EThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele has welcomed the announced investments by United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) in the Durban region.
Image: File
BUSINESS confidence in the City of eThekwini remains strong, with a global agrochemical company intending to invest close to R18 billion in the coming years. The company, United Phosphorus Limited (UPL), has invested about R700 million in the city and is planning another R17 billion in the coming years.
UPL’s Cornubia facility was damaged during the unrest and looting of July 2021. The global agrochemical company suffered extensive damage when its distribution warehouse caught fire during the civil unrest, resulting in the release of chemicals.
However, the company has made significant strides in restoring, rehabilitating, and stabilising the affected environment while reaffirming its long-term commitment to eThekwini Municipality through further strategic investment. As of the end of March 2026, UPL had invested approximately R707.9 million in environmental rehabilitation, ecological restoration, infrastructure reinstatement, specialist scientific investigations, and ongoing environmental monitoring arising from the incident.
This represents one of the most significant privately funded environmental rehabilitation programmes undertaken in the region in recent years and underscores the important role that responsible corporate investment can play in environmental recovery and sustainable development.
In a statement, eThekwini Municipality acknowledged the extensive technical expertise, financial resources, and collaborative effort that continue to support the restoration of environmental integrity and the mitigation of long-term environmental impacts.
It said the rehabilitation programme demonstrates how collaboration between government, regulators, and the private sector can accelerate environmental restoration while supporting economic recovery following major disruptive events.
Beyond its environmental rehabilitation programme, UPL has further demonstrated its long-term confidence in KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini through its planned R17 billion biofuels investment. The project seeks to diversify sugarcane production through ethanol manufacturing and sustainable biofuel generation, supporting South Africa's transition to cleaner energy while contributing to national climate change mitigation objectives.
The investment is expected to revitalise the sugar industry, strengthen agricultural value chains, and create sustainable economic opportunities for small-scale cane growers and rural farming communities. The proposed investment aligns strongly with the strategic priorities of eThekwini Municipality and KwaZulu-Natal Province, particularly in advancing economic recovery, industrial diversification, agricultural sustainability, and the green energy transition.
The R17 billion investment commitment, announced during the Presidential Investment Conference in Sandton, further reinforces investor confidence in KwaZulu-Natal and highlights the province’s continued attractiveness as an investment destination.
EThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele said the municipality welcomed UPL's continued investment and commitment to the region.
“The leadership of eThekwini is humbled by the confidence that UPL has shown in our City and the province of KwaZulu-Natal by committing a further R17 billion investment, notwithstanding the significant losses suffered during the July 2021 unrest and the more than R700 million already invested in environmental rehabilitation. This level of commitment reflects confidence in our region’s future and is highly commendable.”
The municipality believes UPL's continued investment in environmental restoration, sustainability, and future industrial development sends a strong positive signal about responsible corporate citizenship, environmental stewardship, and long-term investor confidence in eThekwini and KZN.
Brian Mpono, CEO of Oceans Development, said this is an outstanding example of responsible corporate citizenship. "UPL has shown that businesses can respond to adversity not only with resilience but with a genuine commitment to restoring the environment, supporting communities, and creating future economic opportunities.
"The planned biofuels investment has the potential to revitalise the sugar industry, strengthen agricultural value chains, create thousands of jobs, and position KwaZulu-Natal as a leader in the green economy. It also sends a powerful message to both local and international investors that our province remains an attractive destination for long-term investment," said Mpono.
He said UPL's actions deserve recognition for transforming a tragedy into an opportunity for environmental restoration, innovation, and economic renewal.
"I recently visited the lagoon that was impacted by both sewer overflows and the effects of the spill caused during efforts by firefighters to extinguish the blaze. I was greatly encouraged to see that the area is now teeming with fish, birdlife, and natural flora — a powerful visible sign of the progress made through sustained rehabilitation and environmental restoration."
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