State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has selected independent bulk liquid storage provider Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo (OTGC) as the preferred bidder to plan, fund, build, own, maintain and operate a new liquid bulk handling facility at the Port of Ngqura, in the Eastern Cape.
OTGC, which is expected to start the 28-month construction of the facility in September 2017, is planning commissioning during June or July 2019, with an operational target of August 2019.
“This development will now also allow us to focus on expansion at the Port of Port Elizabeth. When the Ngqura facility becomes operational, the Port Elizabeth tank farm will be decommissioned and the site will be rehabilitated, which will free up port land for future expansion plans at Port Elizabeth,” TNPA CEO Richard Vallihu said in a statement in December.
The first phase will deliver 158 000 m3 of storage capacity for refined products, including petroleum, diesel, jet fuel, illuminated paraffin and liquid petroleum gas, with yearly throughput of 1.25-million cubic metres received by vessel and distributed by road.
“The liquid bulk facility includes the loading and offloading facilities at Berth B100; the services and equipment to perform operations at the berth; pipeline connectivity to the liquid bulk facility; the buildings, tanks and structures; and the paving and surfacing on the 20 ha site,” he explained.
Future phases will expand storage capacity by 550 000 m3, which will be available for third-party storage.
The construction phase is expected to create 500 jobs, peaking at 300 during midconstruction, with a permanent staff complement of 50.