Port of Ngqura manganese export expansion project, South Africa

21st August 2015

By: Sheila Barradas

Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

  

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Name and Location
Port of Ngqura manganese export expansion project, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Client
Transnet Port Terminals (TPT).

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a 16-million-ton-a-year manganese export expansion project at the Port of Ngqura, which is located within the region’s critical Coega special economic zone).

Developed as an integrated rail and port solution, the project will include the upgrade and expansion of the rail network between Hotazel, in the Northern Cape, and Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape; the provision of a new bulk minerals export terminal at the Port of Ngqura; and the commissioning of the two existing berths.

Rail infrastructure comprises the provision of new compilation yards, in Mamathwane and Coega (near the Port of Ngqura), new crossing loops and the lengthening of existing crossing loops en route to accommodate 200 wagon trains, maintenance and operational facilities, and monitoring equipment.

Terminal infrastructure at the port will comprise new bulk materials handling equipment, including a stockyard, stackers, reclaimers and surge bins, roads, infrastructure services and buildings, as well as a train-marshalling yard with an unloading system (tippler).

The project will include a conveyor system linking the stockyard with existing berths. The two existing berths in the port will be equipped with twin shiploaders to handle the manganese exports.

Value
Transnet has committed to investing R26-billion on expanding rail and ports in the Eastern Cape over the next four years.

Duration
The front-end loading 3b (FEL3b) phase of the Ngqura project is expected to be completed by November 2015.

Thereafter, the project will progress to the construction of the FEL4 phase, where construction will be supervised until October 2018.

Latest Developments
Cabinet has approved the issuing of a permanent operating licence to TPT to operate the manganese container terminal at the Port of Ngqura.

This is in line with government priorities regarding Operation Phakisa on growing the country’s oceans economy and will result in relocating manganese operations from the ports of Port Elizabeth and Saldanha to the Port of Ngqura.

Transnet Freight Rail is upgrading the railway network from South Africa’s manganese-rich Northern Cape to the Port of Ngqura to support axle loads of 26 t.

The route will pass through Postmasburg, Kimberley, De Aar and Cradock on the way to South Africa’s newest deep-water harbour.

The R2.3-billion first phase of the railway infrastructure project will involve the doubling of certain sections and the introduction of new passing loops to accommodate 200-wagon trains, operated using high-voltage locomotives.

Portside developments to facilitate the relocation of the existing Port Elizabeth manganese terminal to a larger and scalable facility at the Coega industrial development zone (IDZ), situated alongside the Port of Ngqura, are also being undertaken.

There are also private-sector-led plans for a new manganese smelter to be established at the IDZ.

Phase 1 of the rail upgrade was approved as early works in July, with R466-million being invested to date.

Engineering and construction planning started for the remaining rail and port investments. The expected completion date is April 2017.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Gibb, Fluor and Aecom (engineering, procurement and construction management).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Transnet National Ports Authority, Margorie Makama, tel +27 41 5071957 or email Margorie.Makama@transnet.net.
Gibb (Port Elizabeth), tel +27 41 392 7500 or fax +27 41 363 9300.
Fluor, tel +27 31 581 4000.
Aecom, tel +1 213 593 8100 or fax +1 213 593 8178.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

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