Supplied
The establishment of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape is one step closer to becoming a reality – with Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), in partnership with Infrastructure South Africa and the Industrial Development Corporation, issuing a request for proposals for an environmental impact assessment.
Interested parties have been invited to submit their proposals for consideration by 30 October 2024.
The selected service provider will be tasked with evaluating the environmental sustainability and compliance of the proposed LNG terminal.
The scope of the assessment includes a thorough review of ecological regulations, covering seismic surveys, marine ecology, climate change impacts, and socio-economic factors to ensure that all necessary environmental authorisations are obtained.
“This milestone is a critical step towards the development of the LNG terminal at the Port of Ngqura,” says acting TNPA chief executive Phyllis Difeto.
“Through its commercial seaports, TNPA is at the forefront of enabling the gas-to-power project pipeline whilst ensuring the security of supply and unlocking global opportunities for sustainable impact.”
Key infrastructure project
The Ngqura LNG Terminal is one of 12 key infrastructure projects to be given Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) status in March 2024.
Infrastructure South Africa was established to provide strategic, technical, and financial advisory support to project sponsors for the planning, preparation, development, and implementation of national pipeline projects and strategic integrated projects.
Mameetse Masemola, acting head of Infrastructure South Africa, echoed TNPA’s optimism: “This project is one of the flagship projects which we are proud to support and excited that progress is moving at pace.”
The process is progressing in conjunction with ongoing negotiations for a terminal operator agreement between TNPA and the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF), which will oversee the construction and operation of an onshore LNG regasification facility at the port for the next 30 years.
SFF’s involvement follows a Section 79 process directive issued by the former Minister of Transport in alignment with the National Ports Act of 2005.
A request for proposals for feasibility studies is expected to be issued by the end of September 2024.
This story first appeared in Moneyweb and is republished with permission.
