Not only will this project generate energy from organic waste, but it will, directly and indirectly, create over 1,000 jobs, save landfill space and carbon emissions, as well as see depleted agricultural soils being rebuilt to high humus soils. The application has taken over three years and millions in investments to get to this stage, the final hurdle was to get the rezoning finalised.
Further to the biogas plant, Corona Farm will be divided into separate commercial units. One unit for the Waste to Energy project and the rest of the units to new sustainable organic farms with the focus on ownership for young entrepreneurs, primarily from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. Five of these units have already been developed with plantings of table and wine grapes, as well as citrus. An additional two units are in the process of being planted.
Reliance has already started their in-house training process consisting of new entrepreneurs through an intern programme. Furthermore, Reliance has combined efforts with Skills Fusion and the Department of Agriculture in training new agriculture students over the next 12 months.
The company’s mission is to Grow Greener Generations, and these new initiatives can be seen as a reflection of the company ethos. Reliance has expanded operations into the Southern and Eastern Cape, with the opening of its new compost facility at Humansdorp recently.
