Forestry

SAFCOL (South African Forestry Company Limited) is the third largest state-owned company in South Africa, under the department of Public Enterprises (DPE), primarily involved in the forestry industry with operations in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in the southern half (Manica and Sofala provinces) of Mozambique.

Forestry

Forestry mainly focuses on management and protection of the growing stock to sustainably provide logs to the industry and internal processing mills.

Through our wholly owned subsidiary Komatiland Forests (KLF), we manage 18 prime softwood saw-log plantation assets in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. KLF’s commercial and non-commercial operations cover a land area of 187 320 hectares.

 

We operate in an environment of increasing global demand for high quality timber products grown according to sustainable practises. This challenges our forestry scientists to implement modern technologies ensuring that the best genetic material available is planted, is correctly matched to site and the growing stock is managed following the most appropriate silvicultural practises.

Some of our tree improvement services include:

  • Increased volume growth;
  • Improved stem form and branch characteristics; and
  • Increased tolerance to disease and improved wood properties.

As a one of the leading forestry company in Africa, we have strong forestry management capabilities. With the ability to offer forestry management services to companies, governments with timber assets across the African continent.

Our high quality, pruned saw-logs yielding high value timber, grown over 25- 30 year rotations, are one of the best in the world. We are the biggest producer of saw-log in South Africa, which are mainly used for structural lumber. This ensures that South Africa is less reliant on timber imports.

As a sawmill operator, we have large quantities of residue biomass available which can be used for the generation of electricity. The potential for co-generation in sawmills may provide a small amount of excess electrical energy to the grid, but will firstly contribute to the energy availability by reducing the load on the grid, as these plants would first make use of their own electricity. SAFCOL is currently exploring co-generation opportunities at its sawmill in Limpopo, with the potential of a new sawmill in Mpumalanga which would include a larger co-generation plant.