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The Government has given Transnet National Ports Authority the “Remediation Order” for the long-awaited decommissioning and remediation of the tank farm in the Port of Port Elizabeth.
PE Port Manager, Rajesh Dana, said in a statement on Tuesday that this was “a milestone worth celebrating” after recently getting the approval from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.
He said the Port was pioneering one of the major decommissioning and remediation projects in the Transnet stable, which shall see the ceasing of the 80-year-old PE Tank Farm.
“This will pave the way for new developments in the Port of PE aligned to the Port’s vision of being a Sustainable World Class Smart People’s Port of Choice,” he said.
Dana said TNPA and stakeholders, including oil majors, led the formal submission process of the application to the DEFF, for which approval was received on 23 October following “an extensive review process”.
He said the decommissioning, remediation and redevelopment of the site would change both the physical and economic face of the Port of PE and Nelson Mandela Bay.
“It signifies the commitment to develop the long-awaited waterfront, one of the most anticipated and catalytic projects in Nelson Mandela Bay” added Dana.
Tank Farm operations at the Port of PE will continue until 31 December 2021, the date on which the Air Emissions Licenses for the PE Tank farm expires.
Dana said the decommissioning and remediation activities would commence in 2022.
Meanwhile, Transnet National Ports Authority also acknowledged that "challenges" had arisen with the construction of the liquid bulk facility at the Port of Ngqura.
It said the successful bidder to build, operate and transfer the facility had since discontinued the construction project as it had not found a commercially viable business case for the proposed terminal.
The Ports Authority gave the assurance, however, that there are extensive and continued engagements with all the role players, to ensure an adequate solution.
