DURBAN-headquartered FFS Tank Terminals has been appointed to acquire, operate, maintain, refurbish, construct and transfer a liquid bulk terminal for a 25-year concession period at the Port of Cape Town’s liquid bulk precinct.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) announced the appointment in early December and said FFS Tank Terminals is an existing terminal operator at the port’s liquid bulk precinct and has been appointed through participation in the ports authority’s legal concession process.
TNPA said the appointment is a strategic move to enhance the Port’s efficiency and competitiveness. It is also in line with TNPA’s mandate to facilitate the provision of port services and facilities with an emphasis on port revenue diversification, job creation, infrastructure development and collaboration with the private sector to foster sustainable economic growth.
The new concession agreement is set to inject an investment of R195 million into the facility, enabling terminal infrastructure refurbishment and upgrades that will substantially enhance operational efficiency.
“The selection of FFS Tank Terminals as the preferred bidder solidifies TNPA’s commitment to ensuring continued liquid bulk operations and security of supply, coupled with growing port capacity and volume throughput. This transaction will not only support economic growth and development at the Port of Cape Town but will also stimulate the local economy through commitments made by the bidder such as job preservation, employment creation, local supplier development as well as skills development,” said Ophelia Shabane, TNPA acting port manager for the Port of Cape Town.
TNPA is implementing a phased approach with the appointment of terminal operators for the Port of Cape Town’s liquid bulk precinct. Whilst all the terminals are currently operational in the precinct, more terminals are anticipated to undergo the concession process in the new year, in compliance with the open and transparency requirement of the National Ports Act, according to TNPA.