Bergrivier Local Municipality
South Africa
West Coast District Municipality
Western Cape
Sector
Agriculture & Agri-processing
Energy
The West Coast District Municipality (WCDM) is seeking investment in an Organic Buchu and Essential Oils Plants Cultivation Project in the Piketberg area of the Bergrivier local municipality. The area has been identified as the ideal environment for the cultivation of these plants, and already the region is supporting some successful small enterprises in buchu production and essential oils processing. An amount of R250 000 has been requested from the District, and additional investment is called for from interested parties, to fund the venture properly, so as to ensure a sustainable and profitable business operation.
Background
The Buchu and essential oils industry is well-established in South Africa. The organic production in particular is viewed as a high-value and niche product in international markets. In the WCDM the Women's Buchu Cultivation Group project has been successfully growing buchu for seven years. The project currently has 1.5 hectares
under drip irrigation and develops its own bottled buchu water. They plan to expand their operations and acquire a small distilling unit on site.
Project site location
The site is located at Goedverwacht and is about 40 hectares in size. The land is leased from the Church Authority.
Potential benefit
The project will create employment specifically for women, and will encourage emerging farmers in the region to participate in skills and knowledge transfer, as well as driving the local economy in the rural communities within the municipality.
The answer is blowing in the wind
In May, the town of Darling in the West Coast District Municipality became home to South Africa's first wind energy farm.
The R75-million project is the first of its kind in the country to generate electricity from wind power on a commercial basis. In light of South Africa's recent electricity concerns, the global stance on alternative energy production and the forecast success of the project, it could be the first of many.
The wind farm has four turbines and can supply 5.2-megawatts of electricty, all of which will be sold to the City of Cape Town as part of a long-term power purchase agreement. The vast South African coastline, and especially the rugged, wind-battered part of it along the west coast, presents ample opportunity for similar projects to be set up. Investors will be watching the farm in Darling for early signs of success, and when they see them, the WCDM expects a line at the door asking for more.
The Darling project was developed by a group consisting of private developers that included an independent power producer in Darling, Darlipp, the Central Energy Fund and the Development Bank of South Africa. A portion of the funding was provided by the Danish International Development Assistance programme of the Danish government.
For more information on the West Coast District Municipality and the opportunities available please contact Mr Marthinus Boois by email on mboois@wcdm.co.za or by tel: +27 22 433 8530.
