The Deputy Minister of the Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Fikile Majola will officiate the Toronto Group’s virtual sod-turning ceremony of the first of a kind charcoal manufacturing plant that will use alien invasive species on Tuesday, 18 August 2020 at 10:00. The company is a beneficiary of the department’s Black Industrialists Scheme (BIS).
Toronto Group specialises in the manufacturing of high-quality lump wood charcoal. The company is based in the Western Cape, with its primary production facility located in the Swartland Municipality. Its primary feedstock is alien invasive species that are mainly harvested under the auspices of the Working for Water Programme, to enhance the flow of water in riparian zones.
Majola explains that the BIS has approved to support Toronto Group with capital funding of R50 million for business development, purchase and installation of modern capital equipment to manufacture high quality lump wood charcoal.
“Through this BIS support, the company will implement its greenfield charcoal plant in Wellington, Somerset West, wherein they will supply local retailers and export to European countries. The company has so far created five direct jobs and is projected to create 90 jobs by December 2020, plus additional indirect job opportunities through its sourcing of raw materials from local suppliers,” he says.
Majola adds that the company also plans to expand into other provinces in future. Due to the nature of the product, the factories will always be situated in rural areas where the unemployment rates are higher than those in cities.
THE EVENT WILL BE VIRTUALLY AVAILABLE
To register for this event go to the link: https://bit.ly/2DeU5Eq
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
Follow us on Twitter: @the_dti
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