Budget approved for half
million rand railway line, writes Ed Richardson
PORTNET WILL continue upgrading Port Elizabeth harbour as the construction of the Coega harbour across the bay begins.
Port services manager for the port authority, Ester Goosen, says projects worth more than R10-million have been approved for the 2001 financial year.
We expect improvement in the economy in the Eastern Cape and the country as a whole this year. The low rand/dollar exchange rate will benefit the port as the value of the cargo will be higher.The port is very much dependent on the motor industry and related businesses - their success will be ours as well, she says.
An indication of future plans for the port is the announcement that the single biggest amount - R5-million - will be spent on infrastructure for the local fishing industry. An area of 3,5 hectares has been set aside for this development.
The provision of basic services such as water, electricity and sewage should be completed later this year, she says.
A further boost for the fishing industry is the awarding of tenders to build additional ice plants in the ports of PE and Mossel Bay.
Coega is expected to cater for containers and bulk traffic, leaving the existing port free to concentrate on the leisure and fishing industries.
The capital budget for the Port of Coega has been approved and the development of the port will go ahead, confirms Goosen.
With the move being three to four years away Portnet has invested R1-million in a new billing system for the container terminal, which was implemented on February 1, 2001.
This sophisticated system, supplied by a Belgian company, will align the port with international standards in billing systems and procedures, she says.
The budget has also been approved for the construction of a new half million rand railway line in the port to facilitate exports of break bulk (general cargo) commodities.
Tenders have also been called for the completion of the NIDS Project (National Inter Departmental Structure on Border Control).
This R1-million project includes the fencing of terminals to improve security and to control illegal immigrants and goods.
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