Premier DD Mabuza's visit to Xtrata
Goedgevonden Colliery
11 January 2010
Mpumalanga Premier DD Mabuza will be undertaking a tour of
the Goedgevonden Colliery belonging to coal mining giant Xstrata Coal and
located near Emalahleni, on 12 January 2010.
The visit is a follow-up to a meeting the Premier held
with the company soon after his inauguration in 2009.
Premier Mabuza is keenly aware of the important role that
the private sector can play in addressing the developmental challenges that
Mpumalanga faces and has held meetings with various companies in the province
including banks, the forestry companies Mondi and Sappi, Sasol and Anglo Coal
among others.
These meetings were crucial to the significant private
sector involvement in last year’s hugely successful Provincial Economic Summit ,
held in Mbombela on 15 and 16 October 2009.
The Goedgevonden colliery is one of four local coal
venture projects launched by Xstrata to the tune of R16 billion over the next
five years. These projects reflect a significant investment injection into the
provincial economy at a time when the rest of the country and the world is
experiencing the impact of a severe economic downturn.
Mpumalanga accounts for close to 23 per cent of the
country’s mining production and 83 per cent of coal production. Xstrata Coal, a
subsidiary of Xstrata (one of the world’s largest diversified mining groups), is
the country’s fourth largest producer and third largest exporter of coal.
The Mpumalanga provincial economy has not escaped the
economic misfortunes that were experienced globally since late 2008. However,
this sizeable investment by Xstrata augurs well for a regional economy that is
the fourth largest in the country and grew at 3.9 per cent during the period
2002-2008.
The Premier’s visit to Xstrata’s Goedgevonden colliery
further reflects a commitment to collaborating with mining companies and other
investors in the province to widen opportunities for job creation and
sustainable livelihoods for many more people through skills development,
creating opportunities for small enterprises and community development.
The Premier’s delegation will include the MEC for Economic
Development Environment and Tourism, Jabu Mahlangu and other senior government
officials.
For more information please contact
Mabutho Sithole
Premier Spokesperson
Cell: +27 82 389 3348
Tel: +27 13-766 2055
Issued by the Office of the Premier
