The MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism ( DEDEAT ), Honourable Nonkqubela Pieters, officially opened the Orion Tank Farm in the Coega Special Economic Zone, Gqeberha, South Africa.
The inauguration of the Coega tank farm
The facility is located in Zone 7 of the Coega SEZ, and has a direct impact on the sustainability of the tyre and automotive manufacturing industry in the region. According to Coega Acting CEO Themba Koza, this strategic collaboration between Coega Development Corporation , the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition ( DTIC ), and the Eastern Cape Provincial Government secures thousands of jobs and strengthens the local economy.
One of the key achievements of this project is the preservation of over 7,000 jobs in the automotive sector, relevant to the Eastern Cape. MEC Pieters emphasised that such developments are critical to avoiding job losses in an industry threatened by potential cuts, such as those announced by Mercedes-Benz . In addition, the provincial government has completed the Provincial Electric Vehicle Strategy and has begun implementing charging stations to support the future of sustainable mobility.
Orion Tank Farm , designed to store and distribute black oil used in the manufacture of carbon black, an essential ingredient in tyre production , is a state-of-the-art facility. With two tanks totalling 36,000 m³ in capacity, each weighing over 280 tonnes and connected via a 5.4-kilometre pipeline from Ngqura Port , the facility ensures efficient operations and compliance with strict environmental regulations.
Progress on the Tank Farm project. Source: Coega
Furthermore, the construction of the tank farm generated more than 200 jobs and enabled the recruitment of six local small and medium-sized businesses. During the operation phase, further jobs are expected to be created, thus supporting the economic growth of the Eastern Cape. According to Corning Painter, CEO of Orion , successful collaboration with the government and its partners has been essential to strengthening the supply chain of the tyre industry in South Africa.
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Source and photo: Coega
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