Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has completed its R39-million rehabilitation of the infrastructure of Port Nolloth on the north-western coast of South Africa.
The port, founded in the late 1800s as an export facility for copper from mines located in the Springbok area, is now used as an offshore supply base of De Beers Group Services.
Port of Cape Town port manager, Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana, whose portfolio includes Port Nolloth, said the port would continue to serve as a support facility to the fishing and offshore mining industries.
“The completion of this rehabilitation project is part of a longer-term plan to develop Port Nolloth into a port that offers greater economic opportunities for the people of the area,” she said.
Dweba-Kwetana added that the improved port infrastructure would better enable Port Nolloth to support offshore activities. De Beers Group Services has held a five-year lease agreement to use the port as an offshore supply base for conducting diamond prospecting activity in Namibia, with Smit Amandla supply vessels stationed at the port used to transfer supplies to De Beers’ offshore prospecting vessels.
