Port’s new strategy a boost for iron ore
Upgrades to Saldanha terminal benefiting local mining, W Cape economy
DESPITE a sluggish economy, the Saldanha Multi-Purpose Terminal has seen iron ore volumes more than double in the past financial year, generating millions of rand for the Western Cape economy.
Saldanha Terminal is operated by Transnet Port Terminals, a division of Transnet SOC, South Africa’s state-owned freight transport and handling company.
The terminal is South Africa’s largest natural and deepest anchorage and port, and supports iron ore exports as well as a variety of harbour-bound industries such as break bulk imports and exports.
It has recently added manganese ore exports to its offering while the Port of Ngqura (Port Elizabeth) is being expanded. In addition, the terminal has impressed international counterparts in terms of its information technology system. The sophisticated General Cargo Operating System 3 helps the terminal meet demands and operate at its optimum. The Saldanha terminal is one of the first terminals to implement this South African-developed IT system.
The terminal has increased the total volumes it handles from 2.6 million tons in 2013/14 to 5.5 million tons in 2014/15 – more than initially expected.
Terminal manager Robert van Rooyen said the growth in volumes was testament to the terminal’s successful new business development strategy.
The Saldanha terminal had exported 6.2 million tons in the past financial year and has a current projection of 5.2 million tons for this year. The terminal had increased its staff complement from 73, when it was first established, to 276.
During the 2013/14 financial year the terminal handled 1.8 million tons in volume and generated R110.6 million in export revenue, and during the 2014/15 year it handled 4 million tons with a revenue of R281m.
Import figures for the 2013/14 financial year were 829.1 tons in volume with a rev- enue of R52m while for 2014/15 the terminal handled 1.6 million tons worth R74.9m.
The cargo destinations include France, India, China, the US, Bangladesh, Russia, Norway, Belgium, the Middle East and East Africa. A longer-term capacity increase project has been initiated to review the acquisition of terminal equipment against the current outsource model, outlined in the Transnet Market Demand Strategy.
The expansion project is also looking to enhance the current operational methods to increase efficiencies to support increased capacity and meet increased demand.
Janine Myburgh, president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it was heartening to hear that productivity in Saldanha Bay was improving and more exports were being shipped out.
“This is exactly the sort of good news we need to hear. We believe that Saldanha Bay will play an increasingly important role in the Western Cape economy and we are encouraged by the progress made.”