South Africa’s State-owned ports authority has initiated a bidding process for the appointment of a new private terminal operator at the Port of Cape Town’s existing liquid bulk terminal for a 25-year concession period.

The brownfield site comprises a tank farm with eight storage tanks offering a combined storage capacity of about 44 430 m³, including an adjacent storage warehouse and administration building.

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has released a request for proposals (RFP) document stating that the new terminal operator will be expected to finance, operate, maintain, and refurbish the liquid bulk terminal, including bunkering and related services, while ensuring a continuity of service throughout.

The terminal must also continue to be operated on a common-user open access basis and support both local refinery supply and the importation of bunkering products. 

“The Port of Cape Town is strategically positioned to support multiple liquid bulk operations, and this RFP allows for private sector participation to enhance liquid bulk cargo volumes whilst strengthening bunkering capabilities and revenue generation,” acting port manager Ophelia Shabane says.

The RFP outlines a two-stage bidding process, with stage 1 entailing the evaluation of the bidder’s technical, financial, business case and operational capabilities, including previous terminal experience and track record.

Only those bidders that meet the thresholds set in stage 1 will graduate to the stage 2 evaluation, where the bidder’s concession fee offer and broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) credentials will be evaluated.

The stage 2 evaluation will be undertaken in accordance with a 90/10 preference points system, with the concession fee offer scored out of 90 points and BBBEE out of 10 points.

The RFP is open to the worldwide public and is not restricted to bidders who are South African nationals and South African entities, but all bidders are subject to BBBEE requirements.

A bid submission closing date of September 11 has been set and TNPA will host a non-compulsory online briefing on May 19.

“The RFP is underpinned by demonstrable market demand, which informs the appointment of a new terminal operator to deliver operational efficiency, ensure operational continuity and effectively use and modernise existing infrastructure,” Shabane adds.