Private sector participation in ports not off the radar

Transnet Port Terminals has
not ruled out the possibility
of private sector participation
in port terminals, but the
timing is likely to be later
rather than sooner.
That much was clear from
comments made last week
by acting CEO Karl Socikwa
during a media briefing at the
Port of Ngqura, six months
since it handled its first
vessel, the MSC Catania.
“Any partnership with
other players is an issue that
will be addressed in the
future,” he said.
“We need to get our house
in order and ensure that the
terminal is operating as it
should be and providing the
service levels the customer
expects – and then we can
talk.”
TPT chief operating officer
Nosipho Damasane added
similar sentiments.
“We will have a lot of
discussion with private operators when the current
productivity is where it
should be,” she said. “We are
investing and improving as
much as we can and won’t
shy away from partnerships
in rail and ports.
“If you look at models in
South East Asia, the private
sector was brought in when
ports were well into 25 years
of development.”
For South Africa’s
fledgling Port of Ngqura,
volumes so far have far
exceeded expectation.
“We have very bullish
plans in terms of the role
the terminal will play in the
region and South Africa,”
said Socikwa.
“We’ve already seen that
it’s starting to play a critical
role as a transhipment point
in South Africa. There’s
still development taking
place and our focus now is
to ensure that there is no
cannibalisation and that we
optimise the complementary
nature of our ports.”
According to Socikwa,
perfomance levels are
benchmarked against the
best terminal operations in
the world.
And while a significant
amount of money has been
invested in its development
he is confident that the
returns over time will
prove that it’s been money
well spent.
“A deepwater port was
vital for the SA economy.
While Ngqura is stranded
in terms of its hinterland,
it must be seen as a hub
port primarily focused on
transhipment cargo.”