CT puts its money on growing oil and gas sector

The Port of Cape Town has identified the growing oil and gas sector as a major source of revenue and a positive boost for the economy. According to port manager Sipho Nzuza, 2014 was a challenging year for the country and the port was not immune to this. “We are aware of the necessity of always looking for innovative ideas not only to meet our customers’ needs but to increase the value offering of the port and allow it to grow and contribute to the economy.” He said oil and gas was the answer. “This port plays a central role in the government’s plan to stimulate the economy through the introduction of Project Phakisa. Also the Port of Saldanha will play a key role. The aim is to introduce the necessary infrastructure required to attract the growing oil and gas business that passes our ports every year in order to increase the activity.” He said the two ports had key roles to play in realising Operation Phakisa, an adaptation of the big fast results methodology which was successfully implemented by the Malaysian government in order to deliver on its economic and transformation programme. Essentially Operation Phakisa unlocks the opportunities offered by South Africa’s ocean by establishing the necessary infrastructure requirements – be this ship and rig berthing or repair facilities. While a purpose-built oil and gas facility is being constructed at Saldanha Bay in Cape Town existing facilities will be refurbished and upgraded, said Nzuza. “A time line of five years has been set for the accomplishment of these upgrades, allowing us to become viable players in the oil and gas market sooner rather than later.” He said in Cape Town this included widening and lengthening the current ship repair quay and replacing or refurbishing the cranes in the facility. Plans to move the Cape Town yacht club from its current position at the port also remained on the cards, he said, as this area had been earmarked for a second ship repair facility. “That is on the long-term rather than the immediate agenda,” Nzuza said. While a budget has yet to be set for the upgrades and refurbishments at the Port of Cape Town, Nzuza said it would be accomplished in line with the spending as set out by the Market Demand Strategy. In the next five years the port would then refurbish the entire Sturrock dry dock, the Robinson dry dock as well as the syncrolift. Plans to purchase a second syncrolift were also in the pipeline. “There is huge potential lost at these facilities as they currently stand,” said TNPA’s Siyabonga Buthelezi. “If we can upgrade the facilities and make some fundamental changes to what is serviced where we can extensively increase the number of vessels that we service in our ship repair facility. We can handle far more barges, supply vessels and drill ships through these upgrades and refurbishments.” Nzuza said while the expenses that would be accumulated had not necessarily been planned for by port authorities, there was no denying the massive benefit the refurbishments would bring to Cape Town as a whole – and allocating the necessary budget was therefore a priority. INSERT & CAPTION 1 In the next five years the port will refurbish the entire Sturrock dry dock, the Robinson dry dock as well as the syncrolift. – Sipho Nzuza Photos: Halden Krog INSERT & CAPTION 2 If we can upgrade the facilities we can extensively increase the number of vessels that we service in our ship repair facility. – Siyabonga Buthelezi