‘Purpose-built’ Ngqura harbour needs R7-bn refit

Government has admitted that South Africa’s newest deep-sea port of Ngqura was purpose-designed for the now defunct aluminium smelter project – and will take an estimated R7-billion to adapt. Kuben Naidoo, acting head of Trevor Manuel’s Planning Commission, is reported by several publications to have told business analysts at a Stellenbosch Bureau for Economic Research presentation that it was an example of the risks facing government when prioritising infrastructural development. “Decisions about how to spec such a port are key industrial policy decisions which, in this case, we got wrong. “The modernisation of our infrastructure has huge economic benefits, but poses significant risks due to the size of investments,” he is reported as saying. This confirms reports FTW has had from the shipping industry that there are many challenges facing the port – including the approach channel, which runs parallel to the nearby beach, and the orientation of the container quays sideon to the prevailing winds. While the modern gantry cranes are designed to operate in high winds, the vessels heel over too far for safe operation. Ngqura is more prone to winds than the port of Port Elizabeth across the bay. Plans for new container berths at the present entrance to the port, and orientated east-west, would address the problem. “I won’t say it was a complete waste of money, but it was a big waste of money,” Naidoo is quoted as saying. He says it would cost an additional R7-billion to adapt the port for vehicle exports and the handling of crude oil imports and refined product exports. Naidoo stressed that no decision had been made on the proposed refinery. The other options would be to build an oil-fromcoal plant, to expand the existing refineries, or to continue importing refined product. There is a strong local lobby for the movement of vehicle exports and bulk fuel handling facilities from the Port of Port Elizabeth to Ngqura in order to free up Port Elizabeth for a waterfront-type tourism development.