Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has called on interested parties to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) to fund, design, develop, operate, maintain and transfer a Container Handling Facility in the Bay View Precinct at the Port of Richards Bay.
TNPA said that while the port is a major dry bulk and liquid bulk port, it would issue a 25- year concession to manage containerised cargo at a new greenfield facility.
It currently handles containers at its 600-series Multipurpose Handling Facility (MPT), which has installed capacity of 50 000 TEUs.
TNPA managing executive for Eastern Region ports, Moshe Motlohi, said the plan to grow the port’s container handling capacity would lead to reduced transport costs and travelling time for logistics operators moving cargo from the hinterland.
“The RFI process has enabled TNPA to positively assess the market appetite for such a facility in Richards Bay and the responses have revealed that there is potential to grow the current capacity to an estimated 200 000 TEUs,” Motlohi said.
“The outcome of the RFI also gives TNPA the confidence that industry players are keen to invest in the development and hence we can proceed to the next step of requesting proposals.”
The proposed facility is a Greenfield site with a total footprint of approximately 675 000 square meters. However, the RFP bidders must request the proposed footprint required in line with their business case.
He said the development is aligned with the Master Plan for the port and is ideally located to serve the Northern part of the KwaZulu-Natal due to its proximity to the hinterland market, compared to the Port of Durban.
He said the RFP has been designed to attract bidders with some experience and capacity while also giving new entrants and small to medium-sized enterprises in the sector an opportunity to participate in the process and in the construction phase.
RFP documents can be accessed from the National Treasury’s e-tender publication portal http://www.etenders.gov.za/ and on Transnet’s website https://transnetetenders.azurewebsites.net/Home/TenderDetails?Id=36020
