Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is seeking bidders for a 25-year container handling facility concession in the Bayvue Precinct at the Port of Richards Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal.
The request for proposals indicates that the successful bidder will be expected to fund, design, develop, operate, maintain and transfer the facility, which is earmarked for development on a 675 000 m2 greenfield site.
The Port of Richards Bay is currently a major dry bulk and liquid bulk port, and containerised cargo is currently handled at the port’s 600-series multipurpose handling facility, with an installed capacity of 50 000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).
Eastern Region ports managing executive Moshe Motlohi reports that responses to an earlier request for information indicated that there was potential to grow the port’s yearly container capacity to 200 000 TEUs.
Motlohi argues Richards Bay’s proximity to the northern KwaZulu-Natal and South African hinterland markets could help in reducing logistics costs and transportation turnaround times.
TNPA is aiming to attract experienced operators but has also expressed a desire for small and medium-sized enterprises to be included in the construction and operational phases.
The concession tender follows on from an earlier announcement that Transnet had selected International Container Terminal Services Incorporated, of the Philippines, as the preferred bidder for the 25-year joint venture with Transnet Port Terminals to develop and upgrade its flagship Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2.
DCT Pier 2 has a current container capacity of two-million TEUs and there is an intention, through the partnership, to increase its capacity to 2.8-million TEUs.