Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued a call for proposals for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at the Port of Ngqura.
TNPA issued the request for proposals, in collaboration with Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), for the appointment of a service provider to assess the environmental compliance and sustainability of the proposed terminal.
“This involves conducting a detailed analysis of ecological and local regulations to determine critical environmental authorisations,” TNPA said in a statement on Wednesday.
These include a seismic survey, a marine ecology survey, a climate change impact assessment and socio-economic assessment of the planned project.
The EIA process will be conducted in tandem with the negotiations regarding the Terminal Operator Agreement (TOA) between TNPA and Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF), for the construction and operation of the onshore LNG regasification facility at the port for 30 years.
TNPA Acting Chief Executive, Phyllis Difeto, said the milestone was a critical step towards the development of the LNG terminal.
“Through its commercial seaports, TNPA is at the forefront of enabling the gas-to-power project pipeline whilst ensuring the security of supply and unlocking global opportunities for sustainable impact,” Difeto said.
The Port of Ngqura’s LNG Terminal is one of South Africa’s 12 priority infrastructure projects that hold strategic integrated project status. The triad partnership is fast tracking the conclusion of the EIA, with the RFP closing on 30 October.
The RFP for prefeasibility studies will be issued by the end of September .
Infrastructure South Africa, Acting Head, Mameetse Masemola, supported TNPA’s sentiment regarding the significance of the development.
“ISA is established to provide strategic, technical and financial advisory support to project sponsors for the planning, preparation, development and implementation of national pipeline projects and strategic integrated projects. This project is one of the flagship projects which we are proud to support and excited that progress is moving at pace.”
Tender documents can be accessed via https://www.idc.co.za/tenders/ and https://www.etenders.gov.za/
