Photo by: Duane Daws
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) will soon issue a notice for an environmental-impact assessment (EIA) to assess the feasibility of establishing a cargo airport and an aeronautical or aerospace industrial cluster in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ).
The CDC noted in a statement on Friday that the cluster could involve the manufacturing of helicopters, aerospace engines, auxiliary equipment and parts, and propulsion units, while the industry could also possibly contribute to aerospace product prototypes, aircraft conversion and aircraft overhaul and rebuilding.
“The establishment of an advanced manufacturing cluster for aeronautical and aerospace industries has always been on our vision map,” CDC metallurgy business development manager Mogamad Sadick Davids said, adding that feasibility work, carried out by industry experts, had yielded great potential for the project.
The planned cluster would be located in Zone 14 of the Coega IDZ, which stretches 2 086 ha.
“Through the EIA, we are a few steps closer to developing a possible new industry for Nelson Mandela Bay, ensuring further broadening of the economic base and growth through diversified industrial sectors and development for the region,” Davids added.
Meanwhile, CDC marketing and communications head Dr Ayanda Vilakazi noted that the existing expertise, skilled labour and logistics services from the Eastern Cape’s automotive and manufacturing industries were important strategic advantages that could support the development of aeronautical and aerospace manufacturing in the region.
The Eastern Cape was home to automotive vehicle manufacturers including FAW, Mercedes-Benz South Africa, Volkwagen South Africa, General Motors South Africa and the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, as well as the recently established renewable-energy components manufacturing industry in the Coega IDZ.
“The CDC is perfectly endowed with skills, resources and world-class infrastructure at the neighbouring Port of Ngqura, to be part of the global commercial aircraft manufacturing industry,” Vilakazi said.
Included in the CDC’s plans was the construction of a cargo or industrial airport that would serve aeronautical and aerospace industrial manufacturing.
“Subsequently, this will also offer tenants and investors in the Coega IDZ with an immediate facility for air transport, which have been well received by the industry with letters of intent and expression of interests already indicated,” Vilakazi added.