Government puts its weight behind Ngqura

Government has put its weight behind the port of Ngqura. President Jacob Zuma has confirmed that Ngqura is government’s preferred hub port for the region, and public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba has said plans to build a manganese export terminal at Ngqura will go ahead. This should put a damper on lobbying for Durban, Richards Bay, Cape Town or Saldanha for hub port status. Both were speaking at last week’s “official opening” of the port, which started operating two and half years ago in October 2009 with the arrival of the MSC Catalania. Zuma said the development of the port “reflects the longterm vision of government to develop Ngqura as one of the biggest transhipment hubs in sub-Saharan Africa. “To date, government through Transnet has invested over R8bn in the basic port infrastructure. We are pleased that the planning of the Ngqura Port has been integrated with that of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ),” he said. Gigaba, who was part of the Zuma entourage at the official launch of the harbour, described the decision to create a manganese export capacity at Ngqura as final, despite opposition from manganese exporters, some of which believe Saldanha would offer a more costeffective route to market. While volumes through the port of Ngqura continue to grow, the impact has yet to be felt outside of Transnet and the shipping lines directly involved in the transit cargo. The transfer of containers from one vessel to another in the same port has created few opportunities for the freight industry in Port Elizabeth and surrounds. Two of the bigger shipping lines have scaled down their offices in the town since Ngqura opened for business.