RBIDZ Visit by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau

Date: 7 May 2026

Good Day

Minister, It is both an honour and a privilege to welcome you to the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone.

We are particularly pleased to host you today, Minister. We are aware that this visit has been long anticipated, and that your schedule and national responsibilities have previously made it difficult to secure the opportunity.

We are therefore grateful that, despite your many commitments, you have now been able to visit the RBIDZ. Your presence here today is deeply appreciated and highly significant to us as the Zone.

Minister, allow me to acknowledge the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the work undertaken by the department under your leadership.

The Special Economic Zones Programme remains one of the most impactful industrial policy instruments in South Africa.

Its role in driving industrialisation, attracting investment, enabling localisation, and supporting job creation is central to the country’s economic agenda.

This support has been instrumental in helping us advance our mandate, particularly during periods that have required resilience and institutional strengthening.

While we have faced challenges and setbacks in the past, we are confident to report that RBIDZ has made meaningful and measurable progress, and we continue to make headway as an organisation and as an industrial platform.

 

MEC EDTEA SUPPORT

I must also take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence of the Honourable MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, who is with us today.

MEC, your unwavering support as shareholder representative has been invaluable.

We are equally grateful for the continued support of the Head of Department, Dr Zulu, who is with us today.

We continue to thrive under your leadership, guidance, and commitment to the success of this entity and the broader provincial development agenda.

 

DEPUTY MINISTER, DR GINA

I also acknowledge Deputy Minister, Dr Gina – her support stems back from the time when she was the dtic Deputy Minister.

She has the best interest at heart for the people of this region and this Special Economic Zone in particular.

Currently she serves in a very critical portfolio that is agile to skills development in this modern era. Her portfolio is very much beneficial to the Zone and the people of this region. We continue to learn more from her.

 

HOSTING KZN ENERGY INDABA , ENERGY SECURITY AND RBIDZ INVESTMENT PIPELINE

Not so long ago, RBIDZ was entrusted by the Province, under the delegation of the MEC, to implement the KwaZulu-Natal Energy Indaba on behalf of the Provincial Government.

We are proud to report that the Indaba was a resounding success, bringing together government, industry, investors, and experts to meaningfully engage on energy security and the future of energy in KwaZulu-Natal. This achievement reflects what is possible when there is clear leadership, policy alignment, and institutional support.

Minister, We are very much aware that industrialisation cannot thrive without secured, reliable, and sustainable energy.

For this reason, RBIDZ takes its mandate seriously, particularly in driving all priority sectors with energy as a central cornerstone. 3 Our focus on energy is deliberate. It is essential to ensuring that current and prospective investors are adequately supported and that industrial activity within the Zone is both competitive and resilient.

Minister, to further entrench the title coined upon us as an “Energy hub” RBIDZ and Rosatom have underscored the strategic significance of the FNPP initiative in strengthening South Africa’s long-term energy security through the provision of clean, reliable, and scalable power.

The project entails the deployment of floating nuclear barges capable of generating 400 MW, with potential for expansion. Positioned as the first privately financed infrastructure initiative of its scale in Africa, it designates the Richards Bay Special Economic Zone as a key national energy hub.

From a financial perspective, the project adopts a capital-intensive model with predictable operational costs. Initial funding will be provided by the Workers Investment Forum, complemented by a broader financing structure incorporating equity investments, green finance instruments, and international partnerships.

Regulatory discussions acknowledged existing gaps in South Africa’s nuclear policy framework, particularly regarding floating installations. To address this, a Joint Coordination Committee between South Africa and Russia will be established, with alignment to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). To which a section 79 process will need to be embarked.

 

INVESTMENT VALUE

We are therefore proud of our investment pipeline value, which currently stands at approximately R252 billion.

Significantly, a large portion of this pipeline value is attributed to energy-related projects, reflecting both market demand and RBIDZ’s strategic positioning as a key energy and industrial hub.

This pipeline gives us confidence in the future trajectory of the Zone and its ability to contribute meaningfully to economic growth.

 

NYANZA PROJECT GETTING DTIC SUPPORT AND TRIPARTITE SIGNING

We are also encouraged by the presence of anchor projects within the Zone, including the Nyanza Light Metals project, which continues to benefit from substantial support from the dtic.

Just recently Nyanza was celebrating 15 years anniversary, we congratulate them for such milestone that comes at a time when they will soon be hitting the ground with the 2 nd phase of project development.

Moreover, we are excited to report that Nyanza will be embarking in the next phase of the project development which will prepare site for construction.

This phase will also be cemented today through a Tripartite Signing Agreement that will be concluded between Nyanza Light Metals, the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone, and the Contractor - East China Engineering Science and Technology.

The signing demonstrates the journey that we have been waiting for.

Nyanza status update, alongside other projects will be highlighted in today’s presentation which demonstrates the potential of RBIDZ to anchor large-scale, catalytic investments that can alter the industrial landscape of this region.

 

CREATING POSITIVE IMPACT THROUGH JOBS , SKILLS AND LOCALISATION

Minister, the vision of RBIDZ is clear: this Zone aims to change the economic and industrial landscape of Richards Bay and its surrounding communities.

We want to contribute positively and create long-lasting impact through jobs, skills development, localisation, and sustainable industrial growth.

This vision is made possible through the continued support of government, particularly the dtic, the KZN Provincial Government, and our shareholder department.

 

IMPORTANCE OF GENERATING OWN REVENUE

We also recognise, with honesty and responsibility, the importance of ensuring that RBIDZ becomes financially sustainable.

We acknowledge that generating sufficient revenue is critical to ensuring that the Zone can operate sustainably over the long term.

While the conversion of investment pipeline projects into revenue has taken time due to lengthy and complex processes, we have placed strong focus on the implementation of financial sustainability strategies.

These efforts are aimed at gradually reducing reliance on grants and strengthening the Zone’s own revenue-generating capacity.

 

CLOSING

Minister, your visit today affirms the importance of the work we are doing and reinforces the strength of the partnership between RBIDZ and the dtic.

We remain committed to delivering on our mandate, supporting investors, driving industrialisation, and contributing meaningfully to regional and national development.

We once again warmly welcome you to RBIDZ and look forward to engaging further during today’s programme.

I thank you