Oil and gas service centre on the cards for Saldanha

The Port of Saldanha Bay is ideally positioned to become a service hub for the oil and gas industry – a move that will benefit the West Coast significantly. According to port manager Willem Roux, talks are under way within Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) that will allow the creation of an oil and gas service centre at the port. Two oil rigs are currently in the port – one of which has already been repaired while work on the second rig is set to start within the coming weeks. “This port is ideally situated to service the growing oil and gas industry along the African West and even East coast,” said Roux. “Between 130 and 140 rigs pass by our coast line every year. We need to take cognisance of this and the benefit it can bring to communities in terms of economic growth.” It is a sentiment that has been echoed by TNPA chief executive Tau Morwe on several occasions. Last year Morwe told FTW it was unacceptable that vessels were by-passing South Africa to have the necessary repairs effected in Singapore. “We can benefit enormously if we can attract those very vessels and ensure they use our repair facilities. The benefit to the economy for just one rig being repaired at a port is estimated at over at R400 million,” he said at the time. Last year an oil rig repaired at the Port of Ngqura generated estimated revenue of $60 million for the Eastern Cape economy. Roux said establishing a set-up that could effectively service the gas and oil industry was therefore high on the organisation’s and the port’s agenda. “We can either develop the existing Moss gas quay or build a floating dock that will allow for work to be done on two rigs simultaneously. A barge is operated from the dock to the landside to move equipment and people.” “We are involved in high level talks with stakeholders to see this goal become a reality for the Port of Saldanha Bay,” said Roux. CAPTION: Willem Roux … involved in highlevel talks with stakeholders.