The Western Cape’s Saldanha Bay and Cape Town port terminals are in line to benefit from a R33 billion investment by Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) on regional terminal upgrades.

TPT also intends to refurbish South Africa’s terminals spread across Durban and Richards Bay in Kwa-Zulu Natal, East London, Port Elizabeth and the Ngqura Container Terminal in the Eastern Cape.

Karl Socikwa, TPT chief executive, says the container terminals at Durban Pier 1 and 2, Port Elizabeth, Ngqura and Cape Town, will receive R2,97 billion for both equipment and infrastructure over the next two financial years.

“This will take TPT’s overall container terminal capacity from its current four million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 7 million TEUs by 2019.”

Transnet is also investing an additional R300 billion in its market demand strategy – a seven-year infrastructure programme that will see the modernisation of South Africa’s rail, port and pipeline infrastructure by the state-owned logistics company.

Socikwa said the terminal infrastructure upgrade programme has reached a critical stage for TPT and the wider Transnet group.

The Cape Town Container Terminal expenditure of R115 millio in 2015/16 is part of the port’s R5.7 billion infrastructure spend and is directed towards the procuring of new Panamax cranes, stackers, the second phase of the expansion project, and the resurfacing of the refrigerated container stack set for completion over the next two years.

Durban Pier 2 is to receive 15 twin-lift straddles, two rail-mounted gantries and two ship-to-shore cranes this year, while the South Quay is due for an upgrade to be completed by the middle of next year. The overall spend at Pier 2 will be R1.3 billion and will increase the terminal’s container handling capacity to 3.3 million TEUs by 2017.

Durban Pier 1 will see the mid-life refurbishment of 18 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, six ship-to-shore cranes, and the delivery of two reach stackers over the next two years. New staff facilities at Berth 107 were completed earlier this year, and construction on the central staff facility has started, making the project total R70 million. Pier 1 will increase its handling capacity to 1.3 million TEUs by 2016.

TPT’s Richards Bay Terminals will also receive about R407 million in the current financial year, and R515 million in 2015/2016 towards creation projects and equipment.

The buying of two additional grab unloaders are planned for 2016/2017, while the construction of additional capacity worth R347m is already in progress, due for completion next year.

The Ngqura Container Terminal (NCT) will see the terminal increase its handling capacity to 1 million TEUs in the current financial year because of the additional berth that is already in operation and complemented by the terminal’s new equipment.