Building capacity to meet demand

At a combined throughput of nearly a million containers a year, the twin ports of Ngqura and Port Elizabeth are among the busiest in Africa. Transnet Port Terminals will be investing in new and additional equipment for the two ports in Nelson Mandela Bay, as well as for East London in order to ensure that there is sufficient capacity says Siya Mhlaluka, Terminal Executive Manager Eastern Cape Terminals. Two Panamax-sized ship to shore cranes are to be redeployed from Durban to Port Elizabeth to complement the existing post-Panamax crane in the port, and to replace the other ageing equipment. Capacity in the port may also be increased through the dredging of the existing container quay – a project currently under consideration by landowners Transnet National Ports Authority. Transnet Port Terminals CEO Tau Morwe has told a business breakfast that an additional six cranes are being planned for Ngqura, which will have four berths operational by March 2012. “Ngqura has taken us by surprise, and the volume of 600 000 containers a year being handled by the port triggers the need for additional equipment,” says Mhlaluka. Port Elizabeth is set to handle some 370 000 containers this year. Investment in East London includes R20 million to refurbish the bulk grain facility, and upgrades to the container terminal. “Contrary to rumours, we are not closing the port of East London. We will continue to invest in it to provide the services needed,” he says.