Privately-owned South African company Saldehco will construct and operate terminal infrastructure at the Port of Saldanha’s Off-Shore Supply Base (OSSB) following a concession agreement signed with Transnet yesterday.
Saldehco will be responsible for providing warehousing, berths, other operational buildings such as offices and workshops, and equipment such as cranes and other rubber-tyred equipment to operate the facility.
“In partnering with Transnet, Saldehco will focus on developing the marine and ocean services industry in Saldanha Bay,” said Saldehco chairperson Sophie Masipa.
The OSSB will provide marine bunker services, lubricants and provision of fresh water for vessels calling at the port and marine traffic passing by the Cape of Good Hope.
Additionally, a support facility will allow for fabrication of offshore structures in support of projects in the Western Cape, up to the West Coast of Africa, and capacity to support offshore and onshore pipe-laying projects.
Transnet group chief executive, Siyabonga Gama, noted that the OSSB would serve vessels engaged in supporting offshore exploration and production activities along the West and East coasts of Africa that call at South African ports for support and logistics services.
A Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) spokesperson told FTW Online that Saldehco had been chosen on the basis of experience and job creation following a successful competitive bid process for the tender.
According to TNPA chief executive, Shulami Qalinge, the OSSB will be the country’s first dedicated and customised facility supporting offshore oil and gas activities and will contribute to the Western Cape’s economic and social development. This would be done through job creation and development of the small business sector.
“The OSSB will play a key role in positioning Saldanha as an oil and gas services hub and stands to benefit from the international logistics and energy experience of global players, backed by the local expertise and empowerment credentials of Semona,” she said.
Semona is a principal shareholder in Saldehco and a 100% black-owned company with a specific focus on the energy sector.
The OSSB will operate within the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone and will offer incentives to both the local and international industry to drive the port and region’s focus on positioning itself as a global player in the sector.
TNPA added that during construction 1300 jobs would be created with a further 300 during operation.
