THESE ARE the milestones in the development of the Coega Industrial Development Zone and adjacent deep-water port.
Monday, February 19, 2001: Start of site preparation and construction of the temporary haul road from a quarry at Coega Kop six kilometres inland to the site of the port. This road will be used to transport rock from the quarry to the beach to construct the breakwaters and quays for the deep-water port. Construction on the road will take four months.
March 2001: Advertising of tenders for the main port contracts including the construction of the breakwaters, quay walls and the dredging operations.
March 2001: The Minister of Trade and Industry advertises the proposed promulgation of the Coega Industrial Development Zone. This will be the first of a number of IDZs planned for South Africa.
April 2001: Relocation of the 300 families in the Coega zone commences.
April 2001: Public participation programme for the port environmental impact assessment.
May 2001: Advertising of tenders for the construction of land-side infrastructure for the core development area of the IDZ, including roads, rail lines and bulk services.
June 2001: Award of tenders for the construction of the main port and IDZ land-side infrastructure.
July 2001: Decision on environmental permits for the port and rezoning of the core development area of the IDZ and the granting of a mining permit for the Coega Kop quarry.
July 2001: Start of construction on the port and IDZ infrastructure. Construction will take up to three years.
Third quarter 2001: sites available for investors in the IDZ.
First quarter 2004: Coega port commissioned.
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