CT spells out how it will spend R116m

The Port of Cape Town will spend a whopping R116 million in the coming financial year on upgrades and refurbishments as part of the ongoing market demand strategy. According to port engineer Mazwi Mdletshe, the bulk of this budget has been allocated to upgrading and improving the fire-fighting equipment servicing the liquid bulk terminal as well as moving fuel pipelines off the water to the landside. “This will take up at least 50% of the budget and it will be an ongoing project that is expected to roll over into the next financial year’s budget,” he said. Major reconstruction of the roads in the port was also on the cards for the 2014/15 financial year. “The road network needs work throughout the port but especially in the container terminal where we have to rearrange the road network to increase the accessibility of the terminal and to allow for better configurations.” He said ultimately it would increase the effectiveness of the port and address increased congestion issues. Other expenditure includes the upgrade of the port’s sewer network, said Mdletshe. “This current budget does not include the activities planned under Operation Phakisa to upgrade and refurbish the Sturrock and Robinson dry docks – but once we have set time lines for construction to start and confirmed costs they will be incorporated into the current budget figures.” He said in 2013/14 the port had spent some R100 million on upgrades that included the finishing touches to the new container terminal that now is able to handle up to 1 million TEUs per annum. Future capital expenditure, while subject to change, is R209.5 million in the next financial year, R259.9 million in 2016/17 and R216.9 million in 2017/18. CAPTION The Port of Cape Town … the bulk of the budget has been allocated to upgrading and improving the fire-fighting equipment servicing the liquid bulk terminal.