Africa-Press – Eswatini. The newly-opened Green Chert Stone Mine, Michael Lee Enterprises is targeting E100 million turnover in their first year of operations.
This was revealed by the director, Michael Lee, during the company’s certificate handover and signing ceremony for the documents which grants them permission to mine. The handover was facilitated by the Chairman of Minerals Mining Board (MMB) Prince Guduza at Hilton Garden Inn recently.
He said they were grateful to His Majesty King Mswati III for finding it fit to grant the company the licence to mine two important minerals at Malolotja.
“I have assured His Majesty that we will ensure that we do all we can to bolster the country’s economy.
Eswatini has green gold which we need to use to the utmost best to attract foreign investment to the country. Our mission as a company is that Emaswati will be the biggest beneficiaries in this project.
We will employ over 1 500 people once we are in full operation, a figure which we hope to increase by the years. We also want to be the highest paying mining company in the country. Our target is that in the first year starting from now we will generate E100 million turnover which we will increase year by year.
We will not do anything less than that amount,” he said.
He said the support and counsel they have received from the King was humbling.
“We appreciate His Majesty for trusting us with such a huge responsibility to mine at the nature reserve. We are aware that we will be mining in a protected area and we make an undertaking that we will take care of the environment to make sure that it is not polluted,” he said.
Michael also revealed that he was running for chairman of the Taiwan Chamber Commerce in Southern Africa and will ensure that he invites even more investors to Eswatini. He stated that they will be the first one to work at the special economic zone in Matsapha and will invite other friends and investors to come and invest in Eswatini to generate even more revenue for the kingdom of Eswatini.
Meanwhile the South African High Commissioner to Eswatini, Advocate Thokozile Sipamla expressed her support to Michael Lee and his business associates. She urged the company to ensure that the biggest beneficiaries from this investment are the people of Eswatini.
She said he knew Michael as a man of many colours when it comes to business. She said mining was not a small space of operation hence she was happy that Michael and her team were patient while the process of granting them licences to operate. She said mining was a very sensitive field hence getting a licence to operate takes a long time because there is a lot involved.
“I am proud of Michael Lee, especially because is also a counsellor. He wears many hats and has many colours when it comes to business. My message to you and your team is that take care of the people of Eswatini.
Let Emaswati be the biggest beneficiaries from the proceeds of this mining project you will be undertaking. Make sure that you ensure beneficiation of the Emaswati. They must be the first ones to benefit from this mine,” she said.
She urged Michael and his team to take care of the land and ensure that they do not leave damages to the beautiful place they will be working from.
Meanwhile Mabandla Manzini who is a member of the MMB, said the licence comes with a lot of responsibilities which the mine has to observe and follow.
He said legislation dictates that anyone who is to start mining must have a lease which the company has just been granted.
The event was also witnessed by the representative of the Republic of China (Taiwan) ambassador, given that Michael Lee is a Taiwanese national by origin and works closely with the embassy as well as other business structures within the embassy in Eswatini and South Africa.
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