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Transnet plans to expand its vehicle export capacity by 338 percent over the next seven years to 648 000 units by 2018/2019.
That's the word from Transnet CEO Brian Molefe who was speaking at a breakfast briefing organised by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber on Friday where he unpacked how the Eastern Cape will benefit from the SOE's massive R300bn infrastructure programme.
Molefe said vehicle exports were projected to increase from 240 000 in the current financial year, adding later that the figures were based on interacting with the motor industry.
He said there would be a huge increase in exports, adding that the industry itself was surprised by the strength of the export market.
With the Port Elizabeth Harbour a major exit point for vehicle s, Molefe said that the terminal at the harbour would be expanded, occupying the space vacated by the manganese facility when it is relocated to the Coega Industrial Development Zone.
With regard to the export of manganese for which the construction of a dedicated export terminal at the Port of Ngqura is scheduled to start in January 2014, Molefe said the volumes would increase by 144% over the next seven years from 4.8 million tons a year to 11.7 million tons.
He added that 11.7 million tons was the “estimated demand,” although the Port of Ngqura would have the capacity to handle 16 million tons a year.
In total, Molefe said, R25.9 billion would be spent in the South Corridor over the next seven years, the vast bulk of it either in Nelson Mandela Bay or, as with the upgrading of the rail link with the Northern Cape, tied to developments in the Metro.
Some R7.3 billion will be spent at the Port of Ngqura over the next seven years, the bulk of it by Transnet National Ports Authority.
The CEO said a number of committees had been established in the Eastern Cape both at a provincial and Metro level that were looking at a number of areas, including the possibility of a waterfront development at King’s Beach, and making a business case for the operation of the narrow-gauge Apple Express.
(Source: Metro Minute - to subscribe mail metminutes@iafrica.com)
