Transnet will soon launch its largest port project yet as part of its R80bn capital expenditure programme, which is aimed at revamping ports, rail networks and pipelines.
Siyabulela Mhlaluka, executive manager for container sector at Transnet Port Terminals, a Transnet subsidiary, said last week that the commercial launch of the Ngqura container terminal outside Port Elizabeth meant that the port would open for normal operations -- receiving ships, loading and off-loading them.
Mhlaluka said phase one of the construction of the port had been completed, paving the way for the commercial launch of the terminal in August. To date, the transport parastatal has invested more than R10bn to develop the 60000ha Ngqura container terminal.
Transnet said recently that the container capacity would be increased 32% over five years, which required a capital expenditure of R12,7bn over the period. The additional capacity would mainly be created in the ports of Cape Town, Ngqura and Durban.
Mhlaluka said this terminal could handle 800000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) a year, which was almost equivalent to the capacity of the Cape Town port.
When phase two was finished possibly in 2011-12, he said, the Ngqura terminal -- the country's only port capable of receiving new-generation vessels carrying 8000 to 9000 TEUs -- would handle 2-million TEUs, surpassing SA's biggest port in Durban, which moved 1,9-million TEUs.
Mhlaluka said the completion of phase two of the terminal depended on how volumes fared.
If volumes grew quickly, the company would be able to fast-track phase two, which has started already.
He conceded that volumes had declined slightly due to the economic downturn. But he said the company was trying hard to generate new container business by talking to global shipping liners.
He also said the forthcoming commercial launch demonstrated Transnet's commitment to create capacity ahead of demand despite the current gloomy economic climate.
"We are now obviously at a very critical stage in this project but have every reason to be highly confident, as we move closer to the experimental operations testing process planned for August and September, followed by our October go-live date," Mhlaluka said.
He said most of the terminal's infrastructure was in place, that final recruitment and training programmes were accelerating, and customer engagement was now at an advanced stage.
Siyabulela Mhlaluka, executive manager for container sector at Transnet Port Terminals, a Transnet subsidiary, said last week that the commercial launch of the Ngqura container terminal outside Port Elizabeth meant that the port would open for normal operations -- receiving ships, loading and off-loading them.
Mhlaluka said phase one of the construction of the port had been completed, paving the way for the commercial launch of the terminal in August. To date, the transport parastatal has invested more than R10bn to develop the 60000ha Ngqura container terminal.
Transnet said recently that the container capacity would be increased 32% over five years, which required a capital expenditure of R12,7bn over the period. The additional capacity would mainly be created in the ports of Cape Town, Ngqura and Durban.
Mhlaluka said this terminal could handle 800000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) a year, which was almost equivalent to the capacity of the Cape Town port.
When phase two was finished possibly in 2011-12, he said, the Ngqura terminal -- the country's only port capable of receiving new-generation vessels carrying 8000 to 9000 TEUs -- would handle 2-million TEUs, surpassing SA's biggest port in Durban, which moved 1,9-million TEUs.
Mhlaluka said the completion of phase two of the terminal depended on how volumes fared.
If volumes grew quickly, the company would be able to fast-track phase two, which has started already.
He conceded that volumes had declined slightly due to the economic downturn. But he said the company was trying hard to generate new container business by talking to global shipping liners.
He also said the forthcoming commercial launch demonstrated Transnet's commitment to create capacity ahead of demand despite the current gloomy economic climate.
"We are now obviously at a very critical stage in this project but have every reason to be highly confident, as we move closer to the experimental operations testing process planned for August and September, followed by our October go-live date," Mhlaluka said.
He said most of the terminal's infrastructure was in place, that final recruitment and training programmes were accelerating, and customer engagement was now at an advanced stage.