JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Thebe Investment Corporation has bought a 70% stake in Realite Trimrite, a supplier of timber-based support products to South Africa’s deep-level mining industry.

The group acquired the stake through its subsidiary Thebe Mining Resources (TMR), which focuses on investments in the mining value-chain.

Thebe stated that the previous corporate shareholders of Trimrite, namely Reatile Mining Solutions, Reindus and Standard Bank South Africa, had completely exited the business. Management owns the remaining 30% of Trimrite.

TMR interim CEO Jacques de Wet said the acquisition dove-tailed with TMR’s strategy of building a black-owned mining supplies business.

“Together with TMR, Timrite will seek new growth opportunities not only in South Africa but also across the continent, especially nontimber products. We are also exploring opportunities outside of Timrite’s traditional gold and platinum sectors with a focus on the coal sector,” he stated.

De Wet added that demand for underground mine support products was expected to remain resilient, owing to the Department of Mineral Resources’ mining safety imperatives, which required continuous improvement in safety standards.

Trimrite MD Theunis Bester said Timrite had been steadily growing its exposure to the non-timber support market and the industrial timber market and that Thebe’s commitment to expand its investment in mining and mining services would create additional growth opportunities for Timrite.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for TMR,” commented Thebe executive chairperson Vusi Khanyile, adding that the acquisition reinforced TMR’s commitment to investing in businesses that were crucial to the mining value chain and building communities.x

Timrite owns four sawmills in Mpumalanga where the timber is processed and supplied to its customers, mainly in the gold and platinum industries. The company supplements its own timber with long-term supply agreements with private and corporate plantation owners.