Transnet said that progress had been made on the development of a new petroleum hub for Southern Africa at the Port of Ngqura.
In a statement on Tuesday, Transnet said that this was ahead of the planned decommissioning and rehabilitation of the existing liquid bulk facilities at the neighbouring Port of Port Elizabeth.
“A sod-turning ceremony is expected in January 2018 to mark the start of construction of the new Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo (Pty) Ltd (OTGC) tank farm and new main access road. Fabrication of the tanks and optional LPG Bullets is scheduled to start in April 2018.”
Transnet National Ports Authority said it had completed the critical design work associated with the new tank farm infrastructure and constructed a new access road from the N2 highway to the 20-hectare site where OTGC will be constructing the new tank farm.
“A new port entrance plaza and pipeline servitude will be constructed that will form the link between the new tank farm and the port of Ngqura. Tenders would be issued in January 2018 for the tank farm bulk earthworks package and the main access road construction package to Berth B100”.
“These developments signal progress in TNPA’s plans to clean up terminal facilities and free up land in the Port of Port Elizabeth for future commercial and tourism development, while enabling Ngqura to play a vital role in securing South Africa’s future fuel supply,” said TNPA Chief Executive, Shulami Qalinge.
Earlier this year TNPA said it had concluded an agreement with OTGC to plan, fund, construct, own, maintain and operate the new facility.
TNPA is required to provide port infrastructure for the liquid bulk terminal to commence operations at the end of 2019.
It said that liquid bulk capacity will be increased from two million tons per annum for the immediate hinterland to three million tons per annum once the new liquid bulk terminal is operational.
Qalinge said “TNPA is delighted to have a world-class independent liquid bulk storage provider on board, through a Section 56 process of the National Ports Act which mandates TNPA as landlord and ports master planner, to contract with private terminal operators to design, construct, develop, finance, maintain and operate port terminals or facilities.”
Transnet said under its Market Demand Strategy Section 56 concessions across the eight commercial ports are opening up participation in port activities to businesses owned by historically disadvantaged individuals.
Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo is a majority South African owned level 1 BBBEE company.
The Ngqura facility is Oiltanking’s first holding in a South African fuel terminal, whereas for Calulo, being involved in all aspects of the oil supply chains, it will be its first clean products terminal.
(Statement and artist impression: Supplied)
