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Port Authority Maps Out Infrastructure Projects

Port Authority Maps Out Infrastructure Projects

Date: 2015-11-13
The ports industry is in a state of radical change and uncertainty, which requires flexible and adaptable port planning and design. This is according to Phyllis Difeto, Transnet National Ports Authority's (TNPA) Chief Operations Officer, who delivered the welcome address at the African Ports Evolution 2015 conference at the Durban ICC this week on behalf of Chief Executive, Richard Vallihu.

"The impact of the global economic downturn is a daily reminder to ports of the need to change 'business as usual'," she said. "Innovative techniques are required to adapt to the pressures of integrating the global supply chain, the need for greater port expansion and the immediate requirement to preserve natural resources," she added.

Difeto outlined the South African port authority's strategic direction and key projects from 2015 to 2022. Transnet's Market Demand Strategy - which aims to enable the effective, efficient and economic functioning of an integrated port system to promote economic growth - is in its third year of implementation. Transnet had invested R92.8bn to date, of which port investments had amounted to R5.78bn. TNPA's investment in the South African port system over the next 10 years would be R 56bn, of which R320m will be spent in the 2015/16 financial year.

"The South African government's focus on the Oceans Economy under its Operation Phakisa initiative will be a major driver to invest in the port system. A total of around R2bn will be spent over the next five years to refurbish existing repair facilities, while we will invest an estimated R13 to 15bn to create new repair facilities at the South African ports," said Difeto.

"We are addressing current challenges in the Port of Durban where depth restrictions demand an urgent programme of dredging and berth deepening. In Richards Bay we will create additional container handling capacity through the short term installation of mobile cranes and a medium term expansion for the port to handle up to 100 000 TEUs of containerised cargo," she said.

"TNPA is on a journey to create a port system with the infrastructure and capacity to promote economic growth and contribute to job creation," said Difeto.

TNPA's port framework plans are reviewed annually and adjusted to suit the economic, policy, trade and technology environment. The port plans allowed TNPA to manage land use and optimise its investments.

TNPA is landlord of eight commercial ports around the South African coastline. Transnet's integrated system of regional ports and rail corridors aimed to complement rather than compete with each other, said Difeto.