Chinese-SA consortium wants to build RB drydock

PLANS HAVE been announced for a R2.5-billion dry dock at the deepwater port of Richards Bay – an ambitious project which could provide 4 000 new permanent jobs in the town, and employ up to 7 000 workers during its construction phase. According to FTW correspondent Terry Hutson, who attended the launch, it is a Chinese-SA consortium which intends to construct and operate the dry dock. SA company, Imbani Projects, has got together with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) – one of the largest Chinese state-owned infrastructure design and construction specialists, he added. Amongst CHEC’s previous achievements are a 300 000 deadweight (dwt) ton dry dock in Malta; the Gwadar deepwater port in Pakistan; the Calabar channel dredging in Nigeria; the Sudan port project; and the Luanda oil terminal in Angola CHEC has also established a subsidiary black economic empowerment (BEE) company (CHEC-SA) in Johannesburg – which will be dedicated to on and off site training for local workers. “The project is expected to be co-funded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Development Bank of SA,” Hutson said. But while this is the latest chapter in the now long-standing saga of a dry dock at Richards Bay, the scheme has not yet been finalised. “Although Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) attended the launch and acknowledged the proposal, they have still not approved the scheme. And, until they do so, not even the environmental impact assessment can begin.” But, he was told by Imbani MD, Briss Mathabathe, his company and CHEC were “working tirelessly with TNPA to get this project on the go”. Not only will the proposed dry dock be a labour-intensive operation in its own right, but it is also expected to generate thousands more jobs in satellite industries, supplying the likes of steel and paint. It will also be a major earner of foreign exchange.