TNPA is 30 days away from validation of its Eastern Region Ports Master Plans
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is 30 days away from concluding the validation process for its Eastern Region Ports Master Plans, which will position the Port of Durban as a container hub and Richards Bay to handle dry bulk. The technical validation is conducted by independent international consultants for the purposes of confirming the technical feasibility of the plans in relation to its proposed capacity and spatial layout.
This major milestone is one of the critical success factors of the Durban Logistics Hub, a TNPA strategy that is underpinned by the TNPA Reimagined Operating Model and the Transnet Segment Strategy which seek to align its freight logistic business with key commodities of the South African economy. The Durban Logistics Hub reconfigures the port master plans of Durban and Richards Bay to increase their capacity of handling the container, automotive and liquid bulk commodities.
The TNPA Reimagined Operating Model segments TNPA’s port operations into three regions – the ports of Port Elizabeth, Ngqura and East London in the Central Region; Mossel Bay, Saldanha and Cape Town in the Western Region with Durban and Richards Bay in the Eastern Region.
“At the centre of everything we do, we ensure that we run functioning ports that are responsive to the issues of terminal operators whilst encouraging them to perform better through the provision of world class port infrastructure,” said Moshe Motlohi, TNPA Managing Executive for the Eastern Region.
The Durban Logistics Hub will boast increased container capacity of 11.4 million TEUs and automotive capacity exceeding 900 000 units. This robust expansion programme will be realized through the construction of new container terminals in the Point and Maydon Wharf port precincts which will derive new capacity of 1.8 million and 1.6 million TEUs respectively. In addition, is the execution of the Salisbury Infill at Pier 1 Container Terminal that will expand terminal capacity to 3.6 million TEUs coupled with the Berth Deepening project in Pier 2 Container Terminal that will enhance terminal capacity to 4.4million TEUs.
“The relocation of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) naval base to the Port of Richards Bay will be a major catalyst to the success of the Salisbury Infill work package, with a satellite station remaining to maintain SANDF’s presence at the Port of Durban,” said Dr Bridgette Gasa-Toboti, TNPA Portfolio Director for Mega Projects.
The current footprint of the Point Automotive Terminal (RORO) will be optimized to enable the handling of an additional 380 000 automotive units, a quantum leap from the current capacity of 520 000 units.
Aligned to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s strategic plan for 2020-2025, the Port of Richards Bay port master plan features a new berth for handling Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) which is a cleaner alternative to coal for power generation. Some of the dry bulk terminals and mineral-handling facilities are also earmarked for relocation from the Port of Durban’s Island View and Maydon Wharf Precincts to the Port of Richards Bay.
“These expansion plans are also geared towards reducing logistics costs associated with servicing our port system,” said Dr Gasa-Toboti.
Whilst the master plans for the Eastern Region ports provide a futuristic outlook, tandem to these plans is the execution of a capital investment programme which re-affirms TNPA’s commitment to its core mandate of providing world class port infrastructure according to the National Ports Act 12 of 2005. Over the next seven years, TNPA plans to discharge more than 50% of its capital investment budget in its Eastern Region ports with a projected spend of R33.6 billion against a national budget of R64.5 billion. In the current financial year – 2022/23, approximately R460 million will be invested in the Eastern Region’s port infrastructure development with an allocation of R284 million to Richards Bay and R176 million to Durban. Some of the capital projects planned for 2022/23 is the construction of the rail facility at the South Dunes in Richards Bay, two helicopters for the two Eastern Region ports and the expansion of the Durban tug jetty.
Coupled to realizing a Reimagined TNPA through port infrastructure development is the execution of special projects, which saw the issuing of a Request for Information (RFI) in February 2022 for LNG at the Port of Richards Bay. Following a response from 19 major operators of gas infrastructure from across the globe, TNPA will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in July 2022.
Source & photo : TNPA
