Sappi Forests has extended its plantation holdings in South Africa with the purchase of the Sjonajona plantation from Mondi. The plantation lies between Machadodorp and Barberton in the Mpumalanga province and is 14,500ha in extent, of which 9,400ha consists predominantly of pine. This will bring Sappi’s total planted area in Mpumalanga to 143,400ha out of a total 230,200ha plantation ownership in the province.
The plantation will provide a potential additional fibre supply of some 150,000 tons per annum to the Sappi Ngodwana mill near Nelspruit. The land adjoins other Sappi plantations in the area achieving land consolidation, easier management and improved fire protection planning and operations.
The sale of the plantation was concluded at the end of 2009 but was subject to Competition Commission approval. This approval has now been granted and the transaction has been concluded to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. The sale was part of a larger package of some 40,000 hectares which was put up for sale in June 2009 by Mondi.
"We are pleased to have been able to secure this land as the Sjonajona plantation increases our softwood self-sufficiency for our Ngodwana mill and made sense for us in terms of its proximity to our other plantations in the area," commented Hendrik de Jongh, Managing Director of Sappi Forests.
Sappi will integrate the new land into its crop rotation cycle and land management practices. Sappi will also maintain the existing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for the land and the fibre source.
