Transnet reveals time-table for PE bulk facilities

Deadlines for the closure
of the manganese and bulk
liquids facilities in the port
of Port Elizabeth have been
finalised by the Transnet
National Ports Authority
(TNPA).
Rajesh Dana, port
manager in the Port of Port
Elizabeth, told FTW that the
plan was to “operationalise”
a new 16-million-tons-ayear
manganese export
terminal in the port of
Ngqura and to move all
operations from Port
Elizabeth to Ngqura by the
second quarter of 2017.
Initial design work
started in the second quarter
of 2012.
FTW understands this
move is independent of the
rail upgrade, as the current
infrastructure is capable
of handling up to six
million tons a year, while
the existing terminal has a
capacity of 5.5 million tons.
Construction work is due
to start on the “manganese
project” in the port of
Ngqura from the second
quarter of 2013, with
exports flowing from the
first quarter of 2017.
TNPA will be putting the
operation of the terminal
out to tender in compliance
with the Ports Act.
It would then take 21
months to decommission
the manganese export
facility in the Port Elizabeth
harbour.
There will be a two-year
delay in the movement
of bulk liquids from Port
Elizabeth to Ngqura.
Instead of the previously
announced target date of
2014, the liquid bulk will be
moved in the first quarter of
2016 in order to “guarantee
uninterrupted fuel
supply and afford all port
stakeholders the opportunity
to accommodate various
new business development
requests for the port of
Ngqura,” he said.
Plans for a liquid bulk
handling and storage
facility in Ngqura are
potentially being influenced
by a proposed oil refinery
in the Coega Industrial
Development Zone.
According to Dana, there
is sufficient land available
to accommodate the storage
requirements of a refinery.