Coega Development
Corporation is
‘emphatically’ ready to
receive manganese ore and
ferro-manganese to channel
for shipment from the
deep-sea port of Ngqura,
according to project
director Peter Inman. But
the facility will only be
functional once Transnet
completes its link, he
told delegates at a Metal
Bulletin conference in
Johannesburg recently
“Coega can receive
consignments today,” he
said. However, the only
way this can happen is if
a rail link is built to the
facility. This is currently in
the feasibility study phase,
according to Transnet’s
Cleopatra Shiceka, general
manager at the office of the
CEO.
Inman said that the
port would only be ready
by 2018, only because
Transnet’s construction
of the whole rail network
dedicated to manganese
production would only be
completed then.
However, manganese
exporters have been told “to
be out of the Port Elizabeth
port” by 2016, according to
one manganese producer.
“Now I hear the port
will only be ready by 2018.
What are we to do then
between 2016 and 2018?”
the producer asked Inman
during a question and
answer session.
“You can’t close the
port down until the new
facility is running,” Inman
answered. “They can’t shut
it down until the new ones
can operate. It is simple.
As eager as everyone is to
clear the mess out of the PE
port, we have to be stuck
with it for a little longer,
until we can move it out of
there.”
Coega has available
five zones for manganese
operators. According to
Inman, these are ready and
waiting.
CAPTION:
The Port of Ngqura ... ‘emphatically’ ready.
