Coega’s smelter will generate 1,6m tons of cargo

Ed Richardson THE PROPOSED Pechiney aluminium smelter in the Coega Industrial Development Zone will generate over 1,6-million tons of cargo a year for the port of Ngqura. According to a specialist study on materials handling prepared by the CSIR, the smelter will produce between 485 000 and 500 000 tons of aluminium ingots a year. These will be transported to the harbour from the plant in specialised trucks on a dedicated road. The major raw materials required for the smelting process are fresh alumina, calcined petroleum coke, aluminium fluoride and liquid coal tar pitch. Existing storage facilities in the port of Port Elizabeth will be used for the 31 800 tons of heavy fuel oil that will be consumed each year. Construction has already begun on the new deep-water port, and the site is being prepared for the Pechiney smelter. The company is expected to make a final decision on its proposed South African investment early in 2003.