It was been nearly three years since the official launch of the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (IDZ).
This multi-billion rand special economic zone is meant to provide top class services and a repair freeport to the oil and gas industry, in line with the Government’s fast-track initiatives: Operation Phakisa and Project Khulisa.
The Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone Licencing Company (SBIDZ-LC) is the public entity responsible for development, marketing and operating the zone as a free trade area within and around the Port of Saldanha Bay.
The latest news is that to date 34 non-disclosure agreements have been signed by potential investors, both local and international.
Dedicated infrastructure in progress
The zone is also physically taking form in the industrial area near Saldanha.
Senzwa Gum, Marketing Associate for the IDZ, says civil works on the landside area, located towards the back of the IDZ designated area, are nearing completion, and the civil, mechanical and electrical works on the upgraded Saldanha Bay Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) are almost complete, pending a few final checks.
The landside civil works will provide the necessary internal services required before an investor can build and start activity in the freeport, and the treatment works increased capacity will absorb the demand from the new businesses in the freeport.
The construction of the new reservoir at Besaansklip has commenced and this increased water storage capacity will meet the demands of development in the area, said Gum.
The new link road and bridge, connecting the back area of the IDZ to the Port’s side area, over the existing MR559 is under construction and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017.
The next step will be the Licencing Company’s fencing project.
Port battling to find investors
Transnet National Ports Authority is still looking for international investors for the construction and operation of a rig repair station at berth 205 (380 m long and 21 m deep draft) and a ship repair station at the old Mossgass jetty (1 000 m long and 8 m draft).
Last year, construction started on the offshore supply base – 294 m long with a draft of 6.9 m. It is still under construction. TNPA expects the procurement process for this project to be completed by February 2017.
The three projects, together valued at over R10 billion, will complement the 330 ha back of port Saldanha Bay IDZ.
Transnet has given public notice that berth 204 is again available for use by the oil and gas industry. This is the deep-water berth that was reassigned in 2014 for the export of manganese which effectively stopped rigs from stopping by for long-term repairs.
Under review
The Board of Directors of the SBIDZ-LC (the Board), is in the process of reviewing all the objections to and comments received on the short-listed candidates to serve as the community representative on the Board.
Once the comments review exercise is finalised, an interview process will commence.
If all goes well, the Board wishes to conclude its recruitment processes before the next Board meeting, scheduled to take place on Wednesday 23 November.
