KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial government is committed to supporting Transnet Pipelines (TPL) to implement interventions to address the challenges facing its operations in the province.
This comes after KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube recently met with Transnet Pipelines' acting chief executive, Sibongiseni Khathi, who outlined TPL's operations, emphasising the strategic significance of the fuel pipeline to safeguarding the national energy supply.
TPL owns, manages and controls the country’s network of 3,114 kilometres of high-pressure petroleum and gas pipelines.
Khathi highlighted several upcoming capital projects soon in the province, specifically developing the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Richards Bay and TM1 Accumulator Tanks in Island View. The projects are poised to make a substantial economic impact in the province.
Khathi also underscored the importance of securing necessary licences and approvals, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) timeously for the upcoming projects.
“Building strong relationships with the KZN government is fundamental to our commitment to sustainable development and community engagement. The discussions were insightful, and we are excited about the opportunities for collaborative efforts to grow the region's economy,” he said.
“TPL remains dedicated to fostering strong partnerships with key stakeholders, and the engagement with Dube-Ncube marks a significant step towards mutual understanding and cooperation,” Khathi said.
He also highlighted the challenges related to fuel theft from the organisation’s pipelines and encroachments along the pipeline servitude.
Dube-Ncube said the province shared TPL's commitment to confront these challenges to its operations and to realise its upcoming capital projects.
“We have a vested interest in resolving these challenges because we appreciate that the province’s economic performance, which translates to job creation and addressing unemployment, is determined by how well strategic entities like TPL operate,” Dube-Ncube said.
The meeting formed part of Dube-Ncube’s engagements across sectors ahead of the State of the Province Address (SOPA) on 28 February 2024. – SAnews.gov.za
