Port of Saldanha to unveil major investment opportunities

The Port of Saldanha would present investors with investment opportunities in excess of R13-billion over the next five years, business leadership

organisation Accelerate Cape Town announced at its July Thought Leadership session.

Feasibility studies are already under way and the first contract will be put out to tender by end-2015, the company said.

“Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has called on the private sector to join it in turning the port’s economic potential into reality. As a State owned entity – and with all the other priorities that government faces – we have realised that we can no longer invest in everything. As a result we are inviting the private sector, including foreign investors, to invest in the initiatives planned for the Port of Saldanha.

The R13-billion is made up of three key projects: an offshore oil and gas supply base; a dedicated rig repair berth; and an extension to the old Mossgas repair jetty,” said TNPA GM: strategy Nico Walters.

Wesgro CEO Tim Harris welcomed the TNPA announcement as one that would strengthen the Cape’s position as a key business destination in Africa. Describing ports as levers of growth, Harris acknowledged the TNPA’s collaborative approach with the private sector to help establish the region as a major transport and logistics hub.

“Already, 54 out of 98 (almost 59%) of the international companies that have invested in Cape Town have done so to access the African market. Exports from the Western Cape totalled R74.87-billion in 2013, an increase of 16%, while Western Cape ports – including Cape Town, Saldanha and Mossel Bay – handle 20% to 30% (5 904 t in February 2014) of the cargo in South Africa,” said Harris.