The investment fell under Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy (MDS) announced by President Jacob Zuma in his latest State of the Nation address and formed part of the group’s R300-billion investment programme between now and 2019.
TPT CE Karl Socikwa said the MDS had major implications for its responsibility to facilitate unconstrained growth, unlock demand and create world-class port operations through improved efficiencies.
TPT said in a statement that about 71% of the R33-billion would be spent on expansion projects and creating capacity to meet projected demand, while the balance would go towards capital sustaining projects aimed at achieving operating norms and improving service delivery.
The latter includes the replacement of aged equipment and the refurbishment of existing equipment.
Significant capacity-creating projects included the expansion of the Durban Container Terminal’s (DCT's) Pier 1 that would increase its capacity from 700 000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 820 000 TEUs by next year and 1.2-million TEUs by 2016/17.
The planned extension of the North quay at the DCT's Pier 2 would assist in increasing the capacity from 2.1-million TEUs in 2011/12 to 2.5-million TEUs by 2013/14 and 3.3-million TEUs by 2017/18.
Further, the Ngqura Container Terminal, which had been earmarked by TPT as a trans-shipment hub, would be expanded from 800 000 TEUs to two-million TEUs by 2018/19 to meet anticipated volumes.
At other terminals, including the Durban Ro-Ro and Maydon Wharf terminal, container capacity was being created through the acquisition of new equipment and various infrastructure upgrades.
Meanwhile, expansion of the iron-ore bulk terminal at the Port of Saldanha would be expanded from 60-million tons a year to 82-million tons a year to cater for the projected volume demand in coming years.
For the ageing Richards Bay Terminal, R3.7-billion had been set aside for mobile and quayside equipment, as well as weighbridges. Safety-critical, environmental and legal compliance projects would also be carried out.
In addition, TPT said it would spend about R1.2-billion on capacity-creating projects in Richards Bay and that it would also pursue re-engineering of the port to create additional capacity for bulk products at the terminal.
Transnet also confirmed that it would relocate the current export manganese facility from Port Elizabeth to a new two-berth facility at the Port of Ngqura by 2015/16, to facilitate an expansion of South Africa’s manganese export capacity.