Background: ORTIA Precinct 1 – Fresh food, jewellery and diamond manufacturing
OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) Precinct 1 comprises 63 000m² of developed space.
Food processing
This includes a 22 735m² food-processing facility that became operational in 2019. Described as the largest and most diverse ultra-fresh food facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere, In2food Bonaero as it is known, accommodates food preparation, storage, office areas as well as a canteen, showers and a medical clinic (read more here).
The Bonaero industrial operations boast an impressive refrigeration and PV system that reduces demand on the grid. In addition, all water sources are monitored through a comprehensive building-management system. Because of all of this, In2food Bonaero is one of the few industrial facilities in South Africa that has achieved four-star green accreditation and net-zero carbon level 1 certification, setting the benchmark for other industrial developments.
Since its opening, this facility has created over 2 500 operational jobs and has also supported and promoted emerging farmers that provide inputs to the facility for value addition.
Mineral-Beneficiation Cluster
The remaining part of the Precinct is where the Jewellery and Diamond Manufacturing Cluster is located.
Comprising more than 40 000m² of developed space, the JMP is home to 19 companies that share similar characteristics and operating requirements. These include a precious-metal refinery, diamond cutting and polishing companies, jewellery manufacturers, diamond-trading entities, an Enterprise Development Hub as well as regulatory agencies that support the industry.
In addition, sector-specific service providers that support the provision of high-level security requirements, inclusive of the movement of goods to airside, also form part of the development.
Enhanced connection and collaboration
The location of like-minded businesses at the Precinct is an intentional move by the OR Tambo SEZ aimed at ensuring that the mineral-beneficiation cluster functions competitively and efficiently. This is because worldwide, the cluster approach to economic development has been shown to not just foster industrial development, but also promote connection and collaboration, leading to increased creativity and productivity.
The next frontier: ORTIA Precinct 2 and the Springs Precinct
With the completion of ORTIA Precinct 1, the focus of the SEZ’s development is on ORTIA Precinct 2, a 29ha land parcel projected to have 265 000m² of developable space and the Springs Precinct, a 13ha land parcel projected to have 45 000m² of developable space.
Over and above their individual competitive locations, each precinct is positioned to promote the production and export of products best suited to their locations. In respect of ORTIA Precinct 2, because it is located a stone’s throw away from ORTIA Precinct 1 and OR Tambo International Air Cargo, the focus will be on mineral-beneficiated products, pharmaceutical and health products, electronics and other just-in-time products such as fresh food.
The OR Tambo SEZ is excited about the opportunities ORTIA Precinct 2 offers the African continent, especially in the production, export and consumption of pharmaceutical and health products manufactured in Africa.
Specific to the health cluster, plans are already underway to ensure the design and delivery of a globally competitive medical manufacturing cluster that includes sub-assembly, labelling and packaging services, logistics, warehousing and cold storage facilities, regulatory and testing facilities as well as research, development and innovation.
The OR Tambo SEZ is excited about this next frontier and the opportunities it offers the African continent in the production, export and consumption of pharmaceutical and health products manufactured in Africa.
Platinum potential
In addition to the sectors to be located at ORTIA Precinct 2, the OR Tambo SEZ is also pursuing the production and export of platinum-related products at its Springs Precinct.
This is because of the competitive location of this land parcel next to a major platinum refinery, allowing for easy access to platinum required to manufacture products such as platinum-based fuel cells and electrolysers. Electrolysers are a central input into Africa’s multi-billion-dollar hydrogen economy.
Available opportunities
OR Tambo SEZ is open to interest from investors looking to set up manufacturing operations in the sectors identified for location at ORTIA Precinct 2 or Springs Precinct.
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