Launch ceremony held for Aberdare HV manufacturing plant

Ebrahim Patel, Lin Songtian, Mlungisi Mvoko, Mongameli Bobani, and Song Haiyan together press the launch button. (People's Daily Online/Wang Lei)

Hengtong Aberdare Cables held a grand unveiling ceremony for the launch of the Aberdare high voltage manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on July 25.

The total project investment amounted to more than ZAR 135 million. This investment expands the products portfolio of Aberdare Cables from a current level of 33kV to a new product offering up to 132 kV. The whole production line already has full production capacity, becoming the third African company capable of producing high-voltage cables.

Ceremony guests included Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade and Industry and Economic Development of South Africa, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Lin Songtian, Fikile Majola, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mlungisi Mvoko, Eastern Cape MEC for Finance and Economic Development, and Mongameli Bobani, Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Together with customers, partners and media, more than 140 people attended. The launch of the high-voltage cable manufacturing plant is an important step towards Hengtong's internationalization, in direct response to President Cyril Ramaphosa's campaign to attract investment.

Proceedings included a factory tour of the high voltage line. Aberdare CEO, Dr. Song Haiyan, presented the development of Hengtong and Aberdare. Ebrahim Patel and Ambassador Lin Songtian unveiled the Aberdare high-voltage cable production line and delivered keynote addresses.

During the event, Dr. Song Haiyan shared that Hengtong's investment will bring more employment opportunities to women and young people in the local area, while more than 50 percent of the investment will be spent on local procurement. He pointed out that Aberdare would adopt a new model to carry out its business and would work closely with EPC contractors, accessories suppliers and testing parties.

Ambassador Lin spoke highly of the support given by the South African government to Chinese-funded enterprises in South Africa, and made a systematic analysis of South Africa's advantages in attracting foreign investment. He also mentioned that government departments need to relax visas for Chinese technical managers, as well as implement further incentives and tax relief policies.

In his speech, Patel mentioned that the investment of Hengtong, the world's leading cable manufacturer, has brought new employment opportunities to South Africa. At the same time, he responded to President Cyril Ramaphosa's localization requirements and confirmed his assertion that South Africa is an attractive country for foreign investment.

"Wealth and jobs are created by expanding productive capacity. The government will deploy industrial policy measures to support manufacturers as that opens economic opportunities for the industry and the country at large," Patel said.