Project background
The Sishen Iron Ore Company (Pty) Ltd (SIOC) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have funded various studies to assess the feasibility of developing an industrial park to stimulate sustainable long-term economic development for the Northern Cape region.
With the mining industry being the largest real economic sector in the Northern Cape economy (based on contribution to GDP), the town of Kathu, located in the Gamagara Local Municipality (GLM), is the preferred location due to its central proximity to the Postmasburg-Hotazel iron-ore/manganese belt and various established and pending REIPPPP projects.
It is envisaged that the Kathu Industrial Park (KIP) will serve as a catalyst for accelerated growth of other economic sectors.
The development will attract varied tenants delivering industrial goods and services to an environment leveraging economies of scale from centralised facilities and complemented by a business incubation and training complex.
The bankability study has not only confirmed extensive interest from businesses with a vested interest in the Northern Cape region (potential tenants), but has also confirmed the support of various key stakeholders as well as the commitment of investors and financiers.
This development, located on the R380, is easily accessible from the N14 – a major service route between Johannesburg, the West Coast of South Africa and Botswana – and the Kathu airport.
The study process has included an assessment of infrastructural requirements and has confirmed integration with GLM planning. The project is considered a key enabler for localized manufacturing initiatives anticipated via the Northern Cape Shared Value Initiative and Impact Catalyst.
Project description
The KIP development comprises the following:
- The Central Hub will comprise various facilities and the associated infrastructure network supporting KIP management structures. The scope of facilities is envisaged to include: central administration offices; conferencing facilities; an auditorium; a security office; a restaurant; and other social facilities. These are to be located in a hub within the park in a centrally located single-level building, with visitor parking and appropriate landscaping.
- A Business Incubation Centre and Training Centre.
- Customised warehouses and industrial buildings and (standard specification) mini-factories.
- Security fencing and lighting.
- Additional infrastructure envisaged for the functionality of the KIP includes: internal roads (tarred and paved), a storm-water system and an internal water reticulation system.
Facilities & Infrastructure Layout (Phase 1 & 2 Provisional Layout)
Targeted sectors
The KIP targets all economic sectors requiring serviced industrial space in the region, but with the major portion of the initial tenant makeup (study phase) primarily serving the established mining sector, by virtue of the KIP’s central proximity to the Postmasburg-Hotazel iron-ore/manganese belt.
The KIP is also well positioned to serve the emerging REIPPPP sector in the region.
In addition to the ongoing development of business opportunities within the tenant supply chains, it will be the role of the KIP business incubator to expand coverage of the KIP into other sectors.
Study-phase tenant engagement and commitment to the project has covered all possible prospective tenants, regardless of size or level of development. The KIP development caters for all nature of tenant facilities, from large customised facilities through to smaller, economically efficient mini-factories.
Project Financing
Phase 1 (434 000 m²): Debt and equity commitment provisionally secured from Private Sector (mining stakeholders) and Public Sector (IDC). Engagement ongoing with Northern Cape Provincial Government and Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (Dtic).
Phases 2 (189 000 m²): Current indication is that tenant uptake surplus to Phase 1 will support a further phase of at least R500-million.
Project status
- Bankability Study,
- Project Development Plan,
- Environmental Permitting,
- Land Re-zoning and various scope re-alignment and market studies completed.
Investor Engagement Phase substantively completed (including investor term sheets and KIP formational agreements), with provisional commitment secured from: IDC, Kumba, SIOC-CDT, Assmang and South32.
The project has been submitted to Infrastructure South Africa to register as a catalytic project.
Partnerships
- Private Sector
- Industrial Development Corporation
- Provincial government
- Local government