The Acting Portfolio Director of the KwaZulu-Natal Logistics Hub, Johnny Mokheseng has announced the rollout plans to expand the largest and busiest port in South Africa, Durban Port’s vehicle terminal to increase container handling capacity.
It was noted that following a 25-year lease granted to Fresh Produce Terminals in an area earmarked for expansion, the initiative under an initiative of under the Durban Port Master Plan is set to commence.
Mokbeseng made this new development known at a media briefing noting that the review is necessary. Adding that the goal of creating additional capacity for automobiles remains unchanged.
It was noted that this initiative infrastructural project is a 30-year strategy aimed at boosting the container handling capacity from 2.9 million to 11 million TEUs. These include upgrading access roads, constructing a liquid bulk terminal, and developing a multi-purpose terminal and a recreational waterfront.
Mokbeseng noted; “That has basically meant that we need to pause and review our plans … but again we’re not going back in terms of what we want to do, which is creating additional capacity for automobiles.”
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“There’s been some good work that is being done by the city … We’re going to be starting with the next phase together which will be the pre-feasibility study of that plan. It’s quite an exciting project,” he added.
Furthermore, the acting port manager Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi confirmed that Mnambithi Group’s R1.1 billion liquid bulk terminal at Maydon Wharf is set to proceed within the next 24 months, with a storage capacity of 100,000 cubic metres for key liquid bulk cargo. Additionally, Transnet has invited private sector participation in the design and development of a new multi-purpose terminal.
