TNPA CE to get tough on terminal operations

Transnet National Ports
Authority has vowed
to get tough on all port
terminal operators calling
for improved throughput,
port optimisation and
the building of marine
capability that
will attract more
investment from
the private
sector.
That was the
message
from
TNPA chief
executive
Richard Vallihu
when he addressed
delegates at a
TNPA/South African
Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (Sacci)
business breakfast in
Johannesburg recently.
He said that the goal
of the TNPA was to
develop South Africa’s
coastline to its maximum
capability and capacity
with an integrated port
management system
across all South African
ports.
“The tide has turned
favourably for South
African ports with
R6 billion invested in the
past year and a projected
R10 billion to be invested
every year for the next ten
years,” he said.
“South African ports
have done fairly well over
the past year given a tough
economic climate,” he told
delegates. “Our ports have
been working towards
being extra efficient to
keep tariffs down and
lower the cost of doing
business.”
Referring to
the oceans
economy as
“the new
frontier,”
Ricky
Bhikraj,
executive
manager for
TNPA and
programme
director of
Operation Phakisa,
said that growth seen
in the ports sector was
thanks to agriculture and
mining.
TNPA is planning to
invite investment in ship
repair and ship building
facilities for the ports of
Richards Bay and East
London.
“South Africa’s coastline
sees 300 million tonnes
of cargo a year, but there
is also a strong market
for ship building and
repair infrastructure
that requires investment.
But TNPA will need to
position these projects to
mitigate risk for investors
around the low oil price.
The market changes faster
than we can develop ports
so f lexible investors are
needed – but they will
come out winners. It is full
steam ahead for Operation
Phakisa.”