The MIDZ is a wholly-owned North West Provincial Government entity, under the auspices of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.
The MIDZ aims to facilitate and co-ordinate the industrial development of Mafikeng; design, build, operate and manage a world-class IDZ. Furthermore, it aims to establish viable investment opportunities and recruit potential investors. It is also responsible for maintaining and administering the work programme and timetable for the planning, construction and supply of bulk infrastructure services.
Investment opportunities have been catered for by the MIDZ. Looking closely at the operating concept, investment focus and theme for the proposed IDZ at Mafikeng, the unique investment theme conceptualised for the IDZ in Mafikeng focuses on these economic sectors:
One of the investments that has thus far been successful is the oil seed tree farm that the Mafikeng municipality decided to begin two years ago with the aim of generating biodiesel. The North West Provincial Government made R4.7 million available in funding to kick-start the establishment of the nursery and the national research on the industry as a whole, with specific reference to the use of Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera, Ximenia and Papea capensis.
As soon as it was placed under the custody of the MIDZ, the organisation managed to secure the German consortium (GUB Ingenieur) to conduct the technical and economic evaluation of the project. The report indicates how the project needs to be handled, going forward and it is the view that is even shared by the North West Provincial Government that GUB be engaged further to mobilise foreign funding for this project.
A further R3.8m was secured and used by GUB Ingenieur to conduct a technical and economic evaluation of the project. At the moment, there is still work in progress to determine, after this review, the profit that could be accrued once the project is healthy and running at the required speed.
One would wonder how biodiesel would be obtained from a farm of this kind. Oil is extracted from the seed of a particular tree, through various options and it is refined into biodiesel in a simple process that involves using an acid and an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol. Oil seeds were chosen as a result of comprehensive scientific discussions between GUB Ingenieur (who are experts in this field) and the MIDZ board. It was decided that Moringa oleifera would be the preferred plant for cultivation and oil production due to its quick growth rate, high drought tolerance, high yield and the fact that it is an indigenous crop.
Thus far, however, the Mafikeng Biodiesel Company has not been collaborating with the MIDZ, due to the feeling of the MIDZ that the biodiesel company should not have been established; the biodiesel project is an anchor project for the MIDZ. The submission is now that the company should be engaged to de-register it to give space for the MIDZ to see how best to handle the project going forward. The successes to date have been as follows:
To ensure the longevity of the project, the nursery serves as breeding plant for the trees, has an administrative block for the project and also has accommodation facility for the postgraduate students who are interested in conducting research on renewable energy. There is also an in-vitro laboratory that requires the necessary equipment.
If you are interested in investing in the Mafikeng IDZ please contact their office:
Physical address: 23 First Street Industrial Sites Mafikeng, 2745
South Africa
Tel: +27 18 381 0836
Fax: +27 18 381 0846
E-mail: info@midz.co.za
Web: www.midz.co.za
