State logistics company Transnet on May 28 shared its plan for the strategic industrial Port of Richards Bay with the local mayor, business community and ten traditional leaders in Umhlathuze and the surrounding areas.
The port is set to play a core role in Transnet's Natural Gas strategy and remains the primary export channel for coal, chrome and magnetite.
The port has been identified as one of the three ports to support Transnet’s Natural Gas strategy. The strategy aims to provide storage and import facilities for the growing natural gas sector in the country.
In the short-to-medium term, the port will support liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generation facilities and, in the longer term, also LNG import facilities, Transnet said.
"To support the Port of Durban’s transformation into a regional water container hub port, Transnet plans to relocate its liquid bulk operations from the Port of the Durban to the Port of Richards Bay."
The Port of Richards Bay is already well-equipped and located to take advantage of the migrated volumes, Transnet stated.
Liquid bulk lease sites and berths have already been identified in the South Dune precinct in the port for the relocation of the liquid bulk terminal.