Name of the Project
Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ) – Phase 1.

Location
Western Cape, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
SBIDZ.

Project Description
SBIDZ is South Africa’s first and only special economic zone (SEZ) that is located within a port and includes a freeport, or customs-controlled area.

The port is also the biggest and deepest natural port in the southern hemisphere.

The SBIDZ will be completed in seven phases.

The first-phase, 356 ha project is integral to national and regional infrastructure development and is also the biggest project that the South African government has launched in the Western Cape.

Phase 1 will focus on marine services jetties, a floating dock and ship lift facilities, since it will enable the centre zone of the port and Transnet National Ports Authority to offer a greater variety of services to local and international customers.

The four projects, earmarked for the South Western Precinct in the SBIDZ, involve building a south-west precinct pier and jetty, and installing a mobile hoist, a 220 m ship-lift and a lay-by jetty. 

Access to these facilities will also require dredging a sector of the harbour.

Potential Job Creation
Phase 1 of the infrastructure project will create about 10 000 jobs at the height of construction, while 6 000 jobs will be created in the operational phase.

Capital Expenditure
Phase 1 is estimated at R3.5-billion.

The SBIDZ has a pipeline of 52 investors, of which 11 have signed lease agreements, with an investment value of R3.2-billion, while 18% of the gross area has been leased. Investment could increase to R23-billion by 2030.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
An environmental-impact assessment for Phase 1 is under way, the results of which should be published by August 2022.

Market demand analysis, technical costing and designs and an economic assessment have been concluded.

The SBIDZ has also begun the formal process of submitting this project to the Investment and Infrastructure Office in the Office of the Presidency, supported by the National Treasury for inclusion in the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
SBIDZ, tel +27 87095 0261 or email info@sbidz.co.za.