Emalahleni – A young man’s innovative idea of using old tyres and plastic to produce pyrolysis oil, a type of fuel used for industrial machines, came out tops at the Youth-Led Mining Summit held in Emalahleni held on the 4th and 5th of July 2024.
Vusi Masilela from Lesley in the Goven Mbeki municipality was amongst many young entrepreneurs who presented their innovative ideas.
Masilela’s project focused on converting tires and plastics into oil and other byproducts.
Despite financial challenges, he managed to create a small plant, aiming to benefit the community by reducing pollution and creating jobs
“It was my first time pitching to such a large audience, and it was a great motivation for young people with companies to be part of such a prestigious platform. I encourage everyone to come out and support this initiative,” he said.
“In the next five years, I see myself becoming an international brand, supplying oil globally and working in partnership with big companies like Sasol.”
The summit organized by Brandscaper Africa with support from ABSA, SEDA, and NYDA, brought together ambitious young minds eager to make their mark in the mining sector.
“We had the first session of our summit, focusing on young people but using information as a powerful tool to inspire, to educate, and also to create a conducive environment for young people to come together,” reflected Emmanuel Bonoko from Brandscaper.
The summit included activities such as research support, soft skills transfer, external marketing linkage, and opportunity linkage. The sessions were aimed at equipping young entrepreneurs with tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in the competitive mining industry.
Nicolette Nadiya Mashile, who was also programme director, emphasised the importance of financial literacy and resilience. “Understanding your finances, managing your money, budgeting, and setting financial goals are crucial for any young entrepreneur,” she said.
Mashile, also known as The Financial Bunny, further encouraged young people to educate themselves about financial management and to remain undeterred by challenges such as lack of access to markets or funding.
Mashudu Ndou, head of Corporate Community Affairs at Sasol, underscored the company’s commitment to youth development. “We believe that by focusing on youth and women in mining, we can significantly impact business development and opportunities,” Ndou remarked.
He stressed the importance of enabling young people to reach the opportunities available to them, even if it means starting small.
