Construction is under way at the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ), which is set to position the Western Cape as a rig repair hub. Economic Opportunities

MinisterAlan Winde says that enabling oil and gas servicing at Saldanha is central to Project Khulisa, a special initiative involving government and the private sector to develop the economy and create jobs to drive growth in the sector.

“Focusing specifically on upstream and midstream services, such as rig repair, this sector already provides 35 000 formal jobs opportunities in the province. “Through Project Khulisa, we have the aspirational goal of adding a further 60 000 formal jobs in this sector and increasing its economic contribution to R3-billion, from its current R1-billion,” he says.
Winde has requested an update report from the Saldanha Bay Licensing Company on the progress of construction at the SBIDZ.

“Excavations for the various civil engineering services are taking place and trenches for sewer and water lines are being [dug]. The roads are being boxcut and the site offices, which will be a multiuser facility for contractors and trainers, are set to be completed soon,” he states.

State-owned entity Transnet National Ports Authority has also started construction on its Offshore Supply Base, which is expected to be commissioned in September next year.

Winde states that civil works for the upgrade of the Saldanha Bay Wastewater Treatment Works have begun and will increase the capacity of the treatment works.

“We are also seeing healthy interest from the private sector. To date, nondisclosure agreements have been signed with 20 local and international investors. “The activity at the SBIDZ is the result of partnerships between the Western Cape govern-ment, the local municipality, Transnet and the Department of Trade and Industry.”

Job Creation

The mandate of the SBIDZ is to ensure that the development has a regional impact in terms of creating jobs.

The private sector will create most of the job opportunities through its skills requirements; however, local community members need to be trained to enable them to access these opportunities.

SBIDZ business development executive Laura Peinke says the SBIDZ has an accountable partnership with the local community, known as the Community Skills & Training Committee, to identify training programmes and individuals who qualify for these programmes in preparation for the SBIDZ development.

“Several key national, provincial and local government stakeholders are involved in these training initiatives, including the Department of Higher Education and Training, the South African Oil and Gas Alliance and the Western Cape government,” she notes.

The SBIDZ also has a partnership with the local business community through the IDZ Business Forum, which is open to all business-based membership organisations, and focuses on establishing a supply chain of local businesses that meet accreditation standards.

“The SBIDZ is expected to have a positive impact on the economy through the attraction of investment, the contribution to taxes and growth in gross domestic product,” she concludes.