Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is advancing a development agenda aimed at enhancing operational efficiency at the Cape Town Container Terminal. This initiative was discussed during a meeting with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci).
Oscar Borchards, managing executive for Western Cape Terminals, emphasized the need for comprehensive supply chain support, stating, "We from Transnet work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There's no rest; we have a four-shift system, and the teams are working flat out." Collaboration with the private sector is seen as vital for Transnet's success.
Efforts are underway to develop back-of-port solutions to alleviate peak truck congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and optimize reefer deliveries. Additional reefer capacity for refrigerated goods is planned, requiring private sector involvement and additional generators.
New equipment, including 28 Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes and seven ship-to-shore cranes, is expected between March 2025 and May 2026. The Cape Town Container Terminal aims to align berthing and landside capacities to 1.4 million TEUs, with upgrades to truck staging facilities and processes.
The Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal is set to become an agricultural hub, handling barley, wheat grain, and rice. Plans to grow the container business include repurposing operations to support agricultural citrus and deciduous fruit linked to the hinterland.
The Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal, Africa's largest iron ore export facility, has achieved notable operational records, including a monthly offloading record of 5.7 million tons and a 24-hour export record of 246,776 tons. To date, over 1.4 billion tons of iron ore have been exported through this terminal.
Source: IOL