Leonard Neill
PORTNET WILL invest more than R4,3 billion during the next three years to replace and upgrade the infrastructure in its ports according to the capacity planning department of the parastatal.
During the present year R933 million of this total figure is to be spent on its six major ports, with Richards Bay, the biggest port, getting R244 million.
Portnet spokesperson Naledi Wasa says the project's main aim, particularly with regard to Richards Bay, is to enhance capacity in order to accommodate increased cargo volumes caused by South Africa's international trade growth.
Port Elizabeth gets the second highest allocation this year of R148 million, with Durban getting R141 million. A combined figure of R221 million has been set aside for developments in the other ports of Cape Town, East London and Saldanha. Mossel Bay has not been included as it is managed by Port Elizabeth.
A total of R1,7 billion will be spent during the 2001 financial year, and the balance of R1,6 billion will be used in 2001, according to Wasa.
During the past three years Portnet has committed more than R2,4 billion in capital expenditure, which included new tugs, other floating craft and other head office-controlled expenses.
Richards Bay received investments of
R1,1 million from Portnet in the four year period ending March 2000, the major portion of which went towards large-scale dry bulk terminal refurbishment and upgrading. Phase one of the upgrade, which has been completed, included a shed with a design storage capacity of 200 000 tons used for coal imports.
It also included a multi-product truck loading station, with a loading capacity of 2 500 tons an hour, together with a truck placer and weighbridge facilities.
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