Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) recently invited the public to comment on the 2016-’17 port development framework plans.
These plans guide TNPA’s forecast for the short, medium and long term.
A larger liquid bulk storage area and a smaller dry bulk storage area as well as an added area set aside for the industrial development zone (IDZ) differentiate these short-term plans for Saldanha for 2019 from the short-term plans of 2014.
The report mentions that the port is currently focused on increasing its capacity for iron ore exports, with one additional berth and an increased stockpile area in the short term.
Currently 57 million tonnes of iron ore are exported to North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The port also imports around 7 million tonnes of crude oil a year.
The port has the potential to expand waterside and landside infrastructure to support the proposed IDZ, of which the first phase includes facilities for the oil and gas industry in the form of cargo handling and repair facilities.
The Port of Saldanha Bay is South Africa’s deepest draft port and handles around 67 million tonnes of cargo per year (about 500 vessel calls). The port has iron ore stockpiles on reclaimed land, a multi-purpose terminal with four berths, and ship repair facilities for offshore rig servicing and fabrication.
The 2016-’17 version of the Port Development Framework Plans can be viewed on their website (www.transnetnationalportsauthority.net) or do a Google search under TNPA port development framework plans.
Interested parties can email comments to tnpapdfp@transnet.net by 30 November 2017.
