Oil and gas sector tunes into benefits of Saldanha IDZ

The Saldanha Bay
IDZ is gradually
gaining traction
with just over 30
leases already signed and
several bespoke facilities
going up.
According to Laura
Peinke, who heads up
business development for
the IDZ, a total of 220 ha of
land is being developed in
the first phase of the project.
“We have three sites
within the Saldanha IDZ
which comprises a total of
330ha. The development of
site C is complete and Site B
is well under way. Site A is
earmarked for development
at a much later stage.”
It’s the first sector-specific
zone in the country focusing
on the oil and gas sector –
and the benefit of having a
presence in the IDZ is starting
to be understood by industry,
according to Peinke.
“We provide all the
bulk services as well as
the necessary transport
requirements for tenants
and are also responsible for
ensuring all the regulatory
processes are completed.
Our tenants can therefore
set up their operations
immediately.”
She said a total of 31
leases had
already been
signed, several
of which
required
bespoke
facilities to
be erected
for them –
and this was
currently
under way. A
total of 125
ha of land
was already
serviced
with water,
electricity and road access.
“This is not an industrial
park where tenants
hire standard buildings.
Everything we do is bespoke
and we deliver exactly to a
particular tenant’s needs
and requirements.”
Peinke said with the IDZ
operating in
such a niche
it was not
trying to be
everything to
everyone.
“Our aim
is to develop
a worldclass
marine
and oilfield
services hub
in response
to the global
demand for
dedicated
repair
and maintenance ports
strategically positioned
to service rigs and vessels
working off the East and
West African coasts in
particular,” said Peinke.
“The benefits are very real
for the oil and gas industry
which often requires goods
to be held for long periods
of time. Different from a
bonded warehouse, this
free trade area has no time
limit when it comes to
storing goods which helps
ensure efficiency when
servicing the oil and gas
sector.”
Whilst the IDZ is
developing infrastructure
back of port, Transnet
National Ports Authority
is developing the quayside
infrastructure. Expressions
of interest (EOI) have
been issued by TNPA
for the construction and
operation of a 380m and
21m draught rig repair
berth and a 100m long and
8m draught ship repair
Mossgass jetty. A request
for proposal (RFP) has also
been issued for the newly
built 294m-long offshore
supply base with a draught
of 6.9m which is currently
under construction.
And it is believed that
the interest is far bigger
than was anticipated,
indicating that the
development of Saldanha
as an oil and gas hub is
not as far-fetched as was
initially thought.
“We still have a very long
way to go at Saldanha – not
only with the IDZ but also
at the port itself,” saidi
Peinke. “But it is starting to
bear fruit and the interest
is growing not only from
local companies but also
international investors.”
INSERT & CAPTION
Everything we do
is bespoke and
we deliver exactly
to a particular
tenant’s needs and
requirements.
– Laura Peinke