THE Coega Development Corporation said that it had started recruiting for the first 143 posts out of a possible 800 being created at Agni Steels South Africa’s smelting plant in the Coega industrial development zone.
The wholly black owned steel mill will produce mild steel billet both for domestic use and export, initially employing office and technical staff, including laboratory personnel and heavy equipment operators.
Production for export to India and other African countries will start by June next year.
Mr Ayanda Vilakazi the development corporation’s head of marketing and communications said that "Agni Steels has required us to place 143 persons into positions ranging from unskilled to management.”
Three Port Elizabeth businessmen had partnered with one of the biggest steel manufacturers in India to set up the ZAR 400 million steel plant at Coega. The plant is a joint venture between Agni Steels SA and a Nelson Mandela Bay empowerment consortium.
The Industrial Development Corporation holds a 10% stake in the venture. Another 10% shareholding has been reserved for a workers’ trust.
Agni Steels SA co director Hassan Khan said that "We are pleased to be at the stage where what was once a concept is now bearing fruit and will start making a real impact on people’s lives through job creation.”
The venture is expected to eventually create 800 jobs, with downstream benefits for local industry. Agni Steels SA was started after the partners identified the need for a domestic steel producer to beneficiate scrap metals being exported from South Africa.
The plant would use 10,000 tonnes of scrap metal a month during the first phase of operations, doubling to 20,000 tonnes thereafter.
