Matla Diamond Polishing Plant opened a
new plant in the Eastern Cape that will
boost South Africa’s diamond industry
(Image: Chris Kirchhoff,
MediaClubSouthAfrica.com. For
more free photos, visit the image library)
MEDIA CONTACTS
• Zwelakhe Sisulu
Matla Innovation Company
+27 11 245 7900
RELATED ARTICLES
• Kimberley goes for gold
• Mercedes-Benz SA tops for quality
• Business school to expand in Africa
• Record price for SA diamond
Nosimilo Ramela
South Africa will soon be able to process more of its own diamonds, thanks to the new Matla Diamond Polishing Plant in the Eastern Cape province.
Speaking at the launch of the East London-based facility on 28 July 2010, Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu said: “As a department, we want value added to our raw materials, making sure that our people get jobs and contribute to the economic activity of the country.”
The R102-million (US$13.9-million) project is a partnership between Matla Beneficiation Company, the East London Industrial Development Zone, the Industrial Development Corporation and Gold Eastern Holdings of China.
The automated plant is equipped with technology worth R35-million ($4.7-million) from China, and is expected to be eight times more efficient than a similar-sized manual operation.
It will produce a maximum of 20 000 carats a month – this translates to R100-million ($13.6-million) in monthly revenue, according to the current market environment, said Matla Group executive chairperson Zwelakhe Sisulu.
In 2009 a US news channel msnbc reported that India spent R73 ($10) per carat in polishing and cutting diamonds, while China spent R124 ($17) and South Africa R438 ($60). The new plant hopes to spend between R183 and R292 ($25 and $40) per carat in the first year, and match China’s figures in the next five years.
Employment opportunities
Matla Group CEO Chia-Chao Wu said the company plans to train 150 to 200 South Africans to become cutters and polishers. At the moment there are 25 previously disadvantaged individuals from the Eastern Cape employed at the plant. A further 120 skilled job opportunities are expected to be created over the next two years and more than 500 in the next five years.
Shabangu said government welcomed the initiative to source and train employees locally.
“I’d like to see this process of training translated into professionalism – a professionalism where these young people will be able one day to open their own factories,” she said.
The Matla Group has employed 25 Chinese nationals on a two-year contract to train local staff in diamond polishing.
“We really are going with great gusto into what we see as the knowledge economy, because in the world now, if you want to be competitive you have to have knowledge, skill and discipline as the basis,” Sisulu said.
Plant to make SA more competitive
Only 2% of local diamonds are currently processed in South Africa, with the remainder mainly being sent to non-diamond producing countries in the East. Sisulu said this was unfortunate.
Mcebisi Jonas, of the Eastern Cape’s Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, agreed: “While South Africa remains a leading diamond producer, there is very little local polishing of rough stones. The bulk of these are exported for further polishing in countries such as India and China.”
This joint venture, together with the latest technology, will go a long way in increasing the country’s competitiveness in the diamond-polishing industry, he said.
