Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is accelerating the execution of port infrastructure development projects to reduce congestion and increase capacity at the ports of Durban and Richards Bay.
During the conclusion of its business-to-business stakeholder engagement roadshow in Durban, TNPA highlighted the progress it had made under its R89-billion megaprojects portfolio, the KwaZulu-Natal Logistics Hub (KZN LH), and other operational projects to ease congestion at the ports.
The KZN Logistics Hub portfolio aims to reposition the ports of Durban and Richards Bay to increase the capacity of handling container, automotive, dry bulk and liquid bulk commodities.
“For effective execution of these projects, we as TNPA rely on collaboration between ourselves and customers to find best solutions to improve port efficiencies,” TNPA managing executive for the eastern region ports, Moshe Motlohi, said.
TNPA has made headway on two catalytic projects in the region after securing preparation funding from the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
At the Port of Durban, TNPA anticipates appointing a service provider for the detailed design and commissioning of berth infrastructure works of the ‘Point Container Terminal Marine Infrastructure and Bulk Services’ project by April. The project seeks to expand the terminal capacity from 0.2 million TEUs to 1.8m TEUs.
At the Port of Richards Bay, TNPA has appointed a terminal operator for the handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the South Dunes Precinct. The ports authority will in the coming months appoint a developer for the port’s common-user infrastructure facility required to support the LNG terminal.
The developer will carry out the construction of marine structures such as berths, bollards, fenders, pipe racks and bund walls as well as the development of a gas transmission pipeline for handling LNG imports and bulk services infrastructure.
TNPA Portfolio Director for KZN Logistics Hub, Dr Bridgette Gasa-Toboti, said: “Our continued investment in infrastructure and the repositioning of the two ports is pivotal in meeting the demands of the maritime industry - in particular, the increasing size of container vessels calling at our ports and introducing new energy mix within the port system.”
She said the project pipeline for the region also encompassed the deepening and lengthening of berths 203, 204 and 205 at the Pier 2 Durban Container Terminal. The request for proposal for the multibillion-rand main marine construction works package has been released to the market and will close on April 19.
The project will result in a berth length increase from 914m to 1 210m to safely accommodate the simultaneous berthing of three Super Post Panamax vessels of 350m in length and draught of 14.5m. Construction will commence between August and December.
Gasa-Toboti said TNPA had also appointed a service provider to undertake prefeasibility studies to enable the construction of the South African Navy Base project at the Port of Richards Bay.
