Medupi Power Station

Posted 3 September 2014

Medupi power station is well underway, but there are at least 4 or 5 more years before the project is complete and the economic implications are far reaching. Aall the while there are new opportunities arising for employment, entrepreneurs and business development.

This means an influx of people. Every single one needing a place to live or conduct business from. The infrastructure in Lephalale and the areas surrounding the Medupi Power Staion will need to grow extensively to accommodate the accompanying growth in population.

How will the Medupi Power station affect the economy?

The Medupi Power Station has injected funds into the South African economy by electing to use a South African foundry to chrome steel castings for use at the power station.

Existing contributors to the economy, will benefit from the expansion and in a full circle have an opportunity to expand too.

The economy that is local to Lephalale consists chiefly of mining, with the Grootgeluk mine supplying coal directly to the Matimba Power Station - the largest dry cooled power station in the world - via conveyor belt. Grootgeluk in turn is one of the largest open faced mines in the world and yields in ecess of 16million tonnes of coal per year. As Medupi slowly starts to operate the already high production may need to increase which will call on more manpower.

Agriculture in the area consists chiefly of farming animals for consumption, but game farming is steadily increasing and beginning to overtake cattle farming. Plant production in turn is rather successful and incredibly varied with crops ranging from citrus and tobacco to maize, watermelons and cut flowers.

For all the expansion that is to take place and the increase in the need for housing and structures from which to conduct business, building materials will need to be supplied, and in the spirit of keeping it local use should be made of the companies surrounding the ongoing development.

Suppliers of building materials for the area would include Logibrikand Rustenburg

Other room for expansion or improvement

The existing infrastructure includes basic education, but the facilities would need to increase as the population increases and people add to their families.

There will not only be requirement for basic education but with development will come a need for various post scholl and adult education programmes and facilities that are suited to this type of education.

The need for various skills will grow proportionately with the economy and facilities for aquiring these skills will become a necessity.

Such educational opportunities would include:

• Entrepreneurial skills
• Leadership skills
• Various Trades can be learnt