Yoa Cable Launches Biggest Optical Fibre Plant In Africa

Fibre cable maker Yangtze Optics Africa Cable has opened a R160 million facility the biggest optical fibre cable manufacturing plant on the continent at the Dube TradePort special economic zone north of Durban.

YOA Cable is a joint venture between Chinese -owned Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company YOFC and JSE-listed Mustek Limited. It moved to the state-of-the-art 14 000m2 factory from a smaller rented facility where it has operated in the zone since 2016.

The company initially invested R150 million to establish a local presence in optical fibre cable manufacturing, YOA Cable chief executive Pieter Viljoen said at the launch.

This latest strategic move is set to transform our operations, significantly increase production capacity of locally manufactured optical fibre cable and explore new opportunities for growth across the Southern African region, he said.

The facility has a production capacity of more than three million fibre kilometres annually, the largest in Africa. The company employs 155 people but this will rise to 210 this year, with 25 of newly created positions being learnerships and internships.