An R120 million chemical plant was launched in KZN at the moment, Thursday, 1 September, in a bid to spice up financial development.
R120 MILLION CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING PLANT SET FOR KZN
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who presided over the launch of the 47% caustic soda liquid dissolution and mixing plant on the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone in La Mercy, mentioned:
“Today’s launch of Synergy Blenders’ R120 million chemical manufacturing plant has rekindled optimism and proved determination in the face of a global pandemic, tough economic headwinds, and millions of job losses”.
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Premier Dube-Ncube was joined by the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Siboniso Duma throughout the launch.
Premier Dube-Ncube added: “We meet at a time when our province and country is facing huge challenges but there is great opportunity and promise. Our province was tested severely by the July 2021 civil unrest and piled on top of that, was the devastating floods. Today signals renewed hope”.
“On behalf of KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, I wish to start by paying tribute to the entire executive management at Synergy Blenders. This investment is not only timely but is a vote of confidence in the Dube Trade Port, our Special Economic Zone”.
Dube-Ncube
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WHAT THE PLANT WILL BE PRODUCING IN KZN
The Premier outlined measures that authorities has made to drive financial development, highlighting that finding the plant inside the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone will guarantee efficiencies in the operations of Synergy Blenders whereas lowering the logistics prices of the imported uncooked materials.
“What Synergy Blenders is launching today is a manufacturing plant that will produce a chemical product used as an input of a variety of sectors from Pulp and Paper to Textiles and Mining. With only three established producers of 47% caustic soda liquid in the country, the local manufacturing of caustic soda is currently unable to meet the demand and hence an average of 370 000 tons is imported into the country annually.”
Dube-Ncube
“This highlights the potential for growth for this development by Synergy Blenders, which marks yet another step towards growing the economy of KwaZulu-Natal. As the Provincial Government, we are looking forward to seeing increased competition in the space and anticipating a locally produced product that is of a high-quality meeting international standards, yet cost-effective for the benefit of the market and other stakeholders in the value chain,” mentioned Premier Dube-Ncube.
The Premier reaffirmed that because the province embarks on the journey of financial restoration, chief among the many key priorities is making a nurturing atmosphere for companies all through the worth chains of key sectors of our financial system.
“We wish to point out that Synergy Blenders Manufacturing Plant will become an integral part of our Provincial Industrial Strategy, which enjoins us to stimulate the manufacturing industry in order to increase employment. At this stage, we wish to inform companies looking at investment opportunities in KwaZulu-Natal that we are open for business”.
Dube-Ncube
ABOUT SYNERGY BLENDERS
Synergy Blenders is a 100% black-owned native chemical manufacturing plant producing liquid caustic soda. The plant is predicted to be totally operational in April 2023. The entity acquired an R50 million grant from the Department of Trade Industry and Competition below the Black Industrialist Scheme and an R70 million mortgage from the Industrial Development Corporation.