Unilever’s R1.4-b Khanyisa Factory opens in Boksburg

The Khanyisa factory forms a massive part of Unilever’s R3-b ”Capacity Transformation Project” investment, in line with the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP).

According to Polman, who is visiting South Africa as co-chairman of the World Economic Forum on Africa and to launch the company’s Bright Future Campaign, the new, cutting-edge and green technology that has been incorporated into the design of the factory is in line with the USLP strategy.

This is a plan that reduces the carbon footprint, while aiming to double the size of the business.

The Khanyisa site will deliver a 50 per cent reduction in the carbon emission footprint and a 70 per cent reduction in water usage per ton.

“With Unilever’s investment in the Khanyisa factory, there will be significant new skills development, due to the state of the art technology,” said Polman.

“This investment has created much needed indirect and direct jobs in our value chain, helping to build the South African economy.”

Khanyisa is one of several major projects of Unilever in South Africa and Africa as a whole, as part of an overall strategy to upgrade the supply chain to world-class levels.

Polman said the investment will also ensure a 67 per cent increase in production capacity from 90 000 to 150 000 tons annually.

“Transforming our production capacity is one of four critical initiatives that we are driving, to meet expected growth in demand.

“The home care factory will enable us to better serve our consumer with innovation and green technology while, simultaneously, improving service levels for our customers.

The brand new factory includes green and world’s first technologies – a project that began in 2013 and has finally been completed.

Speaking at the launch, Davies said the green technology, innovation and energy efficiency adopted by Unilever are the kind of investments that South Africa welcomes as part of climate change and industrialisation aspirations.

He said the success and growth of Unilever’s investment projects in the country will continue to communicate the message of South Africa as an ideal location for investment in Africa.

“With the roll-out of the Black Industrialist Programme, Unilever’s investment could play a key role in knowledge sharing, technology and skills transfer to black industrialists, thus creating an opportunity for emerging companies to be able to participate in mainstream economy,” said Davies.

He added that Unilever could work with the DtI in deepening the supply chain, especially with black industrialists through backward linkages in agriculture and the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, as well as building regional value chains on the African continent.

The Khanyisa investment is one of many that have been supported by the DtI’s 12I Tax Allowance Incentive scheme, which is an incentive in place by government to support Greenfield investments (new industrial projects that utilise only new and unused manufacturing assets) and other projects that benefit the planet as a whole.

“We are appreciative of the DTI’s commitment to improving this country’s global competitiveness and reputation, with a view to delivering on its growth and development imperatives,” said Polman.- @NalediBoksburg