THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR RECEIVED A R150 MILLION BOOST

THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR RECEIVED A R150 MILLION BOOST

By BRIAN KAJENGO

Manufacturing sector today received a boost with the official launch of the R150-million CBI electric: African, new high-voltage (HV) cable manufacturing facility in Vereeniging by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies.

CBI-electric: african cables, the fully SABS and ISO accredited in the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and maintenance of electric power cables, will be the first in Sub-Saharan Africa to design and manufacture High Voltage cables up to 275kV with conductor sizes up to 2500mm². These new cables will be capable of distributing 350MVA, at 132kV and 547 MVA at 275kV, from a single cable circuit.

These new cables would also enable South African energy consumers, such as municipalities and metropoles, to achieve a distribution of up to 350 MVA, 132 kV, and 547 MVA, 275 kV, on a  single cable circuit.

Speaking at the function, Minister Davies said manufacturing industry has shown progress in the past five years and that the launch of the project is evident to the support that government is providing to the sector through its various support.

“The company has benefited from a number of measures from Industrial Policy Action Plan, including the department of trade and industry’s Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme, from which they were supported by 45 million rands,” said Minister Davies.

In supporting companies to become competitive, Minister Davies added that government has stepped up the work in making sure that substandard products do not compete unfairly in the industry.

“We’re not doing this to protect unsustainable businesses against competition, but rather to promote their competitiveness and boost manufacturing. As a result, the designation of electric cables has enabled [CBI] to grow and expand,” said Davies.

  According to the Managing Director of CBI-electric: african cables, Mr Alan Dickson, the new cables will be capable of distributing 350MVA, at 132kV and 547 MVA at 275kV, from a single cable circuit; and company the will be the first in Sub-Saharan Africa to design and manufacture High Voltage cables up to 275kV with conductor sizes up to 2500mm².

“South Africa’s growing electricity demand as well as the high copper price necessitated an investment by the company, supported by the dti initiatives, to build a world class production facility. The facility is capable of manufacturing High Voltage (HV) underground electric cable ranging from 44kV to 275kV, with increased conductor sizes up to 2 500mm². This investment will enable South African large energy consumers to achieve a distribution of up to 350MVA, 132kV, and 547MVA, 275kV, on a single cable circuit,” said Mr Dickson.

According to Mr Dickson, the facility will create 27 permanent jobs, the R&D; engineering, process, manufacturing and associated skills will all be developed and retained within South Africa. These highly trained personnel will ensure that the production capacity of the new plant will exceed 20km’s per week, which will result in shorter project lead times. 

“All solutions provided by the company are fully tested according to the required SABS and IEC standards,” added Mr Dickson.