Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has set itself a challenging deadline for the movement of the liquid bulk facility at the Port of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) to the Port of Ngqura by giving itself a challenging deadline, the last day of the year, which is also the date on which the PE facility is set to close.
In a statement released yesterday, TNPA said it had made great strides in its efforts to accelerate delivery of the Port of Ngqura Liquid Bulk Terminal.
“Building the terminal,” it said, “will be realised through a robust construction programme that will be executed by the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), which has been appointed as an implementation agent for TNPA for a period of two years.”
It indicated that the new terminal would have to be operational before the Gqeberha facility’s closure on December 31.
Reflecting on what had held up the project, Transnet said in November 2020, the successful bidder to build, operate and transfer the Port of Ngqura liquid bulk facility, had communicated its decision to discontinue the construction project as it had not found a commercially viable business case for the proposed terminal.
Not only had it threatened the Gqeberha facility’s intended relocation, but it had also meant that regional supply routes could be adversely affected, the statement said.
“The successful bidder’s decision posed the risk of significant delays in the construction of the Ngqura facility, to which the Gqeberha liquid bulk operation is planned to relocate.
“Furthermore, delays in the readiness of the Ngqura facility would result in the road haulage of the liquid bulk products from port import facilities in East London and Mossel Bay as an alternative supply solution, which is not sustainable due to the risk of road infrastructure deterioration as well as safety, health and environmental risks.”
