Tnpa And Freeport Saldanha Sign Landmark Lease To Advance Industrial Development
[Saldanha, 8 October 2026] Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and Freeport Saldanha have signed a 25-year lease agreement to unlock strategic industrial development opportunities within the Port of Saldanha, strengthening South Africa’s export competitiveness and supporting inclusive economic growth.
The agreement covers approximately 55 hectares in the Southern Precinct of the Port of Saldanha, providing the long-term certainty required to attract investment and support the expansion of industrial activities linked to South Africa’s only port-based Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The lease follows the conclusion of a Commercial Terms Framework between TNPA and Freeport Saldanha that established the foundation for the agreement.
Within the agreement, Freeport of Saldanha’s investment pipeline is valued at approximately R6.9 billion and spans several key sectors. Projects currently under consideration cover marine and bunkering services, industrial development and manufacturing, and energy infrastructure, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and storage capacity.
Freeport Saldanha Chief Executive Officer Xola Sithole said: “Investors commit capital where there is certainty, and this lease provides it. With 25 years of secured port-linked land, Freeport Saldanha can now offer investors one coordinated package of industrial land and TNPA facilitated access to port facilities. Our focus is to turn this agreement into signed investor leases, construction activity and jobs for Saldanha Bay and the wider West Coast.”
The partnership between TNPA and Freeport Saldanha is expected to enhance coordination between the port activities and industrial development. This will enable investors to leverage the advantages of a world-class port integrated with a specialised industrial ecosystem. The development will support the utilisation of strategic port land, unlock future freight and logistics demand, and create conditions for long-term investment and industrial expansion. TNPA Chief Executive Mohammed Abdool said: “The agreement demonstrates the critical role strategic infrastructure partnerships play in enabling economic growth and supporting South Africa’s competitiveness. This agreement is more than the leasing of land. It is about creating the conditions necessary for investment, industrial development and long-term growth. By strengthening the relationship between the Port of Saldanha and the Special Economic Zone, we are creating a platform that will attract investment, support exports and unlock opportunities across the logistics value chain.”
