficiation and agriculture.
• A R1.4-billion commitment by South32 for mining and beneficiation.

Investments announced in the province’s renewable-energy sector included:

• A R30-billion investment by IPPO in the new Upington Energy Park renewable energy generation and storage facility.
• A R16.8-billion green energy production investment by Ando Energy.
• A R13-billion commitment from Mulilo for expanded green energy production enabling industrialisation pathways in the province.
• A R12-billion investment by Prieska Power Reserve for a catalytic green hydrogen and ammonia project set to start producing in 2030.

Investments announced in the agriculture and agro-processing sectors included:

• A R1.5-billion investment by South African Atlantic Salmon for the development and enhancement of the Nama Aquaculture Park with a salmon processing facility.
• A R30-million investment by Dune Foods, which focuses on producing MannaBrew, a mesquite-based alternative to coffee. 

“It's been a truly remarkable few days," said Northern Cape Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Venus Blennies-Magage. "We close with a clear pathway forward to unlock large-scale investment, unlock economic inclusion and create sustainable jobs for the people of the Northern Cape.”