Infrastructure upgrades on the cards for Mossel Bay port

Transnet National Ports Authority is as committed to the smaller ports in the country as they are to their more strategic hubs. This was the word from TNPA at the monthly Transport Forum held in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. Nico Walters, TNPA general manager: strategy, told delegates that plans to develop the Port of Mossel Bay were in place and would ultimately result in expanded fishing, breakbulk and ship repair facilities. “At TNPA we have a very simple approach in that we focus on three things within our port system – to provide adequate infrastructure, efficient port operations and an integrated system that ensures the ports are gateways for trade.” He said these objectives applied just as much to small ports like that in Mossel Bay as they did to South Africa’s bigger strategic ports like Durban. “The Port of Mossel Bay plays an integral role in the economic development of the region and it is our obligation to ensure the infrastructure is in place to service the fishing, liquid bulk and break bulk industry,” said Walters. He said TNPA continued to see the role of Mossel Bay in the liquid bulk industry as it served the PetroSA refinery. “The fishing economy in the region is also very dependent on the Port and therefore we need to ensure the facilities are up to standard in an effort for all role-players to grow the local economy.” He said TNPA was forecasting a growth in liquid bulk at the terminal in the near future as PetroSA upgraded its facilities and was looking further afield for oil and gas reserves. “We continue to watch and monitor developments in this field very closely,” Walters told FTW. He said in terms of the bigger picture, ensuring all of South Africa’s ports were creating capacity ahead of demand remained high on the agenda at TNPA, with volumes of cargo moved in the country expected to be around the 400 million ton mark by 2019. “Currently we handle about 280 million tons.” He said the creation of an integrated system was just as important, as not one port worked in isolation. “The ports all have their individual role to play but, as a system and network of ports, they have to facilitate and grow trade in and out of South Africa.”