Transnet shuts out aspirant concessionaires

Sapo to operate Coega terminal
TERRY HUTSON
TERMINAL OPERATORS who have been lining up to bid for the concession to operate the Coega container terminal will have to remain in the queue for a while longer.
Coega is due to receive its first ship in September this year and the container and bulk terminals will be fully operational by 2007.
Maria Ramos, Transnet’s chief executive, dropped a bit of a bombshell in Durban last week when she said that SA Port Operations (Sapo) had been instructed to begin investing in infrastructure immediately and would commence operating the container terminal from the outset.
She said Transnet’s intention was now to create an integrated port system between Coega and nearby Port Elizabeth. She did not say when, how or if private operators would still get a look in.
In 2001 the NPA was given a mandate to manage negotiations around the container terminal. These commenced with talks between the NPA and its preferred bidder P&O Nedlloyd/TCCI. However, in July 2004 these suddenly broke down when negotiations were terminated over what was believed to be financial issues.
At the time minister of public enterprises Alec Erwin cited ‘unresolved fundamental issues’ that would require policy intervention and possible government subsidies.
A spokesperson for Sapo said that it was too early in this latest development for them to comment.
She told FTW that Sapo was waiting for Transnet to make an official statement before commenting officially.