Civil Engineering June 2021 | Vol 29 No 5

Work underway at Tshwane’s biggest industrial development The government’s Special Economic Zones (SEZ) programme continues apace and is anticipated to generate significant employ- ment opportunities. The SEZ programme aims to attract foreign and domestic investments, increase the number and value of exported products, accelerate the development of industrial in- frastructure, enhance the beneficiation of the country’s resource endowments, and generate employment. One of these developments is the Tshwane Automotive SEZ (TASEZ). Here engineering consultancy Zutari is supporting the fast-tracked rollout of the TASEZ to accommodate a major investment by the Ford Motor Company in a facility to produce a new line of vehicles to be exported globally. With a total construction value of about R2.8 billion, TASEZ is the biggest development currently underway in Tshwane, with automotive suppliers receiving tax incentives and opportunities to invest in an SEZ that will ultimately provide Ford with all of the components it needs. Funders of the TASEZ include the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, the City of Tshwane and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. Zutari’s role is to provide design and supervision of the enabling infrastructure for Phases 1 and 1A, including all internal civil engi- neering services and associated bulk infrastructure upgrades. The latter includes a water supply pipeline and upgrades to Sefatanaga, Alwyn and Propshaft Roads and associated intersec- tions. Zutari also provided civil and structural conceptual design input at Stage 1 and 2 into each of the identified supplier sites. As part of job creation and business development, it is aimed to award 45% to 50% of the contracts to SMMEs. The goal of this approach is to ensure that the jobs and revenue generated are retained within the local community. For many years Ford has been exporting vehicles and compo- nents for the motor industry. Leveraging the favourable tax incen- tives and exchange rates for overseas companies, South Africa is uniquely positioned to deliver quality products at affordable prices to the rest of the world. “Not only will the TASEZ create crucially needed jobs in the industrial areas of Tshwane, including Mamelodi, it will ensure continued investment in South Africa,” concludes Chester Kan, Built Environment Location Lead, Gauteng at Zutari.  Sika develops low CO 2 emission admixture range Concrete is the most used construction material in the world, but the production of its key ingredient, cement, accounts for 6% to 8% of global CO 2 emissions. In cooperation with leading key players, Sika is working on the development of concrete admixtures imple- menting LC 3 technology which lowers CO 2 emissions. Developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne together with key players in the construction materials industry, the LC 3 project aims to reduce the carbon footprint of cement by switching to a novel supplementary cementitious material that can replace up to 50% of clinker in cement. LC 3 , or limestone calcined clay cement, substitutes part of the clinker with a blend of calcined clay, limestone and gypsum. LC 3 thus reduces clinker consumption, and hence CO 2 emis- sions, compared to regular cements. The calcination of the new added clay requires lower burning temperatures than in clinker production, and the fact that the limestone is not calcined also greatly reduces CO 2 emissions during production. Sika is prepared for a full-scale product testing with interested customers. The future Sika product portfolio will include cement additives and concrete admixtures enabling customers to adapt their materials and mix designs to the new characteristics of LC 3 . Water consumption, workability, hardening, and durability of concrete will be maintained as compared to conventional products. “With these new LC 3 admixtures we are walking the talk of our sustainability strategy. Our aim is to act as an enabler of sustainability in the construction industry and develop more environmentally friendly and better-performing products. We are committed to maximising the long-term benefits for our cus- tomers and other stakeholders, reducing resource consumption and the construction industry’s environmental impact. LC 3 based binders have a huge potential, and with our dedicated team we are bundling our R&D and technical expertise to help support and promote the widespread use of this exciting LC 3 technology,” says Frank Höfflin, Chief Technology Officer at Sika.  The TASEZ is the biggest development currently underway in Tshwane Sika is developing a range using LC 3 technology 50 June 2021 Civil Engineering