The so-called Blue Ocean Economy was in the spotlight at a Maritime Summit and Exhibition at the Boardwalk International Convention Centre in the Nelson Mandela Bay on Friday.
Several leading maritime business and policy leaders attended the conference which is part of efforts to find ways of unlocking the regions full potential.
The Maritime Summit is part of the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism's strategy to promote business opportunities in the ocean economy.
One of the keynote speakers was Transnet's Eastern Cape Port Terminals general manager, Siya Mhlaluka.
He spoke to Algoa FM News about the parastatal's role as a facilitator in this process.
Q: What is the role of Transnet Port Terminals in unlocking the Ocean Economy particularly in the Eastern Cape?
"Our role as Transnet Port Terminals is located within the broadest strategy of Transnet in ensuring that we provide the necessary infrastructure to industry in ensuring they thrive in their business.We do so through provision of port infrastructure and rail infrastructure. The Eastern Cape is one of our areas where see a great opportunity in ensuring that we persue and support the Marine related and ocean strategy for the Eastern Cape"
Q: What is the "Blue Economy"?
"The Blue Economy is essentially is leveraging of our oceans and our marine capability as a nation,so that we contribute to economic development of the country and of this province and as Transnet we play a very important part of that because part of our business is in ports and through terminal handling capabilities ,we also contribute through skills development, we contribute through sustainable development programmes which are ensuring that we have a sustainable future and economy"
Q: What, in your view, is the potential of the Blue Economy (Operation Phakisa)?
"The potential is great, why it is happening now is because we are of the view this part of the economy which has not been leveraged to it's fullest potential. As part of our growth programme as transnet we do believe that this is an area we need to leverage quite significantly. Some of the programs that we are undertaking here in the Eastern Cape amongst others in the development of the Port of Nqgura ,we have completed our phase 2 of the Ngqura container terminal,now we are looking at building up on the new Manganese terminal in the Port of Ngqura when we decommission the existing one in the port of Port Elizabeth.There are other opportunities we are looking at in the port of East London and Port Elizabeth.We are going full steam as Transnet Port terminals to ensure that we support the ocean economy"
Q: Why do you think the Eastern Cape is in a unique position?
"We are unique as a Province and as a region,having 3 ports which we use them in a complimentary system so that we have this unique capability so that we can leverage these 3 ports.We do believe each and every one of them is unqiue and each one provides a significant opportunity to to the ocean economy".
Q: What are the current and future Transnet projects geared towards this process?
"There are a couple of projects that we have undertaken. Some of the projects in the pipeline in particularly around this metro,the new manganese terminal is the most signifcant one.We are spending about 29 Billion-Rand as Transnet of which some of it is rail.Transnet port terminals has been put in charge by the government to build the new manganese terminal and we are spending about R9 Billion which will change the face of the city,based on the construction period and most importantly it is going to be a bigger terminal compared to the one we have,that one will be a 16 million ton,which is tripple the one we currently have, so we do believe these are projects that are currently on the pipeline. There are also other projects here in the port of Port Elzabeth and the Port of East London".
Q: What are the time frames for the Manganese Terminal at the Port of Nqgura?
"We have already started the process of preparing in the Port of Ngqura.We have got tenders to buy long lead items,the equipment items,we have started to mobalise the construction,we will start construction in 2016,February and we hope to complete the project around about 2018 with the first ship coming on dock around February 2019".
Q: What are the plans to rehabilitate the land once the manganese dump is removed?
" We are already starting a process of environmental assessment of the current Port to establish the level of rehabilitation that needs to be done.However we have made financial provision for that,we know it is our responsibility to conduct rehabilitation.We are going to time it in such a manner that, as soon as we decommission the current plant then we can start the process ,so that it is not delayed and the land can be readily available for alternative use"
ends.
