The state’s own road-building programme in the Eastern Cape will be the biggest beneficiary of a R200-million aggregate quarry in Indwe.
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has invested R736 000 in prepping for mining operations at the quarry, some 120km from Komani.
The corporation’s deputy chair, Loyiso Jiya, said the quarry had a lifespan of 30 years and was “ripe for private and public sector investment opportunities as well as additional off-take agreements”.
ECDC committed R736 000 towards geo-tech surveys, drilling, laboratory testing, environmental impact assessments, mining works programme development, site layout planning, business planning and financial modelling as well as negotiations with prospective clients.
ECDC chief executive Buhle Dlulane said the mine had secured two off-take agreements and was already negotiating a supply contract with a local municipality for 1500 RDP houses and several companies in road construction.
“Subsequent off-take agreements and contracts will be financed through the ECDC. The plan is to gradually expand operations and supply capacity beyond the 200ha the mine currently occupies and to use the available land for additional production capacity.”
Blue Crane Resources and Minerals directors Sydney Stina and Mcebisi Limba found the site and flagged it as carrying aggregate material. They then negotiated a partnership agreement with farm owner Willem Stapelberg, on whose land the quarry is located.
Limba said Blue Crane’s primary focus was on supplying standard concrete stone products, crusher sand, specialised road stone, base course products, non-standard rock and crush products.
It was also investigating sand (building, river and plaster sand), ready-mix concrete, sabhunga, bricks and blocks.
He said the quarry was close to various state infrastructure investments in the eastern part of the province via good roads from Indwe.
“The mine has already secured an in- principle agreement with the firm appointed by the South African National Roads Agency to build the road between Elliot and Barkly East and another road from Indwe to Ugie and Maclear.”
Aggregate needs for these projects will run into tens of millions of rands.
“The enterprise is also soliciting opportunities from the new 17km road construction from Indwe to Elitheni coal mine in Guba village, which requires aggregates estimated at more than R30-million, as well as a low-cost housing development for 1500 units for Guba village with potential aggregates amounting to above R27-million,” Limba said.
Blue Crane employs 40 people from the local community and intends to increase the number. — rayh@dispatch.co.za
Quarry to pave new roads
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has invested R736 000 in prepping for mining operations at the quarry, some 120km from Komani.
The corporation’s deputy chair, Loyiso Jiya, said the quarry had a lifespan of 30 years and was “ripe for private and public sector investment opportunities as well as additional off-take agreements”.
ECDC committed R736 000 towards geo-tech surveys, drilling, laboratory testing, environmental impact assessments, mining works programme development, site layout planning, business planning and financial modelling as well as negotiations with prospective clients.
ECDC chief executive Buhle Dlulane said the mine had secured two off-take agreements and was already negotiating a supply contract with a local municipality for 1500 RDP houses and several companies in road construction.
“Subsequent off-take agreements and contracts will be financed through the ECDC. The plan is to gradually expand operations and supply capacity beyond the 200ha the mine currently occupies and to use the available land for additional production capacity.”
Blue Crane Resources and Minerals directors Sydney Stina and Mcebisi Limba found the site and flagged it as carrying aggregate material. They then negotiated a partnership agreement with farm owner Willem Stapelberg, on whose land the quarry is located.
Limba said Blue Crane’s primary focus was on supplying standard concrete stone products, crusher sand, specialised road stone, base course products, non-standard rock and crush products.
It was also investigating sand (building, river and plaster sand), ready-mix concrete, sabhunga, bricks and blocks.
He said the quarry was close to various state infrastructure investments in the eastern part of the province via good roads from Indwe.
“The mine has already secured an in- principle agreement with the firm appointed by the South African National Roads Agency to build the road between Elliot and Barkly East and another road from Indwe to Ugie and Maclear.”
Aggregate needs for these projects will run into tens of millions of rands.
“The enterprise is also soliciting opportunities from the new 17km road construction from Indwe to Elitheni coal mine in Guba village, which requires aggregates estimated at more than R30-million, as well as a low-cost housing development for 1500 units for Guba village with potential aggregates amounting to above R27-million,” Limba said.
Blue Crane employs 40 people from the local community and intends to increase the number. — rayh@dispatch.co.za
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