TPT reaffirms interest in Durban Airport site

Transnet Port
Terminals will
invest R20 billion
in upgrading and
expansion at South
Africa’s ports over the
next five years.
According to TPT
chief executive Karl
Socikwa, an extensive
five-year investment
programme is in
place that will see
infrastructure replaced
where necessary and
capacity created.
Referring to talks
about the future of the
old Durban Airport,
he commented: “We
believe it is a perfect
location for another
container terminal,
but it is very early
stages yet. There is
no definite decision
as to what is going to happen with the land.”
He said various roleplayers
such as Acsa
and the City of Durban
were involved in
the process, but no
decisions had been
made.
“We have made
it very clear though
that we are very keen
and very interested in
that facility and are
involved in discussions
around it.”
Socikwa said if
they were to get
access to the area
it would be years
before a container
terminal would be up
and running. “It is
definitely not on the
cards for the next five
years. The first step is
the acquisition of the
land before one can
even look at licensing.”