PE upgrades as Coega tenders are called

Ed Richardson
THE NATIONAL Ports Authority is repositioning the existing Port Elizabeth harbour in preparation for the development of the Coega Industrial Development Zone and port of Ngqura across Algoa Bay.
This follows an announcement that the NPA is calling for tenders for the construction of the Port of Ngqura at the Coega River mouth.
"Although the construction of the Port of Ngqura (at the Coega River mouth) is expected to start this year, the Port of PE will remain very much in business as the two ports have been designed to complement each other," says NPA spokesperson Lize Hayward.
"The two ports will be very different. We see growth in PE, but on a different type of cargo."
Portnet has been busy upgrading facilities for the Eastern Cape's fishing fleet, and the provision of basic infrastructure, aimed at the fishing industry and other port related activities, is expected to be completed by the end of April 2002.
The upgrades include the supply of water, electricity, sewage and the upgrade of roads.
There are also plans to build a washing and de-waxing facility at the port's motor vehicle terminal.
"This is a value-added service, which will shorten the supply chain by removing the wax from the imported vehicles while still in the bonded area," says Hayward.
Vehicles, which are currently being prepared in Uitenhage, will now be ready for delivery to dealers directly from the harbour.
Major maintenance work will be done on the port's three tugs, according to Hayward.
The National Ports Authority's official environmental policy, which was launched late last year, will be implemented in the new year.