23 Nov 2015

Pula Steel, which is a BCL Mine Polaris II initiative has commenced exporting billet produced from the organisation’s steel casting and manufacturing plant.

The first batch of 300 tonnes of billet loaded in six trucks left the plant in Selebi Phikwe for Veer Metal in South Africa on Friday November 20.

In an interview, Pula Steel CEO, Mr Ranvir Kumar Verma said the billet was the first to be exported to South Africa and soon the organisation would be exporting to some, if not all SADC countries. Besides South Africa, he said some organisations in Zambia and Zimbabwe had shown interest in their products and they would soon export the billet to such countries.

Also, he mentioned that some countries in Asia, in particular India, had shown interest the product. Currently, he said due to transportation logistics, it was more conducive to commence exporting the billet in Southern Africa before shipping the product to India and other countries.

The chief executive officer added that his organisation’s objective was to export 3 300 tonnes of billet per month and increase sales as production increases in future.  At the moment, he noted that in the first phase of the project, production was for 100 per cent export, while in the next phase of production, Pula Steel would be selling 50 per cent of billet locally.

Mr Verma said Pula Steel acquires scrap metal locally from BCL Mine and Ghaghoo Mine among other places.  

In the meantime, Pula Steel, which is the first company in the country that processes scrap metal into billet would further process billet into types of steel products such as rebar and other products.

The first phase of the project has so far created employment for 250 people and the number is expected to grow to 1 000 workers in the second phase. The project is expected to help diversify the economy of the Selibe Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU)region and have a meaningful input in the economy of the region and country.

The ground breaking of the project was done by former Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe last year July, while the plant was officially opened by Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi last month. Ends