Billions of rand are being invested into road, rail and port infrastructure by the Eastern Cape government, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (Sanral) and the Transnet National Ports Authority (T N PA).This follows the completion of eight major road projects valued at R3.1 billion in 2022 through a partnership between the province and Sanral.They include upgrades of the R72, which joins the Ngqura port to East London and is the main freight route as trucks using the N2 via Makhanda (Grahamstown) use more fuel due to the number of climbs. In his 2023 state of the province address premier Oscar Mabuyane said “one of the most critical infrastructures in any economy is the road network as it facilitates movement of people and goods.“The work of transforming the Wild Coast corridor through the construction of the N2 Wild Coast Project is gaining momentum.“Late last year a contractor for the construction of Mthentu Bridge was introduced to the community and construction is expected to start in March this year.“This is a R4 billion investment by our government to redefine the economic development landscape for the entire Pondoland region using roads as an enabler for sustainable economic activities”.Mabuyane said more than R4 billion was being spent on other transport routes. The projects include: N2 from KwaBhaca to the Ngcweleni river; R336 from Kirkwood to Addo (phase 1); N2 from Makhanda to Fish River (phase 3); R390 from Cradock to Hofmeyer; N2 from Gamtoos River to Van Stadens River; N2 Ndabakazi Interchange; and R58 Cala to Ngcobo.Attention is also being paid to the province’s ports.Transnet has budgeted R5,6 billion in the medium-term to maintain and expand the three ports in the province. A billion rand will be spent on revitalising the boat building and ship repair facilities in East London. A maritime training college will be established as part of Operation Phakisa Projects. Transnet has appointed the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) as the implementing agent for the much-delayed building of a new manganese export terminal in the Port of Ngqura.TNPA managing executive for the Central Region, Siyabulela Mhlaluka, has told the media that the closure of the 80-year-old fuel storage facility in the port of Port Elizabeth and the opening of a new one in Ngqura was one of the “strategic projects” for the year.In November 2020, a joint venture (JV) company Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo (OTGC) pulled out of developing the Ngqura facility due, it said, to the fact that it could not achieve a commercially viable business case for the terminal. The space currently occupied by the tank farm and manganese dump is planned to be used for a car terminal.TNPA sees Ngqura becoming a transhipment and energy hub for the southern hemisphere, while East London will service the automotive, industrial and agricultural sectors and complement the East London Industrial Development Zone, according to Mhlaluka.Port Elizabeth and East London remain limited by draft, particularly East London at 10.4 metres.
