Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is strategically repositioning its Western Region ports to efficiently facilitate trade enabled by a seven-year R16.1 billion (b) capital investment programme for infrastructure development at the ports of Mossel Bay, Saldanha and Cape Town.
The Western Region’s capital investment programme has an allocation of R2.2b to the Port of Mossel Bay, R8.4b to Saldanha and R5.5b to Cape Town over a seven-year period.
“Our capital investment plan demonstrates our commitment to the operationalization of our Reimagined TNPA operating model that was launched in 2021. We are intentional about prioritizing capital projects that will create future capacity whilst not neglecting the immediate needs required to enhance port efficiencies.” said TNPA Managing Executive for the Western Region, Advocate Phyllis Difeto.
Zooming into the current financial year – 2022/23, TNPA boasts a capital investment programme of R452 million (m) in the Western Region ports.
At the Port of Mossel Bay some of the key capital projects include the slipway facility refurbishment and Quay 3 sheet pilling. These key projects form part of the Port of Mossel Bay’s R10.2m port infrastructure development plan for 2022/23. Projects that are spread across the seven-year period include the deepening of the port and Quay 4 as well as breakwater extension.
The implementation of capital projects planned for the Port of Saldanha for 2022/23 is already underway, which includes the acquisition of a tugboat, installation of perimeter fencing and provision of bulk power. These will derive capital expenditure of R182m for the port in 2022/23. The broader seven-year programme includes the extension of Berth 205, berth construction of the ore expansion phase 2 as well as the refurbishment of the main breakwater and causeway rock revetment.
In the current financial year 2022/23 the Port of Cape Town will see the delivery of a robust R260m capital programme, comprising the procurement of a helicopter and the replacement of two tugboats. Phase 2 of the Cape Town Container Terminal expansion and the acquisition of ten dry dock cranes form part of the port’s seven-year programme.
Advocate Difeto said that she is confident that the realisation of the port infrastructure and superstructure development plans will translate into the desired port efficiencies, which is one of the major priorities for the Western Region ports.
The TNPA Reimagined Operating Model places emphasis on accelerating the execution of capital projects on time and within budget.
“As we sharpen our focus on capital investment deliverables, we acknowledge the historical under expenditure. It is for this reason that we have adopted a fresh approach to project execution, an approach that ensures all hands-on deck from the project sponsors, engineers and support teams through participation in CAPEX War Rooms,” said Thecla Mneney, TNPA General Manager: Infrastructure.
According to Mneney, TNPA is continuously creating an enabling and performance-driven environment that unlocks bottlenecks and accelerates the execution of strategic projects through the establishment of regional and national capital investment war rooms designed to enable the project teams. This approach will ensure that TNPA delivers on its capital investment commitments in the Western Region.
