Infrastructure spending by
Transnet Port Terminals
(TPT) is starting to accelerate,
with the operational capital
for 2015/2016 set to reach
R2.7 billion – 80% more than
the current financial year,
according to CE, Karl Socikwa.
Speaking to FTW at last
week’s African Ports Evolution
Conference, he said that TPT
was gearing up for another busy
period in the next two financial
years.
After expenditure of R1.6bn
in the last financial year,
spending is set to rise to R6.0bn
in 2018/2019.
What he termed “aggressive
investment” is designed
to boost capacity ahead of
demand.
“Our terminal infrastructure
upgrade programme has
reached a critical stage – with
TPT expecting to see rapid
capacity increase in the years
ahead,” Socikwa added.
And this is due to come
from TPT’s share of Transnet’s
total R300bn, seven-year
infrastructure programme.
This designed to modernise the
country’s port, rail and pipeline
infrastructure.
TPT has got a cut of just over
10% of the total, with an overall
spend of about R33bn.
This, according to Socikwa,
is aimed at refurbishing TPT’s
operations in Durban and
Richards Bay in Kwa-Zulu
Natal; East London, Port
Elizabeth and Ngqura in the
Eastern Cape; and Saldanha
and Cape Town in the Western
Cape.
And, over the next two
financial years, he added,
the container terminals at
Durban Pier 1 and 2, Port
Elizabeth, Ngqura and Cape
Town will receive a total of
R2.97bn for both equipment
and infrastructure. All this will
take TPT’s overall container
terminal capacity from its
current 4 million TEUs to 7m
by 2019.
Durban
Looking at Durban, the
country’s major port, Socikwa
told FTW that Pier 2 was set
to receive 15 twin-lift straddles
as well as two rail-mounted
gantries and two ship-to-shore
(STS) cranes during this year.
“We are now looking at
extending the stacking area
on the North Quay of Pier 2
by 50 metres,” said Socikwa.
“Meanwhile, the South Quay
is set for an upgrade to be
completed in May next year,
along with the full automation
of the truck staging area.
“The overall spend at
Pier 2 will be R1.3bn, and
will increase the terminal’s
container handling capacity to
3.3m TEUs by 2017.”
Interestingly, Socikwa
assured FTW that the work
on the Durban Container
Terminal berths on Pier 2
would include their dredging
down to 15m from their current
11.5m. “We’re planning around
2016/17 for the upgrading and
deepening of the quays.”
Pier 1 will see the mid-life
refurbishment of 18 rubbertyred
gantry (RTG) cranes, six
ship-to-shore cranes as well
as the delivery of two reach
stackers over the next two years.
Socikwa noted that Pier 1
would ramp up its handling
capacity to 1.3m TEUs by 2016.
He also revealed another bit
of news to FTW about Pier
1. “Berths 101-103,” he said,
“have not really been utilised
up to now. But we’re looking
at opening up these berths,
and at the possibility of STS
cranes and rail-mounted
gantries.”
His short- to medium-term
planning, he told FTW, would
see a capacity increase of
900 000 TEUs a year at the
present port before the digout
port starts operation.
Ngqura
The Eastern Cape is also
not forgotten. Socikwa
highlighted that the Ngqura
Container Terminal (NCT)
had taken delivery of new
rubber-tyred gantries (RTG)
and mobile harbour cranes
in March this year as part
of a R1.1bn investment.
“This,” he said, “will see the
terminal increase its handling
capacity to 1 million TEUs in
the current financial year –
owing to the additional berth
that is already in operation
and complemented by the
terminal’s new equipment
which includes 48 haulers.”
Port Elizabeth
Still in the Eastern Cape,
the Port Elizabeth terminal
is set to take delivery of 10
straddle carriers and have
quayside rail replaced.
This is to be done over the
next two years at a cost of
R334m.
Cape Town
Meanwhile, the Cape
Town Container Terminal
expenditure of R115m in
2015/16 is part of the port’s
R5.7bn infrastructure
spend. A total that is
directed towards new
Panamax cranes, stackers,
the second phase of the
expansion project as well
the resurfacing of the
refrigerated container
stack, set for completion by
2015/2016.
“We have also made a
significant investment in the
facilities that handle mineral
exports,” said Socikwa.
Saldanha
“At the Saldanha iron
ore terminal, this includes
installation of a new tippler
worth R1.2bn, mid-life
refurbishment of existing
terminal equipment and
conveyor belt replacement.
Richards Bay
“TPT’s Richards Bay
Terminals will also see
about R407m investments
in the current financial year
and R515m in 2015/2016
towards capacity creation
projects and equipment.
“A purchase of two
additional grab unloaders
is planned for 2016/2017.
The construction of
additional capacity
worth R347m is already
in progress, and due for
completion next year.
“Richards Bay will also,
in the next five years,
purchase a new tippler to
add to the existing two.”
INSERT & CAPTION
Investment will
take TPT’s overall
container terminal
capacity from its
current 4m TEUs to
7m by 2019.
– Karl Socikwa
CAPTION
Pier 2 set to receive 15 twin-lift straddles as well as two rail-mounted gantries and two shipto-
shore (STS) cranes during this year. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl
