Infrastructure and Services
Connectivity of all IDZ sites with world-class infrastructure such as road, rail, telecommunications, electricity, water and nearby airports lends a comparative advantage to the Zone. Of unique significance is the suitability of the Zone for location of investment projects with high water and high electricity consumption operations.
Proximity to the Port of Richards Bay
Location of the proclaimed IDZ land adjacent to the Port of Richards Bay lends an indispensable logistical advantage in terms of competitive transport costs and lead times to move import and export goods to and from quayside. Thus the Zone will be attractive to port-transfer dependent investment projects. Further the port of Richards Bay has a highly mechanised bulk goods handling capacity suited for handling of various bulk import and export commodities.
Availability of Natural Resources Processed Goods & Products
a) Raw Materials
The main natural resources in the Richards Bay area are:
- heavy minerals,
- pine (more suited and used for timber logging, furniture and structural timber),
- eucalyptus (gum) and wattle trees (more suited and used for pulp and paper production).
b) Processed and Intermediate Goods
Processed and intermediate materials available in the Richards Bay area are:
- titanium products comprising ilmenite and rutile grades of titanium,
- high purity pig iron and zircon,
- timber comprising aluminium ingots and alloyed billets, and
- chemicals comprising sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and granular phosphoric fertilisers;
c) Materials Shipped through the Port of Richards Bay
A significant volume of various grades of unprocessed granite blocks (and other minerals) is shipped for export through the port Richards Bay.
d) Heavy Duty Vehicles
Bell Equipment assembles / manufactures a diversity of heavy duty vehicles comprising articulated dump trucks, wheel loaders, tracked excavators, graders, haulers (rigid or articulated), tri-wheel rough terrain material handlers; and similar.
Manufacturing Sub-Sectors Focus
Given availability of raw materials, semi-processed products as well as manufacturing and raw material processing operations established in the region, the RBIDZ Company will investigate opportunities for further downstream beneficiation and production of value-added goods for export markets. The range will include the following sub-sectors:
- Aluminium: Drawing Hot Molten Aluminium from BHP Billiton’s Hillside Smelter for production of aluminium powders, sintered aluminium powder metallurgy products, aluminium castings components such as automotive wheel rims, gearbox housing and similar.
- Heavy minerals: Drawing Titanium Slag from RBM for production of Titanium Dioxide as a pigment for coating (paint) products. Drawing of Titanium Slag and Ferrochrome from RBM and Tata Steel for production of high performance alloys in terms of wear, corrosion and heat resistance and their further downstream processing for production of mechanical components.
- Forestry: Timber beneficiation to produce wood pulp, paper, furniture, masonite boards and bio-fuel products.
- Granite: Production of value-added granite products: Polished granite slabs, tiles and other granite masonry products.