Free State Province is situated in the heart of South Africa and shares borders with Lesotho and six other provinces. It provides easy access to the main ports of Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth.
The Free State is an attractive business and investment destination. The province is at the centre of South Africa and the dominant sectors are agriculture, mining, manufacturing and the tertiary sectors, making it ideal for transport logistics and agro-processing.
Companies locating to Free State not only enjoy the opportunity to source inputs at competitive prices, but also to benefit from domestic, regional and international markets for their products and services. Because South Africa has been engaging with our economically large trading partners, access to international markets is facilitated through various trade preferences and free-trade agreements.
As far as long-term investment is concerned, there are industrial parks and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that are supported by the Department of Trade and Industry. Industrial parks are situated in Maluti-a-Phofung, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. Maluti-a-Phofung SEZ is situated in Tshiame.
Selected projects in Free State include:
Mabele Fuels (Pty) Ltd
Mabele Fuels (Pty) Ltd is a company registered in the Republic of South Africa whose business is the manufacture of fuel-grade ethanol from grain sorghum for sale to the South African biofuels market. The company was founded and incorporated in 2005 and aims to build a bio-ethanol-from-sorghum plant in Bothaville in the Free State Province, South Africa.
Project description
The establishment of a sorghum-based bio-ethanol refinery in Bothaville. The plant will have the capacity to produce 153-million litres of fuel-grade bio-ethanol per year.
Project status
The project will be funded by a combination of equity funding (shareholders) and financial institutions. The full suite of project and finance documents are available.
Key facts
- Sector: Renewable energy
- Value: R2.5-billion
- Job creation: 5 000 jobs
Quirinus (Pty) Ltd
Quirinus (Pty) Ltd intends to establish a manufacturing plant in Harrismith, Free State Province, South Africa. The plant will make male and female latex condoms for both the private and public sector markets.
Project description
The establishment of a manufacturing plant to produce male and female latex condoms for public and private sector markets.
Project status
This project is currently in the phase of business and contract negotiations. The project will be financed by shareholder and bank loans. Partnerships exist with V-Worldwide Group, HLL and Prometheum Investments (Pty) Ltd.
Key facts
- Sector: Manufacturing
- Value: R220-million
- Job creation: 198 jobs
GAP Holdings
Gap Holdings’ vision is to be at the forefront of geyser innovation and new technologies in the industry. A manufacturing plant for solar and electric geysers is envisaged for the town of Welkom in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality.
Project description
The establishment of a solar and electric geyser manufacturing plant.
Project status
The project is currently in the business plan phase.
Key facts
- Sector: Manufacturing
- Value: R20-million
- Job creation: 80 jobs
Rui Star
The company intends to manufacture steel and iron with scrap metal sourced from all over South Africa.
The plant will be located in the industrial area of Botshabelo, Bloemfontein, which is already a manufacturing hub with a skilled workforce.
Project description
The company will source scrap metal across South Africa and process it into steel and iron.
Project status
The project will be financed by shareholder and bank loans. EIA approvals have been obtained and SMME Scrap Metal Suppliers has been established.
Investigating an opportunity for a metal fabrication plant to supply the construction, building and infrastructure sector.
Key facts
- Sector: Manufacturing
- Value: R300-million
- Job creation: 500 jobs
Tetra4 / Renergen
Tetra4 is a vertically integrated gas producer operating in South Africa. Tetra4 is a natural gas producer that provides sustainable, clean energy solutions to large-scale users in the Free State mining region around Welkom.
The company has 13 operational wells producing methane-rich natural gas and uniquely occurring helium. The methane-rich natural gas is a clean substitute for transport fuel and thermal fuel.
Project description
Tetra4 will produce the country’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) locally and sell it to transport companies for use in trucks to reduce reliance on imported diesel. The company will also export helium, which will make South Africa the eighth country in the world with proven helium reserves.
Project status
The project is currently in the project packaging and development phase.
Key facts
- Sector: Renewable energy
- Value: R450-million
- Project Funding: R220-million equity + R230-million loans
- Job creation: 405 jobs
Contact the Free State Development Corporation (FDC) for more information:
Please include the project name in subject line.
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