Coega IDZ to be gazetted next week

Mbeki calls for project to be speeded up, writes Ed Richardson PRESIDENT THABO Mbeki has called for the development of Coega to be "speeded up". Speaking while on a visit to Port Elizabeth, Mbeki said he "agreed that the Coega project needs to be speeded up". Mbeki announced in his State of the Nation address in February that the project would definitely go ahead. The president also disclosed that a number of ministers were discussing the future of the existing Port Elizabeth harbour. Interviewed after the meeting Eastern Cape MEC for economic affairs, Enoch Godongwana, said that he had been told by trade and industry minister Alec Erwin that the declaration of Coega as South Africa's first IDZ would be gazetted in the week of October 22. Delays in the gazetting of the Coega IDZ have stalled the development of the zone. The gazetting of the IDZ will pave the way for the Coega Development Corporation to be granted a provisional operator's permit for the IDZ, which will be served by the port of Ngqura. The National Ports Authority is expected to call for tenders for the construction of the port during November. Construction of the deep-water port is expected to begin in mid-2002. Meanwhile, work is progressing on a haul road between the Coega Kop quarry and the site of the harbour. The quarry will provide rock for the breakwaters and other infrastructure. Construction has also nearly been completed on a reservoir to provide fresh water to the Coega IDZ.