Saldanha quay extensions will meet December target

IT'S ALL systems go at the Port of Saldanha where the first 250m of the quay wall extension was handed over today (July 3) by Murray and Roberts/Lama. The total length of the quay wall expansion is 620m and the contractual date for the completion of the entire project is mid-December.
Saldanha Steel, the main motivating factor for Portnet's expansion project, is currently in the early commissioning stages. The latest indication is that shipping will begin in August this year.
Portnet has employed new staff at the terminal and they are currently involved with systems and operational training.
Saldanha Steel's production capacity is 1,25 million tons per annum of which 800 000 tons will be exported. 450 000 tons will be sold to Duferco Steel Processing (DSP) for further beneficiation and export. DSP is expected
to start shipping in mid 1999.