Fully integrated road and rail links on track

MULTI-MODAL capabilities have been planned into the Port of Ngqura since inception, and when the port opens for commercial operations in the second half of 2009 it will have fully integrated road and rail links to the container terminal and the IDZ. A new rail marshalling yard is under construction on the land side of the N2. The railway line and roads will run into purpose-designed facilities in the container terminal to ensure that cargo moves in and out freely, according to Manie Coetzee, Transnet National Ports Authority’s marketing manager for the port. In addition to the road and rail connections, there is provision for conveyor belt feeds directly from the port into the neighbouring Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ). There is also provision for a dedicated liquid bulk terminal to meet the needs of a proposed oil refinery in the Coega IDZ. If the project is approved, this terminal would handle imports of crude and exports of refined petrochemicals. The refinery is planned to start operation in 2014, according to PetroSA. At the same time, the lease on the land being used to store fuel in the Port of Port Elizabeth will expire and the operations are expected to move to the Port of Ngqura. “We are working with all the different parties involved to ensure that there is no duplication of logistics and everyone benefits from the economies of scale,” says Coetzee. “Liquid workshops” have already been held to start the planning process.