The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has signed a R1.2-million deal that will see heavy transport and lifting services company ALE Heavylift South Africa become the first tenant to operate from and make use of the Coega Industrial Development Zone’s (IDZ’s) newly established R9-million cargo laydown area.
The 12 ha abnormal cargo storage site, located on the boundary between the Port of Ngqura and the Coega IDZ, would be used as a temporary storage site for wind turbines destined for the Amakhala wind farm project, near Bedford,in the Eastern Cape.
“Between April and November this year, nine vessels will offload 56 wind turbines which will then be transport to the Amakhala project. The first vessel docked at the Port of Ngqura on April 22 and the wind turbine components have already been stored at the lay-down area.
“ALE Heavylift South Africa will occupy 2 ha of land and will have an option to expand the land area with an additional 1.4 ha at the peak of the project,” CDC trade solutions project manager Linda Sityoshwana said in a statement.
She added that the signing of the agreement confirmed the Port of Ngqura and the Coega IDZ as “ideal corridors” for the transport of abnormal cargo.
“The port has been the port of entry for major abnormal-sized equipment, particularly wind turbine components and items such as the cold box for Afrox’s and Air Products’ air separation units, among others,” she outlined.
CDC marketing and communications head Dr Ayanda Vilakazi added that the corporation had identified the renewables component manufacturing industry as a key sector to be accommodated at the new laydown area.
“From a logistics perspective, the Coega IDZ’s location enables easy access to the Port of Ngqura and the N2 highway and our laydown area plays a vital part in the logistics value chain, enabling short- to medium-term storage solutions,” he commented
The laydown area would also allow tenants in the area to move cargo between the port and IDZ through the use of an allocated space and a dedicated entrance, reducing heavy traffic on the main entrance route to the port.