Building projects in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) have injected over R1.2 billion into the Nelson Mandela Bay construction industry over the past two quarters.
Six major construction projects are currently underway in the Coega IDZ including erection of:- Chinese car and truck manufacturer First Automobile Works’ (FAW) plant;
- Famous Brands’ cold storage plant;
- DCD Group’s wind tower manufacturing plant;
- the addition of Coega Cheese onto the Coega Dairy outfit;
- Agni Steels’ R400-million smelter facility; and
- Rehau’s extension in the Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park (NMBLP).
A partnership between Famous Brands and Coega Dairy has also seen the dairy expanding its operations to supply cheese products to the group in a project dubbed ‘Coega Cheese’ with a joint valued investment of R45 million pouring into the Coega IDZ as a result.
FAW In addition, says Vilakazi, the construction activity is creating needed jobs on the city, particularly on the FAW site, with the R200 million FAWconstruction project well underway. To date about 304 construction jobs have been created on its site, a number that grows week to week. In total the construction phase will see about 2000 jobs generated over the year-long duration. In the operation phase of the truck assembling plant a further 280 jobs will also be created. According to Arnie van Jaarsveldt, WBHO Construction Eastern Cape managing director and lead contractor on the FAW project, the highlight of the construction will be its architectural finesse. Van Jaarsveldt saysEastern Cape Architects Studio d’Arc wanted to make a statement with the Chinese automotive giants’ building in Zone 2 of the IDZ. “Its prime position on the N2 means it will get heightened attention. FAW management loved Studio d’Arc’s unique design on the office and reception area – particularly the exceptional use of concrete, so that’s set to be the highlight of the building,” says van Jaarsveldt. “Otherwise, we are working hard to keep to a strict timetable, and you will see the columns almost completed and some initial top structures going up over the factory portion. With a long way to go, the skeleton is definitely taking shape.” Van Jaarsveldt said construction is on-track for completion end December 2013, adding that there was significant collaboration between the Chinese engineers and their South African counterparts – a coup for skills development and mentorship. AGNI STEELS AgniSteels is also wrapping construction of its R400 million steel plant in Zone 6 of the 11500Ha IDZ. Agni Steels will operate in a high-tech smelting facility to produce mild steel billets from scrap metal. The plant at Coega will use 10 000 tons of scrap metal in phase 1 and 20 000 tons in phase 2. DCD GROUP DCD Group is also in the early phases of its R300 million wind tower manufacture factory which when completed, is expected to employ 168 workers, and produce between 110 and 120 wind towers annually. “Coega is boldly delivering on our jobs promise through the attraction of investments,” says Vilakazi.